Education authorities are racing to revise accreditation rules for private universities after the Council of State revoked operating licenses and study-program certifications for three institutions, placing the first academic year of about 600 students in doubt.
The rulings, issued shortly before the August 15 holiday, canceled approvals granted to programs linked to Keele University through Metropolitan College in Athens, the University of York through City College in Thessaloniki, and The Open University through Anatolia College in Thessaloniki. The court cited flaws in the certification and licensing process. In two cases, it found omissions by the National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance, which was responsible for confirming compliance with recommendations on building infrastructure. In another case, it ruled that a member of an evaluation committee had graduated from an educational unit connected to the institution under review.
Officials say those issues are relatively straightforward to address. More significant is the court’s finding that the National Authority for Higher Education had not sufficiently specified the quantitative and qualitative criteria used to certify study programs.
