Important Notice: In British Columbia context, this website is currently largely an archival document. The only degrees currently awarded by Vancouver University within British Columbia are for theology programs - exempt from the BC DAA. Another still-standing DAA application (see further below on this homepage) is pending.
Invitation: Notwithstanding the present situation, BC colleges and institutes, and theology schools (all persuasions), continue to be invited to join the Vancouver University Colleges Society.
Worldwide Vancouver University, although including century-old 1893-legislated Whetham College, has been since 1970 (and more so since 1983) a secular consortium non-profit (Canada and USA) university of globally-located public and private member colleges, with currently about 4320 students. Structurally it is an international non-governmental organization, with representation of globally-dispersed alumni, colleges, faculty, and staff. [For NGO context, see Rodgers, Facilitation Problems of International Associations, Union of International Associations, Brussels]. Vancouver University commenced its ongoing university name and presumptions, and its corporate governance, in British Columbia. Accordingly, the British Columbia government should enact for it the equivalent of BC Bill Pr 401 (2005).
Worldwide Vancouver University has conducted an aggregated-learning degree process, serving member colleges and external degree candidates since 1970, by assembly and consolidation of multi-sourced academic credit, documented work-place learning, special examinations, etc (i.e., Enhanced Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition). The resulting certificates, diplomas, and degrees are formally authorized or tactitly accepted in various collaborating jurisdictions.
We subscribe to the Principles of Good Practice of the WCET, and the Professional Standards of the AAUA, and we collaborate in the quality focussed and other academic organizations listed here. We accept a wide range of classroom or on-line courses, and other credible credit, into a coherent and complete degree in arts, applied science, business, education, general studies, technology, or other subject.
Our historic degree authority, was derived from Common Law precedents, upheld by various Commonwealth high courts [e.g., past BC example ] and privy councils, affirming that an entity with lawful university name is presumed to award credible degrees - in responsible manner, and striving at all times for excellence. Our degrees thus originated in customary and statutory context, and we collaborate in the quality concern and other academic organizations listed here. Some Common Law jurisdictions have enacted variances from the traditional principle. In November 2003 the BC government proclaimed a variance with regulatory options so narrow in structure and process as to hinder traditional academic freedom and challenge the operation of a globally-dispersed member colleges consortium university. Nevertheless, in post-2003 DAA context, Vancouver University Worldwide affirms it conforms with the variant Act’s criteria of having a proven capability track record and appropriate governance mechanism, and early in 2004 made an overall BC DAA application for so-called Exempt status.
We also submitted a further, and still pending BC DAA submission in the context of Business Administration programs. The BC DQAB has at hand our IFPAS-POD-CPPD-et al application for review. As mentioned above, the worldwide Vancouver University consortium also continues long-standing other programs, outside BC jurisdiction.
Worldwide Vancouver University also has a firm commitment to the quality of the on-line e-learning offerings of its member colleges. It is leading its on-line providers to earn the eQcheck certification mark of quality. The eQcheck is a certification mark of quality based on the most comprehensive, open-source international standard available – Open eQLs, the Open eQuality Learning Standards. Unlike other designations, the eQcheck is an external review of the quality of an institution as well as the distance learning it provides. We look forward to soon being able to display the eQcheck certification mark on behalf of the on-line e-learning offerings of our member colleges.
We appreciate the support of those jurisdictions which understand and respect our standards and process. 106 Ministers and/or Parliamentary Secretaries for Education in the Commonwealth received an inquiry as to whether or not their jurisdiction is at variance with Common Law tradition. Only a handful of Commonwealth jurisdictions have enacted variances like that of BC. To see present BC Government MLAs, reflecting their Leader's pre-Election written support of us, and representing their party at past Convocations, click and scroll to the bottom here.