ACCREDITATION
WHAT IS ACCREDITATION?
ATTS encourages the process of accreditation through the services of the Association for Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa (APTEA). Accreditation means that a school has gone through a thorough self-study process, has had a site team visit, and has received approval from the team on the school’s progress. This process verifies that the institution is guided by well-defined and appropriate objectives to fulfill its mission and has established conditions and procedures whereby (1) its mission can be realized; (2) it is accomplishing its goals meaningfully; and (3) it will continue to do so. APTEA’s concept of school accreditation is that a school is substantially meeting APTEA standards.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION?
The status of accreditation includes increased credibility, ease of transfer of credit, assurance of quality control, and networking with other Assemblies of God institutions.
increased Credibility
Today many governments are critically assessing church-based schools. Often government educational departments close religious schools or restrict them from offering diplomas or degree because the school cannot prove it can meet the required academic standards. At the same time, students want to be confident that the school they attend is maintaining high academic standards. The approval by APTEA often gives a school credible standing with government agencies and students. In addition, APTEA schools that apply for governmental recognition find that the APTEA self-study is foundational and helpful to their application with the government.
Ease of Transfer
Today’s students tend to be more mobile than those of a generation ago. It has become common for students to transfer from one school to another, and the receiving school needs to be able to evaluate the academic credits of an incoming student. With APTEA membership, it is easy for schools to determine the level and quality of transfer credits. Similarly, when students want to move up to a higher degree at another institution, accreditation facilitates this process by validating the level and rigor of prior training.
Quality Assurance
The APTEA self-study required for accreditation provides a clear, realistic, and comprehensive look at all areas of the institution’s programs as perceived by its administrators, faculty, staff, students, and community. The result is often a radical increase in the institution’s quality of training. In addition, the feedback from the on-site review promotes increased effectiveness in teaching, administration, and process.
Networking
ATTS represents schools linked to the members of the Africa Assemblies of God Alliance (AAGA). We encourage Bible school leadership to network with APTEA in order to strengthen the bonds between AG schools across the continent. We also see great value in the networking of educators from multiple Pentecostal movements that share our Pentecostal perspective on training.
For more information about the process and nature of accreditation, you can access the APTEA standards by visiting the APTEA website at www.theaptea.org.