The sacrifice for marketing: the effect (some unintended) of the high-quality institutional accreditation in Colombian universities

The increasing global demand for higher-quality education has spurred the development of quality assurance measures, especially through institutional accreditation. This study investigates the relationship between high-quality institutional accreditation (HQIA) and indicators such as academic performance, social inclusion, and scientific output in Colombian universities. While research explores the global spread of quality assurance across regions, evaluations of its specific impacts in developing countries remain limited. This study fills that gap by focusing on Colombia. Using a new longitudinal panel database from four official sources, the research employs a difference-in-differences (DID) methodology to assess the effects of HQIA. This approach helps address endogeneity concerns by comparing accredited and non-accredited universities before and after accreditation. The results carry policy implications: accreditation improves access to public funding for low-income students, fostering social inclusion and diversity. Policymakers could consider enhancing accreditation-related financial aid programs. Conversely, the study highlights a concerning trade-off: although more professors now hold doctorates, HQIA is associated with lower scientific output, suggesting that resources may be diverted from research to teaching. The article offers policy recommendations for higher education in Latin America and beyond, emphasizing the importance of aligning quality assurance with research incentives and improving post-accreditation monitoring to prevent resource misallocation.