The University of the West Indies Mona Campus is Institutionally Accredited by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ).
Local Accreditation - Institutional Accreditation
- The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ)
Regional Accreditation
- Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP)
International Accreditation
- Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET)
- Association of MBAs (AMBA)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a voluntary process through which an institution becomes officially certified as meeting agreed standards and providing services of a reasonably good quality. Accreditation is an assurance of quality. There are two types of accreditation, institutional and programme accreditation. Institutional accreditation is granted to an institution that has been found to meet or exceed established standards for educational quality. It is the comprehensive evaluation of the institution and all its administrative and academic effectiveness, with specific focus on the robustness of its Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) system. Programme accreditation is the evaluation of a specific programme within an institution.
Is The UWI Mona internationally recognised?
Yes. Our degree programmes are accepted by employers and universities globally. Our faculty members are also well respected among their peers in academia across the world.
Do any of the UWI Mona’s programmes have specialized accreditation?
Yes. The Mona School of Business and Management’ MBA Programmes have accreditation through the Association of MBAs (AMBA). The UWI Mona has also received programme accreditation in the Faculty of Medical Sciences for the MBBS programme, which has accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). The B.SC in Electronics Engineering programme has international accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET).
How long has The UWI Mona been accredited and when did The UWI Mona last undergo accreditation?
The University of the West Indies Mona Campus first received Institutional Accreditation in 2012 from the University Council of Jamaica. It is the highest level of accreditation granted to higher education institutions. The UWI Mona was the first higher education institution in Jamaica to receive Institutional Accreditation. We recently received re-accreditation status in 2019. Having institutional accreditation means that all our programmes are assessed as having the same high standards and quality given our strong internal quality assurance mechanisms, and do not require programme by programme accreditation.
Who performs the accreditation?
For many institutions, particularly those in the United States of America, accreditation is conducted by independent accrediting agencies. In other countries, higher education institutions must receive the permission of the government to operate, and thus accreditation is performed by the government. In Jamaica, accreditation is done through the University Council of Jamaica, which is a statutory body currently under the portfolio of the Ministry of Education.
What is involved in the accreditation process?
The accrediting agency visits the institution under review and examines areas including the University’s academic programmes, financial status, governance and administration, admissions and student services procedures, available resources, student academic achievement and organizational effectiveness. On completion of this exercise, the accrediting agency certifies that the institution meets agreed standards.
How long does accreditation last and will it have to be renewed?
Accreditation is normally granted for a period of five to seven years and is renewable.
Why is Institutional Accreditation Important?
The process is introspective, which allows cross-discipline teams to provide solutions to challenges faced and identify areas for continuous quality improvement.
It gives the University as well as our graduates a competitive edge:
- Accredited Universities deliver high quality programmes
- Obtaining a degree from a University with Institutional Accreditation increases the chances of admission into further studies at international institutions
- Supports entry into professions where a degree from an accredited institution is a pre-requisite
- Provides a competitive advantage for employment (high quality degree)
- Improves the University’s Ranking Globally
For more information on our Accreditation please email:
marketing.communications@uwimona.edu.jm