The World Accreditation Commission (WAC) is a world-wide association of organizations that is active
in the theory and practice of quality assurance (QA) in higher education (HE).
The greater majority of its members are quality assurance agencies (as Full members) that operate
in many different ways. However, the Network also welcomes (as Associate member) other
organisations that have an interest in Quality Assurance in Higher Education, and individuals with
major interest in Higher Education (as Affiliates). WAC thus offers its members the many benefits of
being part of such an active group of workers in QA in Higher Education.
WAC was established under the law of 1776 of Government of United States of America with
chartered file number 5378647 at First State (State of Delaware) with Certificate of Good Standing
as an International Standard living entity under the law of government of United States of America
Higher Education ( HE) has dramatically changed over the last decades. Distance education as
well as vocational education have become increasingly more important as is the need for recognition
of prior learning. Higher Education has become more global than ever before. Professional
accreditation has become more important as more higher education institutions (HEI) delivering
programs in different modes enter the market. All these have thrust the QA agencies into ever
expanding roles.
WAC is a Quality Assurance community, with shared interests, a common language and an
understanding of how things are done with regard to a very specific field of work. It provides a forum
for the discussion of global issues that go beyond national or regional boundaries, such as cross
border education. Members have the opportunity to learn from what others are doing, both from their
successes and their failures, and thus have now set the ground for the development of a Quality
Assurance profession.
MISSION
The central purpose and role of WAC is to promote and advance excellence in higher education
through the support of an active international community of quality assurance agencies. In order to
achieve this goal, the network focuses on the development of the theory and practice of quality
assurance, the exchange and understanding of the policies and actions of its members, and the
promotion of quality assurance for the benefit of higher education, institutions, students and society
at large.
VALUES
Fundamental to the work of the Network are the key values that support the policy and practice of
quality assurance:
- Recognition of the value of the collective wisdom gathered from the practices of a diverse set of
members, and their ability to address the challenges of the educational and social structures in
which they operate. WAC celebrates this diversity, which has also made it possible to identify
and highlight commonalities and fundamental principles that underpin good practice and guide
the operation of Quality Assurance (QA) agencies. - Belief in the primacy of academic freedom and institutional integrity, and a commitment to the
idea that quality and quality assurance are primarily the responsibility of higher education
institutions themselves. - A fundamental understanding of the importance of working in partnership – among members,
with higher education institutions, regional, international government and nongovernment
organizations as well as the business sector – in order to provide member support, guidance,
information and advocacy for quality assurance
PURPOSES
- To create, collect and disseminate information on current and developing theory and practice in
the assessment, improvement and maintenance of quality in higher education. - To undertake or commission research in areas relevant to quality in higher education.
- To express the collective views of its members on matters relevant to quality in higher
education through contacts with international bodies and by other means. - To promote the theory and practice of the improvement of quality in higher education.
- To provide advice and expertise to assist existing and emerging quality assurance agencies.
- To facilitate links between quality assurance agencies and support networks of quality
assurance agencies. - To assist members to determine the standards of institutions operating across national borders
and facilitate better-informed international recognition of qualifications. - To assist in the development and use of credit transfer and credit accumulation schemes to
enhance the mobility of students between institutions (within and across national borders). - To enable members to be alert to improper quality assurance practices and organisations.
- To organise, on request, reviews of the operation of members.