Analytic Quality Glossary
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Citation reference: Harvey, L., 2004–8, Analytic Quality Glossary, Quality Research International, http://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/
This is a dynamic glossary and the author would welcome any e-mail suggestions for amendments or additions.
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Certification
core definition
Certification is the process of formally acknowledging achievement or compliance: it can be used to signify the achievement of an individual, such as a student, or of an institution.
explanatory context
Certification of an individual usually means that the person has achieved a required academic standard or standard of competence. For example, the Irish Higher Education Authority (2004) define a certificate as:
Award granted upon successful completion of one or two years' study at tertiary level at a non-university institution. Students may continue on to a diploma course after successfully completing a certificate course. (HEA, 2004)
Certification of an institution may follow external quality monitoring of one kind or another. Certification may be linked to accreditation, or it may be linked to achieving a generic quality standard such as ISO9000 or Investors in People or other such award.
analytical review
The UNESCO and CHEA definitions of certification refer to the privileges that follow institutional certification:
The process by which an agency or
an association acknowledges the achievement of established quality standards
and usually grants certain privileges to the target individual (student or
teacher). (Vlăsceanu,
et al.,
2004)
Acknowledgement
that quality standards required for approval have been achieved. Usually
accords privileges. (See also licensure.) (CHEA, 2001)
For AEC (2004), certification is:
The process of issuing certificates or diplomas which formally recognise the achievements of an individual, following an assessment procedure.
HEA (2004) defines certificate as:
Award granted upon successful completion of one or two years' study at tertiary level at a non-university institution. Students may continue on to a diploma course after successfully completing a certificate course.
Wojtczak (2002) defines certification in the context of medical education as follows:
The process by which governmental,
non-governmental or professional organizations or other statutory bodies grant
recognition to an individual who has met certain predetermined specified
qualifications. In most cases such recognition is on a voluntary basis.
related terms
sources
Association europeenne
des conservatoires [Academies de musique et musikhochschulen] (AEC), 2004, Glossary
of terms used in relation to the
Council For
Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
2001, Glossary of Key Terms in
Quality Assurance and Accreditation,
http://www.chea.org/international/inter_glossary01.html,
updated
Higher Education Authority (HEA) [of
Vlăsceanu, L., Grünberg,
L., and Pârlea, D., 2004, Quality Assurance and Accreditation: A Glossary of Basic
Terms and Definitions (