ACCREDITATION SYSTEM OF VET PROVIDERS IN BHUTAN

Prepared by:

Wangda Dorji
Programme Officer
Bhutan Vocational Qualifications Authority
Ministry of Labour & Human Resources
Royal Government of Bhutan

INTRODUCTION

Background

Prior to 1999, Technical and Vocational Education was under the Ministry of Health and Education. In 1999 the National Technical Training Authority (NTTA) was established to streamline and coordinate Technical and vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country. The NTTA was given the mandate to coordinate training delivery as well as to check the quality of trainings. With the growth of the NTTA, it was bifurcated into two divisions, one to look after training delivery and other to monitor the quality of the trainings delivered. In July 2003 the NTTA expanded into two departments viz. Department of Human Resources (DHR) and Bhutan Vocational Qualifications Authority (BVQA). These two departments along with the Department of Labour and Department of Employment formed a new ministry, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources. The DHR has the mandate to coordinate training delivery functions whereas the BVQA has the role to ensure quality training.

MANDATE OF BHUTAN VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY (BVQA)

• Developing & approving qualifications
  
  
• Developing nationally agreed Occupational Profiles
  
  
• Developing national Assessment & Certification system to certify skilled workers
  
  
• Awarding certificates and qualifications to competent skilled workers
  
  
• Accrediting training providers/programmes
  

The Framework

ACCREDITATION SYSTEM

Current status

Accreditation system is a new concept in Bhutan. However, it doesn't mean to say that quality assurance system in training was missing. There were other means to improve quality of vocational education and training. The BVQA is currently developing Accreditation System for the TVET sector. Since 2003, substantial amount of work has been done in following components of accreditation system:

1. Purpose of accreditation 
   
   
2. Advantages of accreditation
   
   
3. Types of accreditations
   
   
4. Standards of accreditation
   
   
5. Grading of accreditation
   
   
6. Steps of accreditation
   
   
7. Procedure for accreditation visit

 

NOTE:

Accreditation system in Bhutan is developed using our own human resources capacity without depending on external expert. Currently, all these components are under various stages of review.

ISSUES

• The choice of making accreditation system mandatory or voluntary for training provider has not yet been decided by the BVQA.
  
  
• Accreditation fees to keep free or impose minimal amount.
  
  
• Qualifications of accreditors not specified.
  
  
• Accreditation to be applied only in TVET sector or to apply in other education and training sector.
  
  
• The department is under staffed.
  
  
• How to make basis for programme accreditation?
  
  

FUTURE PLANS

1. Occupational Profiles will be developed for all relevant occupations on a priority basis.
   
   
2. Test items database will be developed based on the Occupational Profiles.
   
   
3. Trainings will be based on the Occupational Profiles.
   
   
4. Assessment will be done as per the test items developed.
   
   
5. Accreditation will be done as per the accreditation guidelines.
   
   
6. Accreditation will be started with the public institutes.
   
   
7. For private/corporate institutes, accreditation will be optional.
   
   
8. Awareness on accreditation will be made to other training providers in the country irrespective of the type of trainings that they provide.
   
   
9. Initially the government has to bear the costs of the accreditation, but when the accreditation system picks up momentum, the costs for accreditation will have to be borne by the institute that applies for accreditation.
   
   
10. The accreditation guidelines will be updated accordingly as per the feedback received once it is implemented.  
    
    
11. Accreditation system will be incorporated in the TVET Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan.