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 European Association for QUALity Language Services |
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Founded in 1991, EAQUALS is a pan-European Association of language training providers aiming to promote and guarantee quality
in modern language teaching institutions. To achieve these aims it has established and published a demanding set of criteria for membership.
These are laid out in the form of a Code of Conduct, Student, Staff and Information Charters (ISBN 88-900072-0-6), and backed up by a rigorous
inspection scheme.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to private or state institutions which are involved in the delivery of quality language training or are, in some other way,
committed to the achievement of excellence in this area. There are three types of members :
• Founding Member: The ten institutions and organisations jointly responsible for establishing the Association and developing its
structure and principles.
• Full Member: To become a Member, language training institutions must prove their full adherence to the Code of Practice and Charters
through submitting themselves to the inspection, repeated every three years, or more frequently if deemed to be necessary. It follows that
only institutions that have been successfully inspected can be Full Members and display can the mark.
• Associate Member: This category of membership is for organisations with considerable involvement or interests in language teaching.
Associate membership is by invitation only and the essential criterion is a commitment to the achievement of quality. Typically they will
be examination boards, publishers, national associations, cultural bodies and so on.
The CODE OF PRACTICE
The basic principles underlying the Code of Practice are: fair dealing with clients, students and staff veracity of advertising and
information provided to the public, value for money and respect for the legal constitution of EAQUALS. The Student and Staff Charters further
define the Code of Practice, of which they are an integral part.
The STUDENT CHARTER
This is a clear undertaking by each member to provide quality services in all areas related to a language course. The main areas covered are :
qualifications, experience and professional skills of the teachers; the teaching materials and organisation of the teaching programmes;
suitability of the premises; and the provision of detailed, valid information about the course of studies. The Student Charter is to be
displayed in its entirety in each school.
The STAFF CHARTER
This concerns the working conditions, duties and entitlements of both the academic and non-academic staff where not already defined in
national law. It requires a school to deal with its staff in a fair manner, in accordance with local conditions, to provide suitable working
conditions, and to possess and publish grievance procedures. The Staff Charter is to be displayed in its entirety in each school.
The INFORMATION CHARTER
This guarantees the veracity, comprehensiveness and clarity of the information provided by the school in its brochures, publicity and other
information sources. |
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