This essay discusses limitations of higher education system to produce information about its own quality. These emerge from an imbalance between the prevailing interests in the systems diverse coordination poles (institutions, market and State). This article proposes the accreditation process as a counteracting mechanism and redefines it from its capacity to produce information about higher education quality which leads to strengthen regulations for the whole system and improve its results. Hence, regulation and information are not replaceable strategies and their mutual empowerment represents a development for the higher education system.Â