Code of Practice

IQMS Code of Practice

Scope and application
This Code applies to:
• Educational institutes, public and private, teaching the English language to students whose mother tongue is not English.
• The Code of Practice indicates the key issues that an institute should consider in the respective areas of activity. The precepts encapsulate the matters that an institute could reasonably be expected to address through its own quality assurance arrangements. The accompanying guidance/explanation suggests possible ways in which those expectations might be met and demonstrated.

Objectives
The objectives of this Code of Practice are to enable educational institutues
• to meet their responsibilities for the assurance of academic standards and quality, by providing a framework within which they can consider the effectiveness of their individual approaches to the whole range of their activities.
• Every institute, regardless of its size, physical environment, population mix, traditions etc, should find that the Code of Practice is of relevance to it.
• The Code of Practice does not explicitly identify all the circumstances in which a particular section would be relevant - to do so would be impossible for a complex and innovative sector in which new developments are taking place all the time.
• However, there are a number of principles that appear throughout the sections of the Code of Practice; an awareness of, and commitment to, these key principles will help an institute to assure itself and others that it has developed and is applying good practice in all of its activities.

Definition of terms

Basic policy
• The organisation and all members of staff are to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and all internal procedures and policies.
• The organisation is to set objectives that must be pursued within a framework of agreed principles and values, which will determine daily conduct and practice.
• The organisation and all members of staff are to act in a socially acceptable manner, combining business efficiency and competitiveness with respect for the individual, for society and for the environment.

Basic principles
• High professional standards are maintained
• Provision of services is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner.
• Provision of services is delivered in a safe and efficient environment.
• Information supplied to students and guardians is comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date.
• Admission of students is undertaken in an ethical and responsible manner.
• The particular needs of students and guardians are recognized and met.
• Teaching is influenced by the latest findings in methodology and/or the Common European Framework.
• Teachers’ recruitment, training, monitoring, evaluation and welfare is undertaken in an ethical and responsible manner.
• Employees’ freedom of association and collective bargaining is recognised and respected.
• An equal opportunities policy and affirmative action in respect of employment and students exist.

The main principles identified in the Code of Practice as underpinning good practice in assuring quality and standards in the teaching of the English language to students whose mother tongue is not English, are:

A clear definition of responsibilities
The responsibilities within all areas of activities of staff members, together with the responsibilities of students and others, should be clearly defined.

There should be consistent application of policies and practices that are underpinned by principles of fairness and equality of opportunity.
Policies and procedures should be clear and explicit and applied consistently. Such explicitness supports fairness, secures equality of opportunity and engenders public confidence.
Procedures shall include:                                                
• Management and Administration. Roles and Responsibilities                                            
• Premises Facilities and Equipment                                                                                         
• Teaching Staff. Recruitment, Training, Monitoring and Evaluation                                                                                     
• Student Services. Admission and Service Provision                                                                     
• Curriculum Development Delivery and Review                                                                       
• Customers Satisfaction and Complaints
 Assessment:  students’  and self-assessment by institutes                                                                      
• Educational Resources                                                        
• Promotion                                                                         
• Additional Activities

The availability of clear and accessible information
Information on policies, procedures, responsibilities, fees, terms of payment and cancellation procedures should be clear, up to date and accessible to all interested parties. Information should help students and guardians understand what they should expect from their particular educational experience and it should help staff members  ensure that they are contributing effectively, and working within, the arrangements in place to secure quality and standards.

Staff Competence
All staff need to be supported to ensure their competence to fulfil their particular roles and responsibilities.

Monitoring and review of policy, procedures, practices, audit and review
Policies, procedures and practices need to be monitored and reviewed from time to time to ensure their effectiveness and to identify and correct any consequences that might undermine the assurance of quality, standards, fairness or equality of opportunity.
Institutions shall establish a practice for collecting the appropriate information, including the identification of the information sources. Data should be used to ensure the effectiveness of the teaching-learning process.

Relevant Legislation:
Institutions shall abide by all national and local laws and legislations, but where statutory requirements exist these take precedence over the Code of Practice.

Availability of the Code of Practice and revisions to it
The Code of Practice’s implementation guide is available for all interested institutes upon request.
We would be pleased to receive suggestions for revisions to the Code of Practice, examples of how the Code of Practice has been used within an institute and any difficulties encountered in working with it.
Certified educational institutes will be notified of any changes to the Code of Practice; we will update our website as necessary.
The Code of Practice will be reviewed and revised from time to time, to ensure that it’s up to date.