2. Interpretation
In this Act —
“accredit” means the certification of a programme of study offered by a tertiary institution and the award it confers under this Act;
“accredited institution” means a tertiary institution that holds a certificate of accreditation;
“Accreditation Mark” means the Accreditation Mark under section 41;
“Accreditation Register” means the Accreditation Register kept and maintained under section 45;
“award” —
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(a) means a degree, diploma, certificate or other evidence of competence or achievement;
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(b) includes —
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(i) a sub-baccalaureate qualification,
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(ii) a baccalaureate, or
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(iii) post graduate degree;
“certificate of accreditation” means a certificate of accreditation issued under section 41;
“Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Council appointed under section 8;
“Council” means the National Accreditation Council established under section 6;
“course” means a defined body of knowledge, skills and aptitudes designed to be acquired over a specified period and to which one or more credits may be awarded;
“credit” means a unit of academic measurement for a course or set of courses for which a particular award is conferred;
“Deputy Chairperson” means the Deputy Chairperson of the Council elected under section 8;
“equivalent” means a determination by the Council that a particular programme of study is comparable in standard with a similar programme of study in terms of weight, level and quality;
“Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Council appointed under section 22;
“member” means a member of the Council appointed under section 7;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for education;
“prescribed” means prescribed in Regulations;
“programme of study” means an approved curriculum comprising a series of courses in an academic or vocational speciality leading to an award or credit;
“re-accredit” means renewal of certification of a programme of study offered by a tertiary institution and the award it confers under this Act;
“Regulations” means Regulations made under this Act;
“Secretary” means a Secretary appointed under section 23;
“standard” means a standard set by the Council under section 10(1)(a) and prescribed under this Act;
“tertiary education” means the teaching and learning process that occurs following completion of secondary schooling or its equivalent and which leads to an award or credit;
“tertiary institution” means an educational institution that offers tertiary education and is committed to research that maintains, advances, disseminates and assists the application of knowledge;
“validation” means reviewing and assessing the quality of a programme of study.