IEQAAS Code of Practice

IEQAAS has a set of conditions, which all Accredited Institutions must meet to retain their Accreditation. Since IEQAAS has a strong reputation for high-quality teaching, its team of assessors therefore look carefully at Accredited Institutions to ensure they are upholding this reputation.

All Accredited IEQAAS institutions are therefore required to abide by the following conditions. Please note that these conditions may be changed at any time, without prior notice.

1. IEQAAS Accredited institutions must actively demonstrate a high level of commitment to providing top quality teaching and instruction.

That commitment should be made clear across all mission statements, corporate objectives, and company goals which the institution adopts. Furthermore, their actions must be constantly in line with these values. Institutions are also responsible for providing all of their staff with long-term, high-quality training to aid in their professional development.

2. IEQAAS Accredited institutions must be fiscally responsible, and meet all of their obligations to students.

Each IEQAAS Accredited institution's financial resources must be adequate to support all enrolled students in seeing their studies through to completion.

3. IEQAAS Accredited institutions must meet general standards of proper business and employment practices. For example:

3.1. Providing a clear, reasonable, and efficient refund policy, and informing all students of this before their enrollment.
3.2 Refraining from discriminating against any employees or students with regards to gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, and religious or political beliefs.
3.3 Possessing suitable premises and resources to conduct their business.

4. With regards to customer service, all members must:

4.1. Always provide prompt and professional customer service.
4.2. Put a transparent and accessible complaints system in place to deal with issues which students or employees may face.
4.3. Approach and investigate any complaints in a professional, impartial manner, and where these complaints are found to be justified, work to resolve them fully and promptly.

5. All employees must be capable of carrying out their duties adequately, and should possess relevant experience and qualifications for their role.

Each IEQAAS Accredited institution must employ experience and qualify staff.

6. Students must be given an adequate amount of support in their studies.

Should members offer courses which are taught by multiple instructors, they should take the necessary steps to provide a consistent level of support for students from all staff involved. These steps may include the following, along with any others deemed necessary:
6.1 A consistent approach to assessments and marking schemes.
6.2 Training and assistance for teaching staff, as well as other faculty members.
6.3 Regularly scheduled meetings for faculty to discuss courses and other issues.
6.4 Clear information on good practice and problem-solving provided to faculty members.
6.5 Consistent monitoring and reviewing the work of tutors and faculty members. This might include systematic sampling and reviewing their marking and comments on students’ work.
6.6 A system whereby students can provide feedback on their tutors and overall experience of the course.
6.7 Full training for staff on how to provide a high-quality online learning experience.
6.8 All necessary administrative backup for both academic and administrative staff.
6.9 Any other provisions which the provider may deem necessary and appropriate.

7. All students should be provided with adequate resources to aid their learning.

Each IEQAAS Accredited institutions must provide their learners with adequate resources.

8. IEQAAS Accredited institutions must, at all times, meet IEQAAS terms and conditions for providing distance and online learning.

Each IEQAAS Accredited institution must meetup with IEQAAS terms and conditions for providing distance and online learning.

9. Where Institutions abide by their own individual quality assurance systems, then these must be fully compatible with IEQAAS ’s set of standards.

Such internal quality assurance systems might include:
9.1. Carefully selecting only the most suitable tutors and instructors, and choosing the most applicable course materials.
9.2. Conducting regular competence reviews for all staff.
9.3. Ensuring that all marking is completed and returned to students in a timely fashion.
9.4. Encouraging feedback from students on how the course could be further improved.
9.5. Any other procedures which the Member might think necessary or useful.

10. IEQAAS validation and recognition cover all courses and other services offered by the institution unless explicitly stated.

Courses additionally offered must receive validation from IEQAAS, on the condition that they meet the following requirements:
10.1. Syllabus and teaching has been given IEQAAS approval via its validation procedures and due diligence requirements, or
10.2. Specifically approved by IEQAAS as an individual service.
10.3. Meet the Member’s internal quality control conditions, or
10.4. Previously approved by a third-party regulatory body recognized by IEQAAS.

11. Accredited institutions will be provided with a Certificate of Accreditation.

Accredited institutions are permitted to use the IEQAAS logo on their promotional materials and websites, so long they pay their IEQAAS annual accreditation fee. IEQAAS Accredited institutions are permitted to use this statement in their publicity materials: “International Education Quality Assurance And Accreditation Services Accredited Institution“.

12. Accredited institutions are permitted to display their IEQAAS membership status and the IEQAAS logo on their website and promotional material for satellite campuses, so long as:

12.1. Said campus is not located in a different country to its parent campus.
12.2. Both parent and satellite campus bear the same name and are considered part of the same entity.
12.3. The curriculum and operating procedures of the campus are largely the same as its parent institution.
12.4. Any satellite campuses or branch offices which do not meet the above criteria will need to apply separately for IEQAAS accreditation.
12.5. Representation offices or sales/recruitment agents do not need to meet the above requirements, so long as they do not offer any instruction or training from their location.

13. Institutions, organizations, and business entities affiliated or in partnership with an IEQAAS accredited institution.

For the purposes of marketing, promotion, joint-course delivery, or other business activity, may also display the IEQAAS logo and announce the IEQAAS accreditation status of the institution on websites and promotional and publicity materials.
13.1. Unless the affiliate or partner is an ECICEL Member themselves, they must make clear that it is only the Member themselves which possesses ECICEL membership status. It is the Member’s responsibility to uphold this requirement with regards to affiliates and partners.
13.2. The ECICEL’s choice to confer recognized ECICEL status on a satellite campus, branch office, affiliate, or partner is final and binding.
13.3. Unauthorized use of the ECICEL name, brand, and logo may be subject to civil and/or criminal legal proceedings.

14. It is required that all members submit an annual return to IEQAAS, in the format requested.

As a condition of accreditation of IEQAAS, institutions must also submit to any unannounced on-site inspections and additional quality-control processes as necessary. These may be carried out by IEQAAS itself, or by duly appointed inspectors.

15. Accredited institutions can make changes to their method of course deliver.

Should accredited institutions wish to make any significant changes to the method in which they deliver their courses, or if their operating circumstances are dramatically changed, then they should inform ECICEL of this as soon as possible.

16. Accredited institutions are required to refrain from any conduct or activity which may have a negative impact on the reputation of the IEQAAS.

IEQAAS is committed to fully investigating any complaints made by consumers against accredited institutions. If necessary, IEQAAS may act as a third-party in any disputes between consumers and accredited institutions, to help them come to a mutually beneficial solution to the issue at hand. Please note that this service in non-binding for both parties, and does not affect their statutory rights.

17. Breach of this Code of Practice by any Accredited institution.

Should a member breach this Code of Practice in a considerable manner, or consistently breach it, then they may be subject to disciplinary action on behalf of the ECICEL. This action may include probation, suspension, or withdrawal of accreditation, along with any other action that the governing board thinks suitable.