THE recent debate about accreditation is good and raised the profile of the UCJ beyond its ken. It also says ignorance and commercial pressures are impacting education and we may now have a teachable moment. Academic quality is the raison d’etre of the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ). This is not negotiable. We are a mixed economy and investors in campuses are welcome, and UCJ accreditation was here in 1987 before they started.

All may be accredited if they invest in internal quality control as UWI did — so a farrago of jealousy, greed will not lower the bar. Some concrete block makers do not have the Bureau of Standards quality mark, and they sell blocks until walls fall down and taxpayers rescue them. All campuses or degrees are not equal but, like blocks, they look alike. The UCJ is party to protocols; so to “fly the gate” for the Philistines would mean students lose when abroad and Brand Jamaica suffers. They shall not pass!

A degree is now a commodity. Accreditation means you might get an education while reading a degree. Sir Howard Cooke was a good teacher, thanks to a Mico diploma — the gold standard of old. But “degree devaluation” means a BA is like an old diploma. My diploma in welding and metallurgy from Canada is now a BSc? Wow! A “vanity degree” is hot property. Buy a BA and bragging rights! The “honorary degree” from an accredited campus is priceless — a tribute to a star in the firmament of his industry; honoris causa. A “degree factory” fills a need for self-worth and also many workers need the theory underpinning their job so they can do better — often not at the level but they get a degree. The “academic campus” offers the liberal arts and sciences, has patents, IP, and is top of the intellectual chain. Many invest in a degree shop, but none in academia; they let UWI and UTech do the heavy lifting, pick the low-hanging fruit, and profit. Happily, all investors in education here are upright with the best motives, but impending business failure can bring out the worst. The furore also relates to the 20-plus degree outlets, as some may soon close and hurt students. These are hard times, and the exploitation of naïve, ignorant students is now in focus.

The UCJ is the quality body for academia; the NCTVET accredits the technical and vocational, CAAM-HP accredits dental and medical schools in the region. None solicits business. Incidentally, the National Education Inspectorate is logically to be the school accreditation agency given poor results over many years. You remember when UC hospital almost lost its charter? Friend, if you feel you can drive go to the depot; don’t wait for them to call you. A proactive UCJ may be seen as biased, and though academia is not time-sensitive, many campuses have owners whose bottom lines are. Any local or foreigner can register a business named “university college” or “university” and so students may be duped.

We have three universities (one private) and one university college, others, storefronts, some of uncertain provenance. Many live on fees and so “caveat emptor” is as relevant as buying a used car. The UWI is tops and the angst of others is palpable. The UWI was well funded for decades, and Cabinet will never again invest as then. It is the only accredited campus. It had long apprenticeship as a college of a quality global university — it was not a polytechnic as UTech or a teachers’ college as Mico. It has robust internal quality control built over a decade; the academic depth to support professors; it is rated in global league tables — no other campus is; has patents, IP and innovation. We are part-owner, it is our flagship and was here before UCJ. Get over it ,guys!

NCU has a century of pedigree as a college and moved up. The track record of its graduates, R&D and its affinity to a global faith powerhouse mark its quality. UTech is en route to greatness. It began as a polytechnic for excellent work-ready persons; what it lacks in history is made up in a decade by R&D and top graduates. It is our STEM campus and slated as the MIT of the region. Mico University College is ancient, produced our most-decorated diplomates in teaching, but is on a new, unknown path. It lacks the quality mentor UWI had or the deep-faith pockets of NCU and may focus in the vocation of teaching. A university stands on its history or innovation. Few have history and fewer still patents, and most need local credit only as they have no global footprint.

Can the UCJ have two levels of accreditation? We have two types of campuses anyway. One is R&D-driven and most do taught degrees and “professor” is just a job title only, not “eminence grise”. Some rent space, lecturers do peripatetic job-work. My peeps say some hire good staff and good premises for the years of UCJ review only. Some 95 per cent of USA universities are not in global league tables as their graduates work at home. Most of ours work abroad so quality is critical. Most campuses are into degrees only, how do we “right-mind” them to favour education? Until then, let’s protect the designation “university” and “university college” in law.

Can the UCJ be what the FSC is to banking? Maybe not! Students invest some $20b in degrees. Is a campus 10-year plan, staff list, accounts, assets checked annually? Do owners and senior staff do “fit and proper” for probity, risk of business failure and flight risk? Higher education is the largest single investment a person will ever make, next to a mortgage. Helloo Jamaica…who cares? Does the Consumer Affairs Commission have a duty of care to protect consumers’, students’ or parents’ cash? Will this be UCJ, JTEC or BOJ’s duty? Students also need wise counsel on qualifications. Professions as ACCA, P Log, RA, PMP, P Eng — competency-based careers are best. A BA is not employer-friendly as “I can do anything” is not a skill. The UCJ is our Maginot Line in defence of academic quality. UCJ must improve, but no “hoorays”, as it will still take nine months to have a baby and years for accreditation. Why? Most campuses may never be accredited as a quality division is costly, takes time to build, and yields no direct profit to investors. Quality has no quick fix.

Our future is specialist campuses. The Caribbean Maritime Institute serves in a critical specialism; brings acclaim, jobs, and its place in the global maritime and logistics firmament is secure. VTDI is the specialist in TVET instructor training using NCTVET standards. Your furniture is quality, your gas cylinder is ASTM, so thank woodwork and welding instructors trained by them. Academic quality work is low-profile but critical.

Campuses come and go; the UCJ stands. Our graduates need globally portable degrees, so don’t bash UCJ, raise your own game, people! We must be resolute against the selfish, ignorant and Luddite. They shall not pass! Stay conscious, my friend.

Dr Franklin Johnston is a strategist, project manager and advises the minister of education. franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com