Trends That Shape the CAOT Accreditation ProgramThere are numerous domestic and global trends that have shaped the final content and process of the CAOT Accreditation Standards and Self-Study Guide (2017).
These trends are:
Accountability through accreditationAcademic accreditation in Canada is voluntary, but ultimately it is the sole instrument to ensure the consistent monitoring of quality and integrity within education programs (Glidden, 2004). As a system it is also recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT 2005), which is the organization that acknowledges the quality of occupational therapy educational programs internationally. Consequently, stakeholders such as the educational programs and the institutions themselves, as well as students and prospective students, licensing and examination bodies, the profession, and the consumer, are all assured of a consistent outcome with graduates of accredited programs in Canada.
Accreditation provides four key elements to assure quality monitoring and ensure quality education:
- It provides additional attention to the evidence of institutional and program performance.
- It supports and draws attention to evidence of student learning outcomes.
- It provides better information to the public.
- It helps governments recognize that the institution must decide the expectations and evidence of performance and outcomes (Glidden, 2004).
Outcome-based educationThe demand for accountability in professional education drives the growth of outcome measures in academic accreditation. An education program must provide potential new practitioners with outcome-based education that will allow them to work in an evolving environment of practice (CAOT, 2004b). To remain competitive within the domestic and international marketplace, professional education programs “must establish and mark progress towards the achievement of outcomes” (O’Neil, 1994). As an outcome orientation becomes more systematically incorporated into accreditation, it will also drive decisions affecting policy development, strategic planning, and resource allocation (Bezold, 1994). Outcome data can be used to demonstrate the importance of the profession to prospective students, potential clients, and funders of education (Glidden, 2004).
The powerful combination of self-report and qualitative measures in the latest document provides the market place with assurance that graduates from Canadian programs have graduated from quality education programs (Fitzpatrick, Sanders & Worthen, 2004; Patton, 1997)
Demonstrating educational effectivenessO’Neil (1994) suggests that accreditation should support continuous improvement of the quality of the graduate. CAOT academic accreditation is an integrated system that attempts to link the standards to graduate performance through continuous improvement in educational programming. The 2017 CAOT document guides the educational program through a process of self-study to identify the measures of effectiveness.
Diversity and regional approach to entry-level professional educationThe Profile of Occupational Therapy Practice in Canada (CAOT, 2012) recognizes the wide range of requirements of occupational therapists for today’s practice context. . It primarily reflects the expectations of a “competent” level of occupational therapy practice and also describes a “proficient” level of occupational therapy practice in a given role. The Profile defines the “competent” occupational therapist as an occupational therapist who meets or exceeds the minimal and ongoing performance expectations and demonstrates the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for safe and effective practice of occupational therapy at the beginning of and throughout their career. The seven main ‘roles’ of the occupational therapist defined and described in the profile (2012) include:
- Expert in Enabling Occupation;
- Practice Manager;
- Change Agent;
- Scholarly Practitioner; and
Global leadershipAccrediting organizations are encouraged to develop common world-class quality assurance systems with other professions and countries (Taylor, 1995; Peace Lenn, 1996). An international and transdisciplinary perspective serves to maintain excellence in higher education and research, and to assure continued leadership for Canada in the future. The accreditation process described in the CAOT Academic Accreditation Standards and Self-Study Guide (2017 edition) has the potential to be adapted or harmonized with other accrediting bodies nationally and internationally and reflects current and emerging educational practice including Interprofessional education (indicator 2.3) CAOT 2009).
The CAOT Academic Accreditation Standards and Self-Study Guide (2017) include a Canadian set of academic accreditation standards to promote the global mobility of graduates. CAOT’s international relationships and collaborative activities strengthen the position of CAOT members as global leaders in occupational therapy education, practice and research, and publications.
International trade agreements.
International trade agreements drive the growth of common standards. They have vast implications for the professions as well as for educators and accrediting agencies. The premise is to encourage prosperity by reducing barriers to employment for the member countries. Accreditation is regarded as an objective way of determining whether a professional program in one country meets the standards in another country (Ascher, 1996). The CAOT accreditation standards not only meet the world standards established by WFOT (WFOT, 2004) but also exceeds them, promoting mobility of Canadian graduates.