In God we trust: West Coast University (WCU) is incorporated in the Republic of Panama, Central America, under clause 19 of Law 32 of 1927 of Panama, as a Global University to offer academic and professional courses in Higher Education through accredited Distance Education Methodologies and also through globally affiliated Study Colleges/Centers to confer Diplomas, Advanced diplomas, Associate, Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degree to the students/ candidates who successfully qualify for the courses. WCU caters for the needs of deserving students globally for the cause of eradication illiteracy in accordance with Universal Declaration Human Rights
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html and World Declaration of Education for all of the United Nations. http://www.unesco.org/education/efa/ed_for_all/



Degree Granting License, Charter & International Accreditation: West Coast University (WCU) Panama has been granted a Parliamentary Decree that bears full validity and recognition with all member governments and nations under international law statutes recognized by the Vienna Convention of April 18th, 1961, (1963). WCU has been granted Parliamentary Charter conveying full authority to WCU to grant Certificates, Diplomas, Higher Diplomas, Associate Degrees, Bachelor Degrees, Master and Doctorate degrees as an Autonomous Institution, Internationally Accredited with the International Parliament for Safety and Peace. The International Parliament for Safety and Peace was founded in 1975. The work of the delegates and ministers of ISPSP toward peace and the enforcement of the respect of life and human rights includes rendering help and support to all people of the world, observing the right of safety and peace in all aspects; moral, political, diplomatic, cultural, religious, economic and social. After looking for concurrence from all nations in the world, through their representative governments, the Parliament counts with 400 senators, 800 deputies, ambassadors and ministers, who contribute voluntarily to the cause of peace. The Department of Foreign Affairs is based in Palermo, Italy. http://www.parlamentomondiale.org/      



GUNI Membership: West Coast University (WCU) is now a Full Member of the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI), which is composed of Higher Education UNESCO Chair and other institutions that are highly committed to innovation in higher education. It was set up by UNESCO, the United Nations University (UNU) and the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), which hosts the secretariat. GUNI works for the application of the decisions taken at the World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE, Paris 1998). Its mission is to contribute to the reinforcement of higher education worldwide, by putting into practice the decisions adopted at the WCHE, specifically improving quality in teaching, promoting innovation in higher education and strengthening the social commitment of universities. Please see WCU membership at http://www.guni-rmies.net/news/detail.php

 

University Consortium Membership: West Coast University is a member with Consultant Status of the Universidad Consortium, which represents bona fide, recognized and accredited higher education entities, licensed by the Ministries of Education-Government of their respective countries, through the office of the Adult Council on Higher Education Private Universities and through the Office of the National Council of Universities, these universities are listed in the UNESCO World Handbook of Universities. Consortium has legal domicile in the City of San Jose, Costa Rica and Mexico City , Mexico . WCU also offers dual degree programs with University Consortium. http://www.westcoastuniversity.edu.pa/dual.htm



Validation & Equiparacions of the Degree Programs of the West Coast University: Universidad San Juan de la Cruz formally known as University San Juan de la Cruz is a Recognized and Accredited University by the Ministry of Education, Government of the Republic of Costa Rica , Central America through The National Council on Higher Education Private Universities (CONESUP).San Juan de la Cruz University is listed in UNESCO under International Association of Universities under Costa Rica and also enlisted in International Handbook of Universities an Official/Directory of International Accredited Universities Published by United Nations. San Juan de la Cruz University has duly evaluated and recognized West Coast University (WCU) Panama as an educational institution of equivalent quality & integrity and consequently has signed credit transfer agreement with WCU as such credits earned at West Coast university shall be 100% eligible for transfer to San Juan de la Cruz University for the grant of respective diploma/degree by the San Juan de la Cruz University to the graduates of West Coast University (WCU) Panama as per mutually agreed terms and conditions of the agreement signed by both Institutions .

Historical background of West Coast University: An Institution, namely “West Coast Institute of Management & Technology (WCIMT)” was established in 1996 at Perth, the West Coast of Australia, called Western Australia, by a dedicated Christian family “S. Lloyd Family Trust” to provide Vocational and Professional Educational Services at National and International Levels under a Christian mission and vision of “preaching, teaching, healing and doing good works”.

At National level West Coast Institute of Management  & Technology (WCIMT) started operating in 1996 as a duly registered and Accredited Training institution, accredited by the Training   Accreditation Council (TAC) of the Training Department of the Government of Western Australia . WCIMT was also registered on Australian “Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses ” (CRICOS), providing accredited courses to local and overseas students up to Graduate Diploma Level.

At International level ‘International Study Department' of West Coast Institute of Management & Technology was established in 1997 to provide Educational Services to International Students in their home countries. WCIMT established a chain of affiliated colleges in many countries. WCIMT experts tailored courses in higher education of vocational and professional disciplines up to Master degree level. The International policy branch of the Department of Education, Employment and Youth Affairs of the Commonwealth Government of Australia confirmed that CRICOS was not required for such courses offered overseas. Office of the Non-Governmental Education of the Government of Western Australian also confirmed that ESPRA registration was not required for such courses offered overseas. These courses were not only accredited by international accrediting bodies but were also articulated by some American, British and Australian Universities but in 2002 had to stop National Department of WCIMT due to health reasons of its Principal & President.

With such exposure and experience at international level WCIMT gathered a team of international educators, experts of curriculum construction, professional and professors to establish a unique International Educational System for administering, developing, offering, promoting courses of higher education to the students of developing nations under accreditation of International Accreditation & Recognition Council (IARC), Queensland Australia and of International Council for Open & distance Education (ICDE) Norway .

In 2004 the trustees decided to use this infrastructure to establish West Coast University in a favourable Christian Country with its West Coast and on the suggestions and recommendations of international faculty members West Coast University was incorporated at Panama City, capital of the Republic of Panama , under article 19 of law 32 of 1927. Word “West Coast” does have an historical background in Panama . West Coast University although based in Panama but serves as a global institute for higher education catering for the needs of national and international students for innovative education.

WCU Panama is one of the very few international educational institutions qualifying under the foreign GAAP qualification, Generally Accepted Accrediting Principles, as it has been evaluated and accepted by many MOE fully licensed and accredited higher educational institutions on a World-Wide basis. WCU has also been evaluated as comparable to US DOE recognized and approved institutions.

National Recognition: WCU offers academic and professional courses that are recognized globally by all member nations of International Parliament for Safety & Peace. For recognition of WCU degree programs at national level in Panama, WCU works as a licensee of the International University Panama that is licensed and accredited by the Ministry of Education, Government of the Republic of Panama. International University Panama is enlisted as government recognized University of Panama and also enlisted in UNESCO book of Internationally Approved Universities IAU under its Spanish name Universidad Internacional. International University Panama has duly evaluated and recognized West Coast University (WCU) Panama, as an educational institution of equivalent quality & integrity and consequently has signed credit transfer agreement with WCU as such credits earned at West Coast university shall be 100% eligible for transfer to Universidad Internacional for the grant of respective diploma/degree by the Universidad Internacional to the graduates of West Coast University (WCU) Panama as per mutually agreed terms and conditions of the agreement. 

 
Equivalency Certification: WCU curricula, degrees and transcripts have been evaluated, assessed and certified to be equivalent to Regionally Accredited universities of USA by California University Foreign Credentials Evaluation (CUFCE)) that is organized under the Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation Law for public and charitable purposes The Secretary of State of California issued his stamp of approval on August 23, 2001 with the corporation I.D. No: 231899. CUFCE was commissioned by some U.S. universities, colleges and schools to evaluate and assess their curricula, the academic credentials of their faculty members, staff and students. These credential evaluation reports were submitted with their application for national accreditation. Most of CUFCE client- institutions and individuals were granted national accreditation as institutions of higher education and/or individuals. The U.S. educational system is becoming very popular among colleges and universities, worldwide. CUFCE has received scores of request for the evaluation of foreign academic curricula to conform to the academic standards of the regionally and nationally accredited colleges and universities of USA. California University FCE is also affiliated with the University for Peace - Universidad de la Paz UPAZ (UPEACE), accredited by Panama's Ministry of Education since 1994. UPAZ is a UNESCO partner. http://cauniversity.edu.cufce.org

Validation of the Degree Programs of the West Coast University: Universidad San Juan de la Cruz formally known as University San Juan de la Cruz is a Recognized and Accredited University by the Ministry of Education, Government of the Republic of Costa Rica, Central America through The National Council on Higher Education Private Universities (CONESUP).San Juan de la Cruz University is listed in UNESCO under International Association of Universities under Costa Rica and also enlisted in International Handbook of Universities an Official/Directory of International Accredited Universities Published by United Nations. San Juan de la Cruz University has duly evaluated and recognized West Coast University (WCU) Panama as an educational institution of equivalent quality & integrity and consequently has signed credit transfer agreement with WCU as such credits earned at West Coast university shall be 100% eligible for transfer to San Juan de la Cruz University for the grant of respective diploma/degree by the San Juan de la Cruz University to the graduates of West Coast University (WCU) Panama as per mutually agreed terms and conditions of the agreement signed by both Institutions.

Validation of the Degree Programs of the West Coast University: ICS has been approved by Kursk State Technical University through the Director of Marketing for Asian Region to provide online e-learning programs to all qualified and motivated adult learners to attain prestigious Russian academic degrees. Kursk State Technical University is a government owned university of the Russian Federation. The University is funded by the State and governed in accordance with the State Educational Standard of Russian Federation. ICS has confirmed that credits earned from WCU will be validated by ICS for possible full transfer of credits toward the degrees of the Kursk State Technical University subject to the final completion of a project paper demonstrating high level of academic knowledge.

Bilateral Cooperation with the University Mediterranean-Montenegro: West Coast University (WCU) has signed bilateral agreement with the University Mediterranean. The University Mediterranean enjoys bilateral contacts with other universities based on mutually coordinated and signed bilateral agreements which support the following general forms of co-operation: teacher and student exchange, common research projects, joint postgraduate courses, common organization and participation in the seminars and other scientific and professional gatherings, running training programs, exchange of scientific and professional publications, other forms of university co-operation of mutual interest.

Bilateral Cooperation with the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences- Austria : West Coast University (WCU) has singed bilateral agreement with the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences to accept the credits of each others in degree programs in the disciplines of Applied Sciences, Engineering & Technology and Architecture and agreement of students study exchange programs. Carinthia University of Applied Sciences is one of the best universities of Engineering and Applied Sciences in the world.

Professional Memberships: West Coast University or its President is a member of the following professional associations:

• European Association for International Education (EAIE)
• Association of International educators (NAFSA)
• American Association for Higher Education (AAHE)
• Global System of Education (GES)
• International Academy of Science (IAS)
• Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications, founded by the Western Interstate
• ommission for Higher Education (WICHE)
• Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)
• Virginia Society for Technology in Education.