Consejo Nacional de Acreditación CAN

Overview

The Consejo Nacional de Acreditación (CNA)or National Accreditation Council of Colombia, is the national agency responsible for assessing and certifying the quality of higher education institutions and academic programmes. As the central body within Colombia’s voluntary accreditation system, it evaluates universities, across public and private sectors and may accredit individual degree programmes as “acreditación de alta calidad.” According to uniRank, the CNA is widely recognised throughout Colombia as the leading authority in quality assurance and accreditation for tertiary education.

History and Legal Framework

The CNA was established by Law 30 of 1992 (Article 53), which created the legal foundation for the national system of quality assurance in higher education, known as the Sistema Nacional de Acreditación (SNA). The system’s structure and procedures were further regulated by Decree 2904 of 1994, detailing accreditation methodology and institutional roles. Operatively linked to the National Council of Higher Education (CESU), the CNA began functioning in the mid‑1990s. Legislative updates—such as the 2015 reform of accreditation criteria via Decree 843/2020 and the 2019–2020 CESU accreditation model update—reflect its evolving legal mandate to align with global best practices.

Mission, Vision and Objectives in Higher Education

Mission: to guarantee that institutions and programmes seeking voluntary accreditation meet the highest standards of quality and fulfil their stated goals, thus serving society and national development.

Vision: to remain an autonomous, academically rigorous and internationally respected agency, known for transparent procedures, ethical evaluation and continuous innovation.

• Promote voluntary accreditation processes for institutions and academic programmes within Colombia’s higher education system.
• Advance a culture of self‑evaluation, peer review and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure academic excellence while respecting institutional diversity of mission, governance and disciplinary focus.
• Expand national coverage to increase public trust, mobility of students and staff and institutional competitiveness.

Governance, Structure and Independence

The CNA is governed by a collegial council comprised of seven members appointed by the National Council of Higher Education (CESU) through open public calls. Council members are recognised academics or professionals with national and international standing. They serve a single five‑year term and cannot be reappointed. Supporting the council is a Technical and Academic Secretariat, which manages day‑to‑day administration, peer‑review coordination and accreditation logistics.

Although the CNA is formally connected to the Ministry of National Education through CESU, it operates with significant academic and technical autonomy. Accreditation decisions are made independently, based on standardised criteria and peer review, without operational interference from political or ministerial authorities.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation in Higher Education

Within Colombia’s higher education assurance system, the accreditation process administered by the CNA includes the following stages:

1. Institutional self‑evaluation by the university or programme applying for accreditation.
2. External peer evaluation, conducted by teams of academic experts selected by the CNA.
3. Council deliberation, where the CNA reviews findings and decides to approve (or deny) accreditation.
4. Ministerial recognition, formally issuing the accreditation via an administrative act.

Accreditation may be granted for a duration of three to ten years, depending on the quality demonstrated. As of 2020, the CNA had granted high‑quality accreditation to over 1,142 undergraduate programmes, 216 postgraduate programmes and 52 higher education institutions across Colombia—evidence of its broad institutional reach.

Although voluntary, accredited programmes and institutions often enjoy heightened prestige, greater regulatory flexibility and improved mobility—according to uniRank, many students, employers and universities regard CNA accreditation as a mark of excellence.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

The CNA pursues active international engagement to align its standards with global benchmarks and reinforce its reputation for credible quality assurance.

• Since 2012, the CNA has held certification from both INQAAHE (International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education) and RIACES (Red Iberoamericana de Agencias de Calidad en Educación Superior) following adherence reviews against the Guidelines of Good Practice.
• The agency has undergone periodic re‑evaluations (e.g. in 2017 and 2022) to renew its certified status, solidifying its international standing.
• The CNA is exploring accreditation alignment with the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) to support international recognition of medical programmes.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

The CNA continues to influence higher education in Colombia through several key trends:

• Expanded accreditation coverage: Rapid uptake by universities and technical institutions has increased the number of accredited programmes and institutions.
• Model modernisation: The 2020 accreditation reform reduced evaluation criteria—narrowing from over 200 to roughly 100 aspects—to streamline the process while maintaining rigor.
• Impact on student mobility: Accreditation status facilitates both domestic academic transfer and international recognition of degrees.
• Future developments: Plans aim to extend accreditation to non‑university tertiary providers and to promote digital readiness, sustainability and equity metrics within evaluation frameworks.

Summary

The Consejo Nacional de Acreditación (CNA) is the cornerstone of Colombia’s voluntary quality assurance system for higher education. Established under Law 30 of 1992 and designed to function with academic autonomy, it implements a peer‑based evaluation model that leads to ministerial recognition of accredited academic programmes and institutions. Through its strategic governance, international affiliations and transparent processes, the CNA has strengthened institutional credibility, supported continuous quality improvement and enhanced both national and global relevance of Colombian higher education.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is the Consejo Nacional de Acreditación (CNA)?
  

  The CNA is Colombia’s official accreditation body for higher education, responsible for evaluating and certifying institutions and programmes that voluntarily seek a quality distinction.

• When was the CNA created?
  

  It was created by Law 30 of 1992 (Article 53) and operationalised under Decree 2904 of 1994, with its first accreditation decisions issued in the mid‑1990s.

• Is accreditation mandatory?
  

  No—accreditation through the CNA is voluntary, but it conveys national prestige and often enhances employability and institutional recognition.

• How long does accreditation last?
  

  Accreditation is issued for between three and ten years, depending on the quality demonstrated during evaluation.

• Who governs the CNA?
  

  The council comprises seven academics appointed by the National Council of Higher Education (CESU), supported by a Technical and Academic Secretariat.

• Is the CNA independent?
  

  Yes—it is formally linked to the National Education Ministry via CESU, but it functions with full academic and technical autonomy in accreditation matters.

• What international agencies recognise the CNA?
  

  The CNA is certified by INQAAHE and RIACES under the Guidelines of Good Practice; it is also pursuing medical accreditation alignment with WFME.

• How many institutions and programmes are accredited?
  

  As of 2020, over 1,142 undergraduate programmes, 216 postgraduate programmes and 52 institutions had received accreditation de alta calidad.

Organization Name

Consejo Nacional de Acreditación
National Accreditation Council

Acronym

CAN

Year of Establishment

1/01/1992

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Calle 19 No. 6 - 68. Piso 17
Bogotá
Bogota Colombia

Phone

+57 (1) 341 10 50

Fax

+57 (1) 222 28 00

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

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X (Twitter)

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LinkedIn

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YouTube

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Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

Consejo Nacional de Acreditación's Wikipedia article

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