The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) is delighted to announce that on 24th September 2024, the institution was notified of its acceptance as a candidate for accreditation by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
The candidacy was effective as of 13th September 2024.
Not to be confused with actual accreditation status, candidacy status is a pivotal step in the accreditation process.
BTVI’s Board of Directors resolved in December 2023 that the institution would commence the process for achieving both national and international accreditation. COE, an accrediting body recognised by the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB), is the organisation through which BTVI is currently pursuing international accreditation status. Initially founded as the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions (COEI) under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), COE is the prominent voice in the field of career and technical education.
According to BTVI’s President, Dr. Linda A. Davis, “To be accredited by COE is a coveted and respected designation recognised worldwide.”
“This is in no small part due to the degree of rigour and complexity built into the accreditation process. All hands are on deck and the BTVI team is working assiduously towards the goal of accreditation. There is an excitement in the air throughout the institution as we embark on this candidacy journey. We are on the cusp of something huge,” said Dr. Davis.
As an accredited institution, BTVI will join a network of 1,095 campuses throughout the world with a shared mandate to uphold the standard of excellence in occupational education. BTVI anticipates the honour of carrying this mantle on behalf of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
The accreditation process is rigorous and multifaceted, requiring BTVI to be simultaneously strategic and tactical in its approach. Before the prized status of accreditation is conferred, COE requires desirous institutions to undergo a pre-accreditation period of self-study and evaluation called Candidacy. Even still, before an institution is considered for Candidacy, it must demonstrate eligibility and readiness to commence the accreditation process.
For BTVI, this process began in April 2024 with the COE Candidate Academy Workshop held in Atlanta Georgia, USA, and attended by BTVI President Dr. Linda A. Davis and Quality Assurance Officer, Dr. Dorcas Cox. With the insights gained at Candidate Academy, BTVI proceeded to submit an application for Candidacy and Accreditation to COE.
Following the application’s approval, BTVI advanced to the next stage, which was the candidacy visit; it took place at the New Providence main campus on 26th August 2024. The Candidacy Visit is the physical and administrative evaluation of an institution, conducted by representatives from COE. The BTVI team presented meticulous exhibits to demonstrate the institution’s eligibility for candidacy. Additionally, COE representatives toured the campus and interviewed staff and faculty.
Subsequently, the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education met on 12th – 13th September 2024, to act on accreditation matters. At this meeting, the Commission reviewed BTVI’s application, candidacy visit report and other supporting documentation to become a candidate for accreditation. On 24th September, BTVI received the official notification that the institution had been accepted as a Candidate for Accreditation.
During candidacy, the institution must establish compliance with 10 overall occupational education standards with over 100 evaluation criteria. A mandatory investigative self-study must be completed to identify instances of compliance and remediate in instances of non-compliance. Subsequently, compliance with these standards and criteria must be evidenced by over 300 exhibits and supporting documents. Additionally, COE must physically evaluate all sites under BTVI’s remit to verify compliance with firsthand accounts.
BTVI stands poised to successfully advance through this next stage in the accreditation process.