Accountability refers to ‘‘a focus on the conditions that must exist
within any educational system in order for that system to be
accountable for the achievement of its goals’’ (Barbee & Bouck
1974, p. xiv). Whereas accreditation entails participation by peers,
accountability systems exclude external peer-review that has characterized
institutional accreditation in the United States, the United
Kingdom, and elsewhere. Wellman (2001) suggested that ‘‘accountability
is necessary for preserving the compact between higher
education and society’’ (p. 48). Accountability focuses on the priorities
of constituencies that have a vested interest in institutional
performance (Alexander 2000). Knight (1999) suggests that three
primary stakeholder groups must be considered: the government
sector, the education sector and the private sector.