Accreditation helps in protecting the interests of all the stakeholders - students, faculty, parents, and educators by mapping & evaluating the overall institutional performance on the basis of the programs offered. For instance, if an institution aims at getting NBTE or NUC accreditation, then it must meet the operational standards & guidelines set by the accrediting bodies. These bodies will review the programs, crucial institutional information, data & compliance reports of the institution and, if they find them satisfactory enough to match their standards, they will grant accreditation.
The Centre for Advanced Library and Information Science (CALIM) was established in line with the National Library Act No 27 of 1970, section 2, sub-section 2 ©, which empowers it to do everything for the purpose of advancing the skills of persons and for training, education and research. Thus, the establishment of CALIM in 1993, which has since then been a centre with beehive of activities for hosting conferences, seminars and workshops in librianship. CALIM has now metamorphosed into a Diploma award institution with interim approval of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Thereafter, CALIM went through an extensive process that requires her to successfully pass the quality checks in terms of managing accurate institutional data, designing courses, carrying out assessments to evaluate & enhance students performance, provision of hostel facilities and equipping of the entrepreneurship centre which is currently manned by an NBA holder.
Process for CALIM Accreditation
CALIM went through a standard process to reach the end goal of getting accredited. CALIM ND Library and Information Programme accreditation process comprised the following steps:
Peer Review
Visit and Examination
Final Decision
For the peer review process, CALIM compiled institutional data from the past few years, prepared and submitted error-free compliance reports. The satisfactory reports lead to the next stage where the institution qualified for the accreditation committee physical visit. The NBTE team checked whether the parameters mentioned in the reports are met by verifying the necessary proofs and documents & then a decision to provide accreditation or not is made. The accreditation team opined that the process is to empower CALIM by helping her to analyze loopholes, improve academic structure, work on it, and gain trust among stakeholders. This will provide the institution an opportunity to design their education and head in the direction of continuous improvement. It takes effort, time, and proper data management to pass this litmus test. To be honest, it can multiplied the workload of faculty members. The NBTE team gave kudos to CALIM faculty for the calibre of students.
In a letter dated 13th February, 2025 the Executive Secretary was pleased to inform the Provost, Prof C.V Anunobi of CALIM success in the NBTE visitation of January 28th to 31st January 2025.
Benefits of Institutional Accreditation for CALIM
Accreditation can prominently help in achieving the following key parameters.
Shown that CALIM is meeting standards of education
May improve enrolment rate by winning trust of students & parents
Enables graduates to appear for further certification, i.e LRCN
Students who complete programs in non-accredited institutions risk, at worst, potentially being unable to obtain state licensure and may be unprepared for the relevant certifications such as the LRCN. The primary benefit of choosing accredited institution is the peace of mind with knowing that the degree or certification earned will be valid and recognized by current and future employers. An additional benefit of selecting an accredited institution is the marketability factor Accreditation serves as a type of insurance for prospective students by holding accredited institutions accountable to the standards set forth by their accrediting boards.
The pursuit of higher education in CALIM is not too expensive, yet this accreditation will guarantee prospective students that the program they complete will be worth the investment of their time and financial resources through quality instruction and the possibility of future career advancement. When students are considering enrolling at any istitution, verifying that the institution is accredited is a critical step in ensuring that the earned diploma or degree will be valid for practice within a desired field. This also ensures that credits earned possess a high level of transferability among similarly accredited institutions.
Expectations
CALIM accreditation would guarantee a high level of education. This will ensure students receive top-tier education, mentored by qualified faculty, and immersed in impactful curricula for a superior learning environment. Graduates from CALIM carry Diplomas that hold global recognition. This will facilitate the ease of transferring credits or pursuing further studies both locally and internationally because NBTE and JAMB have all the students records.
With approval letter for accreditation, CALIM is pledging to ongoing improvement and accountability. Regular self-assessment and external evaluations will keep the institution aligned with evolving academic demands. This commitment will benefits students by ensuring a progressive and relevant educational experience. Expectedly, Diplomas from CALIM will carry added value in the job market. Employers will acknowledge the rigorous standards upheld by the institution, giving graduates a competitive edge. It will also bolsters the credibility of the students, fostering greater recognition and collaboration opportunities.
In CALIM, quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort by the Faculty, hence accreditation. It is pertinent to note CALIM ND Library and Information science will be due for another accreditation visit by 2030.
Congratulations to all stakeholders.