UB Pushes for International Standards, Union Urges Balance

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The University of The Bahamas is set to welcome nearly 2,000 freshmen this academic year, one of the largest incoming classes in the institution’s history.

The milestone comes as the university pursues international accreditation, having recently submitted applications to several leading local and global accrediting agencies.

Daniel Thompson, president of the Union of Tertiary Educators (UTEB), said the large intake will stretch resources such as classroom space and faculty workload, but that the union is prepared to support students and staff.

“We advised that they have one of the largest intakes this year of almost 2,000 students, freshmen. And so obviously it’ll stretch our natural resources in terms of teacher load, classroom, um, space, et cetera. Our faculty, we are ready to engage our students. We are looking forward to it. We’re excited about it,” Thompson said. “Concurrently, the university’s going through another level of its accreditation process. While UTEB, we are not against accreditation, we feel that the accreditation decision is a management decision.”

On campus, officials emphasized the importance of maintaining a human-centered approach to the accreditation process. Anastasia Brown, UTEB vice president, said faculty treatment and fairness remain central concerns.

“UTEP is working to make sure that all our faculty are treated fairly and that’s all we are concerned about. Accreditation is never an issue. Making sure, as the president said, that it’s a human factor and that the process is done fairly and according to SOCs accreditation process,” Brown said.

The process has faced criticism from former vice president Dr. Ian Strachan, who called it “the most colonial thing” the university could undertake during the Bahamas’ 50th anniversary of independence. Thompson acknowledged Strachan’s right to express his opinion but noted that the union does not necessarily support his view.

“In an academic institution, we do not impede people’s expression of their academic or personal position. That is Dr. Strachan’s position. And he has a right to express that. Our difference is that accreditation is an internationalization of standards. It does not dictate succumbing to colonialism,” Thompson said.

He added that ongoing discussions with the university’s new president are helping to address concerns through dialogue rather than public protest.