Cap. 25:27 Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education Act No. 1/2006 (2) the Council shall evaluate the performance of institutions regularly in the light of the institutional quality assurance standards prescribed in terms of subsection (1) and accredit the institutions. (3) After the evaluation in terms of subsection (2), the Council shall issue or refuse to issue an accreditation certificate to the institution. (4) The Council shall publish the results of the accreditation process carried out in terms of subsection (2). (5) After the completion of the evaluation process, the Council shall indicate in writing the specific steps to be taken by the institution concerned towards the attainment of the standards referred to be subsection (1). 19 Basis of accreditation (1) An institution of higher education shall be issued with a certificate of accreditation if it demonstrates the achievement of acceptable standards in terms of physical, human, financial and material resources, management and operational procedures and an acceptable standard of academic life focusing on teaching, research and public and expert service. (2) For each programme the accreditation process may take into account(a) the academic qualifications for all members of staff employed by the higher education institution during the period assessed and those expected to be employed by the higher education institution; (b) the total number of students that have been enrolled in each programme of instruction offered at the institution of higher education and the standards attained by those that have graduated during the period assessed; (c) Information and Communication Technology infrastructure and provision for training; (d) the size and quality of the library and equipment, which have been developed; (e) the financial resources that are available for the exclusive use by the institution of higher education, certified by its auditors; (f) the physical facilities including land that are available for the exclusive use by the institution of higher education concerned; 20 Effect of accreditation The qualifications awarded in respect of programmes of instruction offered by an accredited institution of higher education shall be recognised as comparable and of equivalent merit to similar qualification awarded in respect of programmes offered by all other accredited institutions in Zimbabwe. 21 Reports of institutions to Council (1) Every institution of higher education shall prepare and submit to the Council(a) an annual report of its activities within six months after the 31st December each year; and (b) a detailed assessment at such intervals (not more frequently than four months at a time) as the Council may determine, of the steps it has taken towards the achievement of the aims and objectives for which it was established. - 12 -