Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “accredit” means to evaluate and determine whether a registered institution, its programmes or awards meet established standards; “accreditation” is a status granted to educational institutions or programmes by a competent authority on the basis of an informed evaluation indicating that the programme and courses offered by an institution and its awards meet or exceed stated criteria of educational quality. Usually accreditation is voluntarily sought by institutions and programmes and is conferred by a non-governmental institution (non- profit), peer-reviewed third party; “A.T.L.I.B.” means the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions in Belize; “award” means any degree, diploma, certificate or other evidence of competence of achievement; National Accreditation 6 Council of Belize “Board” means the Board of Directors established under section 4 of the Act; “C.E.O.” means the Chief Executive Office of the Ministry of Education; “Community College” means a post-secondary or tertiary institution that offers a variety of programmes primarily at the sub-baccalaureate level geared to meet the needs of the community in which it exists; “Council” means the National Accreditation Council of Belize, established under section 3 of this Act; “course” means a defined body of knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired over a specified period and to which one or more credits may be awarded; “Court” means the Supreme Court; “credit” means a unit of academic measurement of educational value; “equivalence” means an assessment of the comparative educational value of varying levels of competence and achievement; “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Council appointed under section 5 of this Act; “institution” means an organization with a developed structure providing for the delivery, certification, administration and governance of a programme or range of programmes leading to awards and credits; “Junior College” means a tertiary institution that offers the first two years of study terminating in an associate degree; National Accreditation “Minister” means the Minister responsible for Education; “Ministry” means the Ministry responsible for Education; “post-secondary” means all education and training programmes which are not at tertiary level but which are offered to secondary school leavers to meet their vocational or continuing educational needs; “programme” means an approved curriculum composed of a series of courses leading to certification such as a certificate, diploma, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree; “provider” means a person or group of persons offering one or more programmes for awards or credits; “recognize” means to evaluate and approve the quality of foreign awards; “Register” means the register of post-secondary and tertiary institutions and programmes registered or accredited in Belize; “Technical College” or “Technical Institute” means a post- secondary institution that offers programmes that prepare graduates for technical occupations and grants sub- baccalaureate awards to applied disciplines; “Technical University” means a tertiary institution that has as its major emphasis the preparation of graduates for technological occupations through the award of baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate awards and also conducts research of an applied nature; “Tertiary College” means a tertiary institution that offers a range of programmes and grants awards mainly at the sub- baccalaureate level; National Accreditation 8 Council of Belize “tertiary education” means the teaching and learning process that occurs following successful completion of secondary schooling or its equivalent and leads to the award of sub- baccalaureate awards, baccalaureate and post-graduate degrees; “T.V.E.T. “means the Technical, Vocational and Educational Training Project; “university” means a tertiary institution that offers programmes leading to awards at the baccalaureate or post- baccalaureate level and is characterized as well by a commitment to research that maintains and advances, disseminates and assists the application of knowledge. Establishment, Management, Functions and Powers of the