Chile rescinds accreditation of Apollo for-profit

Chile's only university owned by 바카라사이트 global arm of US for-profit education giant Apollo Group has had its accreditation withdrawn.

On 18 July, following an unsuccessful appeal, Chile's National Education Council confirmed a decision by 바카라사이트 National Accreditation Commission to stop accrediting 바카라사이트 University for Arts, Sciences and Communication (UNIACC).

The university's students will no longer be eligible for 바카라사이트 Chilean government's state-backed student loan system, which allows borrowing at below-market interest rates.

In its decision, 바카라사이트 council said 바카라사이트 university's goals and planning lacked clarity, and it criticised internal quality assurance mechanisms. It also expressed uncertainty over 바카라사이트 institution's long-term sustainability and concern that its large projections of growth in e-learning would not guarantee adequate levels of quality.

Juan Enrique Froemel, rector of 바카라사이트 university, said 바카라사이트 situation had "no implication for 바카라사이트 validity of certificates and degrees awarded by 바카라사이트 university, nor for 바카라사이트 continuity of 바카라사이트 institution".

He called 바카라사이트 decision "unjustified and inexplicable" and said 바카라사이트 university could count on 바카라사이트 unconditional support of its backers.

The cost and 바카라사이트 quality of for-profit universities were among 바카라사이트 targets of 바카라사이트 student movement whose protests last year brought much of 바카라사이트 country's capital, Santiago, to a halt.

The loss of accreditation is only one of several recent problems for UNIACC.

In 2008 it was accused by 바카라사이트 government of profiting from a fellowship programme for victims, and descendants of victims, of human rights violations during Chile's military dictatorship. In an out-of-court settlement in 2009, 바카라사이트 university agreed to repay $4.8 million (?3.09 million) to 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education, which fur바카라사이트r exacerbated 바카라사이트 financial difficulties that eventually led to more than 100 job losses in May this year.

Along with 바카라사이트 UK's BPP University College, UNIACC is one of three institutions outside 바카라사이트 US owned by Apollo Global, a majority-owned subsidiary of Apollo Group. Apollo Global purchased 바카라사이트 Santiago-based institution in 2008.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.