The Western Orthodox University Faculties of Theology and Church Music have entered into a validation agreement with a government-accredited university in Central America. Under the terms of the agreement, the university has agreed to accept degrees from the Western Orthodox University Faculties of Theology and Church Music for the purposes of the award of a reciprocal degree. A fee is payable to the validating university for the reciprocal degree. While the majority of the University’s programs are eligible for this scheme, some (particularly Associate’s degrees) are excluded.

The Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM) has been accredited by the Consejo Nacional de Enseñanza Superior Universitaria Privada (CONESUP) of the Ministry of Education, Costa Rica, since 5 November 1997.

How does validation work in practice?

The validating university has examined the curriculums and practices of the Western Orthodox University Faculties of Theology and Church Music and is satisfied that these meet its own standards. The validation agreement is reviewed periodically to ensure that this continues to be the case. Once a student graduates from the University they need complete no further academic work to receive a degree of the same level in the same field from the validating university. The exact title of the degree may be different because of differences in national systems of education and the use of the Spanish language for institutions in Costa Rica. They will need to pay a fee to the validating university for validation and to submit their academic documents (and for doctoral candidates, their thesis) as well as the usual identity documents. Providing all these are satisfactory, the reciprocal degree will then be issued to the graduate, usually accompanied by a legal notarization from the country of origin.