FAQ's
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Why adopt and implement the IQMS CERT Code of Practice?
Your customers are your company’s source of life. To maintain and increase your customers and at the same time to keep them satisfied, your services should cover their needs and expectations.
The IQMS CERT Code of Practice is a well thought, tried and tested framework for a systematic management of your company.
The IQMS CERT Code of Practice applies to institutes teaching English as a foreign language, addressing their particular needs.
2. Why Certification?
Certification of your company according to the Code of Practice by IQMS CERT provides, to all interested, an independent recognition of your company, to provide quality services.
3. What is the IQMS CERT Code of Practice?
The Code of Practice is a management tool to control the fulfillment:
- of customers’ needs and expectations;
- National, European and Legal requirements;
- your organisation's own standards and culture.
4. What does implementing the IQMS CERT Code of Practice ensure?
The Code of Practice ensures the understanding and the fulfillment of:
- of customers’ needs and expectations;
- compliance to National, European and Legal requirements;
- effective management of your company.
5. What European, or other, legislation governs certification according to the IQMS CERT Code of Practice?
Certification according to the IQMS CERT Code of Practice, as well as, to
any other international management system standard, such as ISO standards, is purely voluntarily, relies to any interested company’s decision and basically is governed by the rules of the open market (customers, suppliers, competition etc)
6. What are the credentials of IQMS CERT?
IQMS CERT is an independent organization certified to ISO 9001:2000. Our certification process incorporates the principles of ISO/IEC17021:2006 the International standard for orginizations providing conformity assessment audit and certification of management systems.
7. Who are the IQMS CERT auditors?
All IQMS CERT auditors have more than 10 years experience in auditing management systems as well as in academic management.
8. How the audit team is formed?
The audit team is always lead by a Lead Auditor who has the overall responsibility of the audit. The Lead Auditor, depending on the size of the institute, the duration and the particular needs of the audit, may be accompanied by auditor(s) and/or experts.
9. Could an institute request the exclusion of a particular auditor?
The client reserves the right to request exclusion of a particular auditor from the audit team. The client, in this case, should inform IQMS CERT in writing, stating the reasons for its request.
(see General Rules § 2.2)
10. How the auditors are appointed, monitored and evaluated?
Auditors are appointed by IQMS CERT in accordance to relative procedures. All auditors are monitored and evaluated periodically by IQMS CERT Lead/Senior Auditors in accordance to relative procedures.
11. How frequently the certified institutes are audited?
All schools and institutes are audited annually.
12. How much does it cost?
All fees associated with certification are stated in § 11 of the General Rules.
13. How and when will the auditors communicate the audit findings to us both during and after the audit?
Verbal feedback is given throughout the audit, where possible, and issues of concern will be discussed as soon as they arise, followed by:
- regular meetings to report progress and findings;
- any observations and nonconformities being formally reported at the closing meeting at the end of the audit when the whole of the management system has been audited and the significance and impact of the problem understood;
- a written report issued at, or shortly after, the closing meeting.
14. How large should a language school/institute be to be able to apply for certification?
Schools and instutues of all sizes are offered the opportunity to apply for certification.
15. Can a language school/Institute apply irrespective of its location?
Yes the location of a school/institute plays no role in its eligibility to apply for certification
16. How important are the teaching materials in the assessment procedure?
The materials should raise students' awareness of issues such as the environment, human relationships, and other important topics, so that students can develop as individuals.
17. Is it necessary for the staff of certified language schools/institutes to attend seminars on educational development?
It is strongly recommended that all staff attend such seminars as part of an ongoing process of professional development. Attendance of such seminars is taken into account in the audit.
18. Will there be a conference at the end of each academic year for the exchange of ideas and feedback?
Yes. Details will be published at a later date.
19. Can a language school/institute include the logo of IQMS CERT in their documents?
See General Rules section 7.
