Application for Accreditation & Fees
Accreditation of Educational Institutions
THE PROCESS OF ACCREDITATION OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Any educational institution that intends to earn the accreditation status from the Education Quality Accreditation Commission must demonstrate compliance, through the application for accreditation (Self Assessment Report), with the education quality standards set forth by the Education Quality Accreditation Commission.
This application accreditation constitutes in itself a complete guide on the requirements to obtain accreditation. We recommend that you download it and read it carefully for more information.
Click here to download the Application for Accreditation (Self Assessment Report .docx)
1. Eligibility.
Accreditation focuses on higher education institutions. An eligible member must be any kind of organization, entity or company properly authorized to conduct higher educational teaching and certification, to award postsecondary degrees, certificates or other educational or professional credentials.
The entities eligible for accreditation must prepare individuals to achieve competencies and attain the educational qualifications necessary to begin functioning in a specific occupation. In other words, they must prepare individuals in a branch of knowledge, science, art or business that has application in a specific occupation, usually requiring significant specialized training, or profession.
2. Application for Accreditation.
The Education Quality Accreditation Commission has prepared an application for accreditation that will guide the applicant institutions in the preparation of the Self Study Report and the required documentary evidence. The applicant may download and print this application for accreditation, then fill it out and finally send it out to the EQAC Secretary by email (.doc, .pdf or .jpg formats are accepted), or regular mail.
This application is a legally binding contract between the Education Quality Accreditation Commission and the applicant institution that states the rights and obligations of both parties.
Click here to download the Application for Accreditation (Self Assessment Report .docx)
3. Submission of the Application and Self-Assessment.
Fill out and send the application for accreditation (Self-Assessment Report) to the EQAC Secretariat by email (accepted formats are: .doc, .pdf and .jpg) to the email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The faculty, administrators, and/or staff of the educational institution or academic program requesting accreditation must prepare a self-assessment report explaining and/or demonstrating compliance with the accreditation standards of the Quality Accreditation Commission. Education. The accreditation application itself is a guide on all the standards that must be met and the annexes that are required in each case.
Filling out the application for accreditation (Self-Assessment Report) requires time, effort and the possible participation of several people. The accreditation result depends on this self-assessment report, so take the time to prepare it in the most appropriate way. The objective of this report is not only to provide a demonstration that you meet EQAC quality standards, but to guide you in various processes that will help improve the quality of your institution. If you have questions, do contact us.
The Education Quality Accreditation Commission will not start any accreditation process without the corresponding application.
4. Suitability of the Application.
The EQAC Secretariat will carry out a first review of the accreditation application to verify that:
- The application is complete.
- All questions are sufficiently filled out.
- If a criterion in the application is not applicable, identify that it is not applicable and the reason.
- The application includes all annexes.
- The documents are legible and properly organized.
- Each annex must be a PDF document, or an independent and properly identified folder.
If these criteria are not met, the EQAC Secretariat will inform you that the accreditation application submitted is not viable. In this case, you must fill out and complete the accreditation application with more detail and care until the suitability of the application is achieved by the EQAC Secretariat.
Once the EQAC Secretariat confirms that the accreditation application is complete, you can proceed to pay the corresponding fees.
5. Accreditation Fees.
The educational institution must pay the accreditation fees once the suitability of your candidacy has been confirmed by the EQAC Secretariat, and before the evaluation process of your accreditation application (Self-Assessment Report) begins.
Information about fees can be found in the accreditation application and further down this website.
Confirmation by the EQAC Secretariat of the suitability of the accreditation application does not imply that accreditation has been granted. Accreditation is the result of the evaluation by a series of experts of the self-assessment report resulting from filling out the accreditation application. The objective of the suitability process is to ensure that the application is sufficiently complete to be eligible for appropriate assessment.
Given that the evaluation process of an accreditation application can take several weeks, the institution may request to split the payment into two installments. One must be paid before the start of the evaluation, and the second installment before receiving the results of the evaluation.
The accreditation fee is non-refundable. Payment does not give the right to receive accreditation. The payment is paying for the evaluation process of the accreditation application, not its results.
6. Interview or Site Visit.
Once payment has been verified, the EQAC Secretariat will distribute the accreditation application and attached documents to the commission members available for evaluation.
If deemed necessary, the commissioner may require an interview with the appointed representative of the applicant educational institution or arrange a site visit from a member of the commission. This action is usually scheduled if the material provided by the applicant is insufficient for a clear judgment, or for further clarification about specific accreditation standards. The travel costs and expenses related to the interview or site visit will be paid by the applicant educational institution. The interview or site visit goals, schedule and budget will be settled in advance by the Education Quality Accreditation Commission Secretary in consultation with the applicant. Usually one day interview or visit will be enough to resolve any concerns.
7. Evaluation process.
The Education Quality Accreditation Commission Secretary will distribute the application for accreditation and attached documents to an available member of the commission for the assessment of how each standard is addressed by the applicant educational institution.
Each standard is graded in a 0 to 4 scale.
The evaluation of each standard is graded according to the following scale:
- 4 - OUTSTANDING > No need for improvement.
- 3 - STANDARD > May improve.
- 2 - ACCEPTABLE > Requires improvement.
- 1 - INSUFFICIENT > Not meeting the minimums.
- 0 - NULE > Failed to comply with this requirement.
8. Announcement.
The Education Quality Accreditation Commission Secretary will communicate the results of the initial evaluation results status to the other members of the Commission. The other members of the Commission have 12 days since the announcement to review and amend the conclusions and grades of the initial accreditation report.
Finally, the Education Quality Accreditation Commission writes a report with its conclusions on the evaluation, including its recommendation on the final accreditation of the educational institution.
This accreditation assessment report is also sent to the applicant institution, once approved by the EQAC President.
The resulting average will determine the accreditation status:
- Full accreditation (Final average ranging 3,0 - 4,0)
Requires re-accreditation review every five years. - Conditional accreditation (Final average ranging 2,0 - 2,9)
This is a one year long temporary status. The educational institution must undergo a new re-accreditation review within 12 months of conditional accreditation. If full accreditation is not achieved in this review, the accreditation status will be denied. - Denial of accreditation (Final average ranging 0,0 - 1,9)
The Commission will explain the reasons for the denial. The accreditation fee is not refundable in this situation. Any educational institution in this case may reapply for accreditation after a 12-month-period.
9. Conclusion & Diploma.
The Education Quality Accreditation Commission Secretary will communicate the results of the accreditation status and any grade amendments from the other commissioners to the president of the EQAC.
The president will review the accreditation report to resolve any discrepancies that may have occurred during the assessment of the EQAC standards. The final grades resulting from the accreditation report must be endorsed by the president of the Education Quality Accreditation Commission.
The EQAC Secretary will inform the new applicant educational institution of the conclusions of the accreditation report and will provide suggestions, if applicable.
In the case that full accreditation is gained, the Education Quality Accreditation Commission Secretary will send the corresponding accreditation diploma.
Fees for the Accreditation of Educational Institutions
The institution of education applying for accreditation to the Education Quality Accreditation Commission must pay the accreditation fee once the eligibility has been confirmed by the EQAC Secretary, and before any actual evaluation of the accreditation process starts.
Accreditation: 1.800 Euros
- This fee is payable upon acceptance of the eligibility of the institution into the accreditation process.
- This fee includes the evaluation of the application for accreditation (Self Assessment Report).
- This fee includes the final applicant accreditation assessment report.
- This fee includes the first year of accreditation maintenance fee.
- This fee does NOT include any additional expenses derived from required site visits.
OPTIONAL - External Consulting Fees: 1.500 to 3.000 Euros
The Accreditation Self Assessment Report often requires a lot of work and dedication form CEOs or Deans who lack the time to do it. Completing the Self Assessment Report is not an easy task to delegate to other peers. External consultants may help successfully in the completion of this process in exchange for a fee. External consultants are usually members of the EQAC knowledgeable of the EQAC standards. The consultant will not be the commissioner assigned for the evaluation of the Accreditation Self Assessment Report to avoid any conflict of interest.
- This fee is optional and payable directly to the consultant of the accreditation process.
- This fee will vary depending on the range of services offered by the consultant.
- This fee does not include the Accreditation Self Assessment Report fee payable to EQAC.
- This fee will likely avoid any additional expenses derived from required site visits.
- Failure to pay the agreed consulting fee may impede the completion of the accreditation process.
Re-accreditation: 900 Euros
- The re-accreditation process is the same as the initial accreditation process.
- This fee includes the re-evaluation of the application for accreditation.
- This fee includes the final applicant accreditation assessment report.
- This fee includes the the year of accreditation maintenance fee.
- This fee does NOT include any additional expenses derived from required site visits.
Yearly Maintenance Fee: 300 Euros per year
This fee is payable every year since the date of the full accreditation of the institution.
The EQAC accreditation is an important recognition because it gives the assurance to the public, in particular to prospective students, that you, as an education provider, meet quality educational standards in the global market.
The EQAC accredited institutions are entitled to:
- Claim Accreditation by the EQAC.
- Use the EQAC name and seal.
- Receive an accreditation diploma.
- Be listed on the EQAC Web as an Accredited member.
- The EQAC Web will provide a link to the accredited member web.
- Use the EQAC monitoring and feedback services.
- Be periodically informed of any comments received on its behalf.
AND ONCE ACCREDITED YOUR GRADUATES MAY ALSO VALIDATE THE DEGREES & DIPLOMAS EARNED AT YOUR INSTITUTION!!!
This is a very much appreciated added value to your degree program.
Benefits of the Accreditation from EQAC:
Quality Improvement.
The institution that completes the self-assessment process guided by the standards of the Education Quality Accreditation Commission will learn how to improve its administrative responsibility, institutional integrity, and academic quality.
Recognition.
Each institution accredited by the Education Quality Accreditation Commission will receive a diploma of recognition certifying its accreditation. You may proclaim your accreditation and use the EQAC name and seal in your documentation and promotional actions.
Verification.
The accreditation status may be verified by third parties and at any time through the EQAC website in the list of accredited institutions. In addition, the EQAC Secretary will strengthen the decision process for some potential students by confirming by email the validity of the educational institution's accreditation.
Promotion.
The accredited institution will have an active link to its own website in the list of accredited institutions on the EQAC website. Additionally, the EQAC Secretariat will forward any request for information directed to or related to the accredited institution.
Diploma Validation
People who graduate from educational institutions accredited by EQAC can obtain a diploma validating their degree issued by EQAC, which specifies that their degree and the institution that issues it meet EQAC accreditation standards, and also specifies the total academic credits. obtained and their equivalents in United States semester credits and European ECTS credits. This diploma is issued by EQAC and has an additional cost. See more…
Conflict Resolution.
The Education Quality Accreditation Commission can intervene in many ways and at different levels in the resolution of conflicts that affect the accredited institution. EQAC may arbitrate disputes between members and/or students. In the case of any mediation, EQAC will always look out for the best interests of the students.
Quality Audit.
EQAC ensures permanent monitoring of quality. EQAC welcomes all types of complaints, suggestions and comments related to any accredited institution. These comments can provide useful and quick information to the institution about the results of the academic or marketing actions it carries out. Comments are also effective in helping the institution detect problems, as well as ensure that the standards of the Commission for Accreditation of Education Quality are respected.
Education Quality Accreditation Commission
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Click here to download the Application for Accreditation (Self Assessment Report .docx)
