National Accreditation Agencies of the Arcu-Sur System: Initial Considerations

Abstract

The paper analyzes the role of National Accreditation Agencies (ANAs), which are the organs responsible for carrying out the accreditation of programs in the Regional Programs Accreditation System (ARCU-SUR) do Mercosul Educativo. The ARCU-SUR was created in 2008 as a permanent system after a previous experience with the Courses Accreditation Experimental Mechanism, in 2004-2006, which had accreditated  medical, engineering and agronomy programs. The text presents partial research results based on documentary analysis and interviews. It points out the characteristics of the accreditation agencies of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay analizing them according to four criteria: creation; autonomy; nature and structure. From this analysis, we proceed to assess the performance of agencies and their compatibility as ANA in the framework of the Network of National Agencies for Accreditation. The conclusions show a relationship between the behavior of the agencies in the ARCU-SUR and other factors that influenced the results.