A snapshot of accreditation models: Organization,processes and practices. The case of the Universities Austral of Chile, Frontera and Lagos.

Abstract

The establishment of quality assurance policies in Chile has necessitated the development of systems and mechanisms to address them. Institutions have created their own mechanisms, however, revealing that a systematic approach is missing that would enable these experiences to transform into learning opportunities for the system as a whole, beyond the enclosed walls of each institution. Utilizing a sociological approach, this article aims to understand, present and analyze by way of comparative research, the distinct "organization methods" for the institutional accreditation processes developed by the Universities Austral of Chile, Frontera and Lagos. This article will attempt to reveal the variation in existing "organization methods" and emphasize that this diversity can be explained by understanding the internalization of the Legislation Nº 20.129 by the Institutions of Higher Learning as a process of "translation" and "significance". In conclusion, particularities of each case and experiences in common will be presented, along with the identification of good practices and ongoing challenges, as much for these universities in particular, as for the world of Institutions of Higher Learning collectively.