CHEA Recognizes Its First International Accrediting Organization
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Council for Higher Education Accreditation Recognizes its First International Accrediting Organization – EdNet of the Kyrgyz Republic
A Groundbreaking First Recognition to Enhance International Quality Assurance in Higher Education
(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) announced today that the CHEA Board of Directors accepted the CHEA Committee on Recognition’s (COR) recommendation for CHEA recognition for EdNet Agency for Quality Assurance in Education, based in the Chüy Region, Bishkek, in Kyrgyzstan. EdNet is the first international accrediting organization to receive CHEA recognition. The EdNet organization accredits approximately 20 institutions and 300 programs that offer baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
"As the first independent accreditation body in Kyrgyzstan, EdNet’s recognition by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation marks a pivotal moment in the commitment to advancing global higher education quality standards,” said CHEA Board Chair Dottie L. King, Ph.D. “By recognizing our first international accreditor, we are strengthening our collective impact and reinforcing the importance of quality across higher education institutions worldwide."
Officially registered in June 2012, EdNet’s goal is, “To improve the internal and external quality assurance system and promote a culture of quality through independent accreditation of educational programs of higher educational institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic,” and was the result of the CANQA project - Creation Central Asian Network for Quality Assurance within the framework of the Tempus program, which was implemented from 2009-2012. Its organizational mission is to build community-responsive education with the highest degree of credibility according to international standards.
“CHEA Recognition of EdNet, strengthens our collective impact and reinforces the importance of institutional quality across higher education institutions worldwide,” said CHEA President Cynthia Jackson Hammond, Ed.D.,“ We look forward to collaborating with EdNet and other international partners to uphold principles of accreditation and quality academic assurances in higher education."
EdNet’s application for recognition was reviewed by CHEA’s Committee on Recognition (COR) during its March 2025 meeting. Based on its findings, COR recommended initial recognition of EdNet. The CHEA Board accepted COR’s recommendation and granted EdNet CHEA recognition as its first international accreditor on May 5, 2025. The decision to incorporate international accrediting organizations into CHEA's recognition process offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen global collaboration and elevate higher education standards worldwide.
“Earning CHEA recognition will have several significant impacts on EdNet,” said Onolkan Umankulova, President of EdNet. “EdNet has already changed some of its approaches toward accreditation procedures and, in some cases, is already applying them to its universities,” Umankulova added. “This means that CHEA's recognition is already influencing EdNet's understanding of Quality Assurance standards, academic freedom, and accreditation approaches, thus spreading these ideas into the academic society not only in Kyrgyzstan.”
International accreditors seeking to learn more about the CHEA international recognition process and procedures can visit the CHEA website and click on Resources for Accrediting Organizations.
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About the Council for Higher Education Accreditation: The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) serves its members, students and society through advocacy for the value and independence of accreditation, recognition of accrediting organizations, and commitment to quality in higher education.
Contact: Jeanne Hamrick, Director of Communications, 202-372-9258, [email protected]