The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is the governing body covering both public and private higher education institutions as well as degree-granting programs in all tertiary educational institutions in the Philippines.

The CHED was established on May 18, 1994 through Republic Act 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994.

On the whole, there are two types of accreditation in the Philippines, namely: government accreditation and private accreditation. Government accreditation is done by CHED which involves the process of issuance of government authorization to offer programs to the private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the form of permit or recognition.

Private accreditation, which is voluntary in nature, refers to the accreditation being done by the private accrediting bodies such as the Federation of Accrediting Agency of the Philippines (FAAP) et al.

CHED MORPHE Article XII, Section 59. Effects of Government Recognition. - A Certificate of Recognition issued by the Commission to a higher education institution for a particular degree program shall have the following effects:

• It authorizes the higher education institution to confer the students who have completed a program including a ladderized program, a certificate, title, diploma, or degree, whichever is applicable; and
• It entitles the graduates of recognized programs to all the benefits and privileges enjoyed by graduates of similar recognized programs in all higher education institutions authorized by the government.

Click here for the list of CHED Region III accredited Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines where St. Linus University is included.

PHILIPPINE PROGRAMS

The CHED authorizes St. Linus University to offer its academic programs in the Philippines via St. Linus Online Institute. For details, click the icons below for the curriculum and course offerings checklist:

DOMINICA PROGRAMS

The legal authority upon which St. Linus University confers its academic degrees is based on the Commonwealth of Dominica Statutory Rules and Orders (SRO) No. 65 of 1996.

Said SRO does not require business entities with academic functions to be accredited in Dominica to issue a degree legally. By law, accreditation in Dominica is not mandatory. Under common law precedents concerning university title and the conducting of university work, SLU is lawfully permitted to conduct all activities proper to an international, private institution of postsecondary education, including the conferral of degrees up to the doctoral level, in any jurisdiction that permits this activity. SLU maintains its registered office at Roseau, Dominica, but under the statute governing its incorporation does not offer educational activities within Dominica itself.

Quoting the United States Department of Education (USDE): "Accreditation does not provide automatic acceptance by an institution of credit earned at another institution, nor does it give assurance of acceptance of graduates by employers. Acceptance of students or graduates is always the prerogative of the receiving institution or employer."

Per ACT No. 10 of 1996, St. Linus University is not a part (or exempted) of the Dominican education system. It accepts no state funding in connection with any of its activities. The activities of Dominica-licensed private universities operating wholly outside that country are subject to statutory exemption and are the responsibility of the Registrar of Companies rather than the Ministry of Education, which is concerned solely with purely domestic institutions.

Hence, we serve only those who believe we can help them meet their needs with no discrimination against our accreditation status. The academic programs we offer include, but not limited to:

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) states that "In most countries, accreditation is a choice, not an obligation, and the fact that an academic institution is not accredited does not, by itself, mean that it is not a reputable organization or the lack thereof should not lead one to believe that a degree is worthless."

That said, SLU chose to seek (and in the process of) ISO 9001:2008 accreditation, even when it is not compulsory, in order to be able to demonstrate an independent confirmation of its competence and credibility.

Will employers value the online degree you have received? Will you be able to transfer credits from your online course to another institution? A key to answering these questions is a clear understanding of what the receiving party is looking for.

The British Parliament Act of 1988 for the Department of Education & Science (DfES), for example,   states: "The awards made by overseas educational establishments should be recognised, by employer and professional bodies. . . . The assessment and recognition of such qualifications would be a matter for individual employers, professional bodies, and other educational institutions in accordance with their own needs and criteria."

The 16th annual European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference in Torino, Italy (2004) also states: 

• Accreditation is not mandated; it is voluntary. Institutions or programs choose to participate in
  the accreditation process.
• Accreditation is not a measure of ranking or relative quality of institutions compared to
  each other.
• Accreditation is based in standards of good practice, not law.

Our students may obtain a double major (applicable to the same "degree name" or open degree but not with the same "named degree" or specified degree) by meeting all requirements in two departments. Major work in one department can, if there is a generic relationship, serve as the outside field in the second major, and vice versa. The student who completes the requirements for a double major (with one advisor per major) will receive only one degree, but his or her transcript will reflect the two majors.

A double degree (applicable to a combination of prerequisite-level of a differently-named degrees), may beacquired, however,by completing all university requirements for one degree; by completing all the major requirements of both degrees; and by completing all college requirements of both degrees.

The Philippines and Dominica are both signatories of the "Convention against Discrimination in Education, Paris 14 December 1960."

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) records the Ministries of Education and various international state-authorized accrediting institutions, which recognize CHED-accredited degree- and non-degree programs.

All types of partnerships are governed through a variety of mutually agreed system. While it is true that our affiliates are self-governing bodies with their own accountability mechanisms; it is equally true that partnership should be designed and implemented in a transparent and accountable manner. Hence, they are expected to provide an open and credible information and reporting.

We strongly emphasize that it is the sole responsibility of our affiliates to apply in their country of operation(s) the government authorization of the courses we offer online. We assume no obligation or liability for their non-compliance to the legal requirements prescribed by the host country.

We categorically and unequivocably declare that our MOA with our erring affiliates is automatically revoked upon violation of any law, rule or regulation.

Unless and until we attain accreditation in the country where our affiliates offer our online programs, other academic institutions may refuse to accept our academic credits on a transfer basis. At this time, no assurances can be given as to when, or if, accreditation might be granted.

Cross-Border Recognition in Asia and the Pacific

"All things obey fixed laws"--Manilius

Caveat Emptor: The UNESCO reminds the public that "It does not have the mandate to accredit nor to recognise higher education institutions, programmes, diplomas or accrediting agencies."

That "There exist both bogus institutions (degree-mills or institutions that are unaccredited) and bogus accreditation agencies (accreditation-mills and unaccredited accrediting agencies)."

That "Any provider of higher education or accrediting agency which claims or gives the impression of being accredited and/or recognized by UNESCO should be looked upon with caution."

Guided by a common will to strengthen the bonds by which geography and history have linked them, the UNESCO Regional Conventions on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education were created for cross-border recognition.

The Philippines is a party to the UNESCO Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific adopted by the International Conference of State held in Bangkok, Thailand on December 12-16, 1983. The signatories:

Article 1

For the purpose of this convention, the 'recognition' of a foreign certificate, diploma or degree or higher education means its acceptance by the competent authorities of a Contracting State and the granting to the holder of the rightsenjoyed by persons possessing a national certificate, diploma or degree with which the foreign one is assessed as comparableby competent authorities within the Contracting State. Such rights extend to either the pursuit of studies or the practice of a profession, or both, according to the the applicability of the recognition.

(a) Recognition of a certificate, diploma or degree with a view to undertaking or pursuing studies at the higher educational and research institutions situated in any Contracting State under the same conditions as those applying to holders of a comparablecertificate, diploma or degree issued in the Contracting State concerned. Such recognition does not exempt the holder of the foreign certificate, diploma or degree from complying with any conditions (other than those relating to the holding of a diploma or degree) which may be required for admission by the higher educational or research institution concerned in the State granting such recognition.

(b) Recognition of a foreign certificate, diploma or degree with a view to the practice of a profession constitutes recognition that the holder has received-the technical training required for the practice of that profession. Such recognition does not exempt the holder of the foreign certificate, diploma or degree from complying with any other conditions for the practice of the profession concerned which may be laid down by the competent governmental or professional authorities of Contracting States concerned.

(c) However, recognition of a certificate, diploma holder in another Contracting State to more rights than he would enjoy in the country in which it was conferred.

2. For the purposes of this Convention :

(a) 'secondary education' means that stage of studies of any kind which follows primary or elementary education and the aims of which may include the preparing of pupils for access to higher education';

(b) 'higher education' means all education, training or research at post secondary level'.

3. For the purposes of this Convention 'partial studies' means periods of study or training which, although not constituting a complete course of study, are such that they add significantly to the acquisition of knowledge or skills.

Article 2

1. The Contracting States intend to contribute through their joint action to the promotion of the active co-operation of all the nations of the Asia and the Pacific region in the cause of peace and international understanding and to the development of more effective collaboration with other Members States of UNESCO with regard to a more comprehensive use of their educational, technological and scientific potential.

2. The Contracting States solemnly declare their firm resolve to co-operate closely within the framework of their legislative and constitutional structures with a view to :

(a) enabling the educational and research resources available to them to be used as effectively as possible in the interests of all Contracting States, and, for this purpose:

(i) making their higher educational institutions as widely accessible as possible to students or researchers from any of the Contracting States;

(ii) recognizing the studies, certificates, diplomas and degrees of such persons;

(iii) elaborating and adopting terminology and evaluation criteria that are as similar as possible in order to facilitate the application of a system capable of ensuring the comparability of credits, subjects of study, certificates, diplomas and degrees, and of the conditions of access to higher education;

(iv) adopting a dynamic approach in matters of admission to further stages of study, bearing in mind knowledge acquired, as attested by certificates, diplomas and degrees, and also the individual's other relevant qualifications, so far as these may be deemed acceptable by competent authorities;

(v) adopting flexible criteria for the evaluation of partial studies, based on the educational level reached and on the content of the courses taken, bearing in mind the interdisciplinary character of knowledge at higher educational levels;

(vi) establishing and improving the system for the exchange of information regarding the recognition of studies, certificates, diplomas and degrees;

(b) constantly improving curricula in the Contracting States and methods of planning and promoting higher education, including harmonization of the conditions of access to higher education on the basis of not only the requirements for economic, social and cultural development, the policies of each country and also the objectives that are set out in the recommendations made by the competent organs of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization concerning the continuous improvement of the quality of education, the promotion of lifelong education and the democratization of education, but also the aims of the full development of the human personality and of understanding, tolerance and friendship among nations and in general all aims concerning human rights assigned to education by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education;

(c) promoting regional and worldwide co-operation in the matter of comparability and recognition or equivalence of studies and academic qualifications.

3. The Contracting States agree to take all feasible steps at the national, bilateral and multilateral levels, in particular by means of bilateral, subregional, regional or other agreements, arrangements between universities or other higher educational institutions and arrangements with the competent national or international organizations and other bodies, with a view to the progressive attainment of the goals defined in the present article.

Professional Associations

"There is strength in numbers"--Anon

The graduates of St. Linus University with relevant work experiences, skills and training may apply below for professional membership in their areas of studies.

Inclusion on this list does not imply that there is necessarily any institutional link between the listed institution and the University, nor that there is necessarily any mutual recognition of memberships or credentials at institutional level. Therefor:

Recognition by such associations typically depends not only on educational background but on the applicant's professional experience. For some associations, ordinary membership is accessible to any person with relevant interests without requirement of prerequisites, while others admit to graded levels of membership depending on the level of prior qualifications and experience of the applicant. In each case, membership offers opportunities for personal and professional development within the area(s) concerned.

All membership decisions (including any academic exemptions from graded membership requirements where applicable) are solely matters for the body concerned, and may be subject to change without notice. Potential applicants should therefore contact the body concerned directly to obtain its detailed requirements for entry and for all other queries concerning its regulations and procedures. The University does not accept liability for any matters involving third party organisations.