our roots

So what has Daystar done to protect her
certificates?
but in functional societies freedom is
never absolute. Absence of structures and
systems to provide the framework of the
and how of teaching and learning could
be a strong indication of a degree mill: an
institution that manufacturers rather than
awards certificates to deserving students.
4Grades can be easily altered; all you
need is to sweet talk someone.
In the absence of quality control or
quality assurance mechanisms, grades can
be awarded for non-academic reasons.
One can negotiate a grade in the corridors
or at night tea parties. Grades awarded
are not binding neither are they fixed.
Lecturers can change grades at the drop
of a heart without reference to anyone
else. They just need to be “sweet talked”.
This clearly indicates that the certificates
awarded by the institution, mean nothing!
5No examination procedures and
regulations or they are sketchy and
vague.
Finally, institutions that give fake
certificates will ordinarily not have any
examination procedures and if available
they are sketchy and vague. They are just
meant to pull wool over our eyes. They
will probably have no appeal system and
if present, it will lack clarity and hardly
provide time limitations. On the other
hand it might provide so many exceptions
that it remains a porous system. If a grade
can be easily altered, for example, several
years after it was first granted, it means
there are opportunities for fraud especially
if institutional memory is weak.
The university has put in place a strong regulatory framework to assure the
authenticity and credibility of her certificates as follows:
Daystar insists that students acquire and demonstrate acquisition of skills.
1 It’s for this reason that every course must show the expected learning outcomes
(knowledge, skills, and attitude) that learners must achieve at the end of the learning
experience and an acceptable student assessment method to ascertain the achievement
of the learning outcomes. This is also why class sizes are kept as low as possible to allow
for individual interactions and also to enable teachers to easily monitor each student’s
performance. It’s a requirement that students attend at least 75% of the class.
At the end of the semester, exams are set by the lecturers in charge and then
2 moderated by a team of experts. The aim of the moderation is to ascertain that the
exam covers the breadth and depth of the course and that it tests the acquisition of the
required skills. They also look at the marking schemes to ensure that an objective and
fair grading is provided for.
Once the exams are done and marked, there is another round of moderation
3 this time focusing on grades. Moderation of grades is aimed at ensuring that the
marking schemes were fairly applied and that every student is awarded marks according
to performance.
Daystar has an electronic grades processing system. This means there is an
4 electronic trail of any changes to student’s grades. Secondly once grades are received
at the school boards level and finally approved by senate, lecturers can no longer change
them without following a rigorous internal system. The university has explicit provisions
for students to officially contest grades within a stipulated time spun. The formal
procedure is publicly available. Grades cannot be changed in the corridors. Senate must
finally approve any proposed changes after receipt of acceptable and justifiable reasons
for changes. These are the checks and balances aimed at achieving transparency,
accountability, and credibility of the certification system.
Poor performing students are given warning letters as soon as grades start
5 falling below the minimum graduation GPA (Grades Points Average). Daystar
recognises that regrettably sometimes some students have to be advised to seek greener
pastures outside the academy.
Yes it’s true! The Daystar certificate is not easily acquired; at times the system can
appear painfully rigorous, slow and bureaucratic. The students are required to burn the
mid-night oil before they can graduate but we have no apologies to make. As a result,
employers can confidently take Daystar’s certificates to the bank. They are real.
DaystarConnect 2015 • 47