Functions of the Council

(1) The functions of the Council shall be to promote the advancement of education in Belize to ensure that the quality of education delivered in Belize meet the standards set by the Council for the qualifications and certificates conferred and that the appropriate standards are being maintained and improved; to protect the interests of students and potential National Accreditation students; and to promote the free movement of skills and knowledge across the region. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions in any other law, the Council shall be the principal body for conducting and advising on the accreditation and recognition of education and training institutions, providers, programmes and awards both foreign and local and or the promotion of the quality and standard of education and training in Belize. (3) Notwithstanding the generality of the functions outlined in subsections (1) and (2), of this section, the Council shall in particular be responsible for, (a) registering the institutions both local and foreign which offer courses in Belize; (b) maintaining a register of approved institutions, providers and courses; (c) accrediting and re-crediting programmes of institutions operating in Belize; (d) validating new courses and programmes of institutions operating in Belize; (e) advising on the recognition of foreign institutions of education and training and their awards; (f) determining equivalency of programmes and qualifications in accordance with the regional qualifications framework; (g) developing and maintaining a unified credit based system for the tertiary education sector; National Accreditation 16 Council of Belize (h) granting credits at the appropriate level for learning assessed by the Council; (i) accepting credits granted by other bodies toward its own awards; (j) establishing with national, regional, international and external accrediting and quality assurance bodies and keep under their systems of accreditation, procedures and practices; (k) providing authoritative advice on accreditation and related matters including the conferral on institutions of such titles, inter alia, as a university, college, polytechnic, community college, technical college or technical university or Centre for Employment Training. (l) seeking to enhance the quality of tertiary education and training in Belize and to disseminate good practice by conducting research and training; (m) promoting quality assurance culture in the country; (n) discharging such other related functions as the Minister may assign to the Council from time to time; (o) facilitating the free movement of skills and knowledge within the Caribbean; (p) providing to the public information on the quality and recognition of programmes and National Accreditation institutions in order to protect the interest of the consumer and the public; (q) advising on issues of intellectual property involving courses developed externally to the institution or country and to provide guidance over copyright; and (r) doing all other things necessary, incidental or ancillary to the efficient discharge of its (4) The decision of the Council shall prevail in any dispute regarding assessments conducted by other bodies of the accreditation and or recognition of institutions, providers, programmes and or awards.