ACCREDITATION HANDBOOK: 2006-2010

Introduction 2

1. Accreditation 3

1.1 Accreditation introduction 3

1.2 General Requirements 3

2 Conditions for Accreditation 4

3. Accreditation Procedures 5

3.1 Applications for Accreditation 5

3.2 Continuing Accreditation 5

4. Complaints Procedures 6

5. Appeals Procedure 7

6. Accreditation and Inspection Charges 2006-2007 

INTRODUCTION

The International Council for Accreditation and Quality Control or Conseil International d’Accreditation et de Controle de Qualitie is an independent body established  to act as an international accrediting agency for independent further and higher education and distance learning schools, colleges and other educational bodies.

 Its main objective is to maintain and enhance the quality of services provided by the member institutions through the external processes of accreditation.

Institutions are assessed in four areas:

• premises and health and safety provision

• administration and staffing

• student welfare

• teaching and learning: delivery and resources

 

An unsatisfactory assessment in any of the four graded areas will lead to a refusal or withdrawal of accreditation. Responsibility for decisions on accreditation is delegated to CIACQ's Accreditation and Recognition Committee

 

Enquiries concerning accreditation should be made to:

The Chief Executive

CIACQ
 
Via Consiglio dei Sessanta 123

47891 Dogana

San Marino

1. ACCREDITATION

1.1.Introduction

 CIACQ is a non-government organisation which acts an accrediting body for independent further and higher educational institutions. Accreditation is subject to the conditions set out below.

1.1.2 Accreditation of an institution is based on a satisfactory evaluation of the full range of an institution’s higher education provision and requires evidence that the management will maintain acceptable standards during the period of accreditation and meet all relevant statutory requirements.

1.1.3 In awarding accreditation CIACQ has three main purposes:

• to provide independent guidance to students seeking to undertake education in an institution outside the state sector

• to enable an institution to state publicly that it has voluntarily accepted independent evaluation and has satisfied CIACQ that all relevant aspects of its operation are maintained at a satisfactory level.

• to support and advise independent institutions in the maintenance and enhancement of their quality of provision

1.2 General Requirements

1.2.1 The award of accreditation will be subject to institutions meeting satisfactorily standards established and periodically reviewed by CIACQ .

1.2.2: Institutions must have provided a relevant higher education programme for a minimum period of two years.

. 1.2.3 Accreditation relates only to specific institutions and may not be used in relation to larger organisations unless all branches have been awarded accreditation. CIACQ reserves the right to decide whether it is more appropriate for organisations to seek accreditation in total or in respect of their separate parts.

1.2.4 Following accreditation, institutions are required to observe the Council’s procedures to monitor the maintenance of satisfactory standards These include the submission of an Annual Report and co-operation with CIACQ in the consideration of any complaint made against the institution. Accredited institutions are also required to pay an annual accreditation fee. Failure on the part of an accredited institution to comply with these conditions may lead to the withdrawal of accreditation.

1.2.5       CIACQ reserves the right, on reasonable grounds, to visit and review the accreditation of an institution at any time. Such grounds may include: change of ownership, appointment of a new Principal, significant changes in the academic programme, relocation, evidence to suggest that the standards observed during the full inspection are not being maintained a serious complaint which CIACQ may consider to be justified or any successful prosecution of the institution or its owners for an offence deemed relevant to accreditation.

1.2.6 Accreditation by CIACQ does not remove the obligations of accredited institutions to comply with relevant statutory requirements.

2. CONDITIONS FOR ACCREDITATION

2.1 Accreditation:

2.1.1            CIACQ ’s award of accreditation will specify that the institution is considered to be appropriate for the delivery of higher education. The wording of the accreditation statement will distinguish between institutions which provide a range of resources and facilities associated with higher education (independent higher education institutions) and those which primarily or solely provide tuition support leading to a higher education qualification (higher education course providers). Accredited institutions will be authorised to include one of the following statement in promotional material:

“Accredited by Conseil International d’Accreditation et de Controle de Qualitie  for Independent Further and Higher Education as an independent higher education institution”

or

“Accredited by the Conseil International d’Accreditation et de Controle de Qualitie  for Independent Further and Higher Education as a provider of higher education courses”.

 

2.1.2 CIACQ ’s evaluation of the institution will not assess the role of the awarding body itself and will not include, for instance, an assessment of the curriculum, the assessment procedures used in determining the final grades awarded or the quality management procedures used by the awarding body.

 

2.1.2            After accreditation has been awarded, CIACQ must be informed of any changes to the academic programme relevant to accreditation and may require a further examination in respect of additional programmes. The programmes associated with accreditation will be listed in a transcript which will be issued with the accreditation certificate and updated annually. No claims of accreditation by CIACQ may be made in respect of the provision of other academic programmes.

3. ACCREDITATION: PROCEDURES

3.1 Applications for Accreditation

 

3.1.1 Institutions should initially contact the CIACQ office to obtain an application form or visit the CIACQ website at www.ciacq.org to download the relevant document/s.

3.1.2 An application fee must accompany the completed application form. Please note:

the decision on the award of accreditation rests solely with ARC.

3.1.3 CIACQ (through the Chief Executive) will be very willing to receive and consider suggestions to improve the inspection process.

3.3 Continuing Accreditation

3.3.1  CIACQ has procedures to monitor the maintenance of standards within institutions which have received accreditation. All accredited institutions are required to co-operate in the implementation of these procedures as a condition of continuing accreditation.

3.3.2.2 Details of significant changes in the ownership, management, location or academic programme. CIACQ may, at its discretion, require a personal reference for a newly appointed Principal

3.3.2.3    Details of any litigation in which the institution has been involved which is relevant to accreditation

3.3.2.4       Complaints Procedure: From time to time CIACQ receives complaints about accredited institutions. While CIACQ has no legal authority to act as an arbitrator, the Chief Executive will be willing to attempt to resolve disputes which might otherwise damage the reputation of an accredited institution or jeopardise the interests of a student. Where the complaint implies that the institution is not maintaining the standards required for continuing accreditation, the Chief Executive will, as a matter of course, undertake an investigation if authorised to do so by the complainant, and may report the matter to the Accreditation and Recognition Committee for further action if the matter is not satisfactorily resolved. CIACQ will not involve itself in any dispute between an institution and a member of staff. The Complaints Procedure is set out in Section 4 below

4. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Complaints against accredited institutions will normally only be considered when they concern alleged failures to comply with the standards CIACQ requires for continuing accreditation. Where the matter is unresolved and is deemed by the Accreditation and Recognition Committee to be of a serious nature, the Committee may offer to involve an independent arbitrator. The arbitrator will only be involved with the agreement of both parties, and her/his recommendations will not be binding on either party.

The following procedures will apply:

4.1 When a complaint is received, the Chief Executive will attempt to resolve the matter to the mutual satisfaction of the complainant and the accredited institution. The complainant will be asked to provide the Chief Executive with full details in writing of the complaint, together with copies of relevant documentation, and to give written authority to the Chief Executive to raise the matter on his/her behalf. The institution against which the complaint is made will be informed by the Chief Executive of the nature of the complaint and be invited to respond in writing to the complaint and to any questions raised by the Chief Executive on behalf of CIACQ and to provide copies of relevant documentation.

4.2 If the matter remains unresolved, the Chief Executive will make a detailed report to ARC, which may then determine not to proceed further to consider the complaint, to require the Chief Executive to make further efforts to resolve the issue or to propose to both parties that an independent arbitrator should make a further attempt to resolve the complaint or recommend further action to the Committee if arbitration is unsuccessful.

4.3 Where, in the opinion of the CIACQ Council, the accredited institution is deemed to have acted in breach of the conditions of accreditation, the institution will be asked to consider remedial or compensatory action. Where this is refused, or in extreme cases, consideration will be given to withdrawing CIACQ  accreditation from the institution.

4.4 If ARC decides to withdraw accreditation, the institution may make use of the Appeals Procedure

5. APPEALS PROCEDURE

An institution or organisation may appeal against a decision to refuse or withdraw accreditation in accordance with the following procedures.

Note: because of possible delays in postal services, the Chairman of Council may approve extensions in the periods indicated below.

5.1 Following a decision by CIACQ not to accredit or to withdraw the accreditation from an institution, the Chief Executive will, within five working days, inform the institution of the decision and the grounds for it, and advise the institution of its right of appeal and of the appeal procedures.

5.2 Notice of appeal must be lodged with the Chief Executive within five working days of the receipt of notification of   CIACQ s decision.

5.3 Within a further ten working days, the Appellant should submit:

5.3.1 a statement setting out the grounds for the appeal, together with any relevant documentation;

5.5 Meetings of the Appeals Committee will normally take place in San Marino.

5.6 Following the appointment of the Appeals Committee a meeting will normally take place within twenty working days of the receipt of the documentation listed in 9.3.1 above.

5.7 Following the meeting of the Appeals Committee, a Report will be sent to the Chairman of Council, who will convene a Special Meeting of Council to consider the recommendation(s) of the Appeals Committee. The Special Meeting will normally be held within ten working days of the meeting of the Appeals Committee. The decision of the Special Meeting will be final.

5.8 The appellant will be informed of the decision of the Special Meeting by the Chief Executive.

5.9 Where an Institution is appealing against the withdrawal or non-continuation of accreditation, it will be entitled to continue to describe itself as accredited during the period of appeal, but, should the Special Meeting uphold the decision of the Accreditation and Recognition Committee, all reference to accreditation by CIACQ must be removed from publicity material.