AkreditacionIM

AkreditacionIM is an international accreditation organisation that provides quality assurance services to higher education and professional training institutions. It was founded in 1999 by a consortium of European universities with the aim of harmonising academic standards across borders. The organisation operates under a set of accreditation criteria based on accreditation models recognised by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).

The organisation functions as an independent body that evaluates institutions against benchmarks for teaching, research, governance, and infrastructure. Accredited members are required to submit programme descriptions, faculty qualifications, student outcomes, and financial reports for verification by a panel of experts. The evaluation process typically lasts six to eight months and culminates in a formal accreditation report. Institutions retain accredited status for a period of five years, after which a provisional status is granted pending a re‑inspection.

AkreditacionIM is acknowledged by several national ministries of education, and its accreditation is often cited as a prerequisite for participation in European Union mobility schemes such as Erasmus+. The organisation is funded through membership fees, accreditation service charges, and grants from the European Union. A board of directors, elected by member institutions, governs policy and strategic direction.

Critics have argued that AkreditacionIM’s criteria are heavily weighted towards European models, potentially disadvantaging institutions in non‑European contexts. Additionally, some stakeholders have flagged concerns about the cost of accreditation and the limited transparency of the auditing process. Despite these criticisms, AkreditacionIM remains a prominent player in global higher‑education quality assurance, with more than 300 accredited institutions spread across 25 countries.