School Accreditation Guide
What all those logos mean – to the student, and to Marshall Language Services.
The United States of America
ENGLISH USA
(Formerly AAIEP, American Association of Intensive English Programs). All members must be accredited by ACCET, CEA, or under the governance of a college or university. AAIEP has devised a set of quality control standards for IEPs in the United States (Intensive English Programs, including requirements on the training of the instructors and program curriculum.
ACCET
(Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training). An organization that sets quality control standards for institutions of continuing education and training in the United States. These programs are not limited to Intensive English Programs. Schools with this accreditation can issue I-20 forms for the issuance of student visas.
CEA
CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation). This is a newer accreditation body for schools in the United States with respect to ACCET and is only limited to Intensive English Programs. Schools with this accreditation can issue I-20 forms for the issuance of student visas.
The United Kingdom
BRITISH COUNCIL
This is the United Kingdom’s charity for cultural relations and educational opportunities, with offices around the world. It develops teaching materials, teacher training and offers UK exams like the Cambridge and IELTS exams. It has a set of quality control standards for English language programs. To become accredited, the school is examined by two inspectors, who look at every aspect of the school’s operation. This includes the building, the resources for students and teachers, the general and academic management, and the standards of teaching, accommodation, social activities and student care. The inspection is very thorough and the school has to be fully re-inspected every four years, to make sure its standards remain high. The British Council inspectors can also make extra checks without warning. When the British Council inspects a school, it looks at 13 different criteria for adult programs, and 15 if the school also offers programs for juniors. If a criteria is satisfactory, it can be marked as such, or if it exceeds the expectations of the examiner, it will be considered a “strength.” On average, schools inspected by the British Council receive 3.6 strengths. Some of the schools with which Marshall Language Services works have many more than these, and that fact is noted in the description of the school itself.
ENGLISH UK
This is the new name of ARELS, and is the national association of accredited English language centers in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to advance the education of international students in the English language within the United Kingdom. Its 450 + members must pass one of the world’s most rigorous inspection schemes, Accreditation UK, which it manages jointly with the British Council. It also helps protect students with a complaints scheme and a Student Emergency Support Fund in the case of closure of one of its member schools. It also includes regional subgroups like English UK Central, English UK North (and other regions), Business English UK and English UK Young Learners, which have their own set of standards for Business English teaching and English programs for young learners.
TEN (The English Network)
This is a network of ten independent schools in England, all in very desirable locations, who represent the absolute best schools in that nation. They are some of the highest ranked schools in terms of “strengths” following inspections by the British Council, with ELC Bristol and the Wimbledon School of English at the very top of the list, and several others following very closely. Marshall Language Services proudly works with all of these schools.
BAC (British Accreditation Council)
BAC (British Accreditation Council) provides a comprehensive quality assurance scheme for independent further and higher education in the UK. The schools are in the private sector and are not limited to language schools. Alongside the British Council, whose Accreditation UK scheme serves as the definitive guide to the United Kingdom’s English language centers, it oversees the inspection of private education for persons older than 16.
Ireland
MEI-RELSA
MEI-RELSA is the approved body for marketing, quality and standards of English language learning in Ireland. The organization is a merger between two previously separate bodies: Marketing English in Ireland (MEI) and the Recognized English Language Schools Association (RELSA). Over 90% of the English language students in Ireland study at an MEI member school. Their schools must undergo rigorous testing and inspections, and must adhere to a strict protocol that calls on them to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, due diligence and care. All its schools are inspected and recognized by Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services (ACELS), through the service of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national bodies responsible for the development and management of English Language Teaching organizations. MEI also offers Learner Protection, through which it is able to guarantee students that they will be able to complete all language courses in the event of a school closure.
Malta
FELTOM
FELTOM (Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta), brings together all accredited English language schools under one national association. Its main aim is to advance the quality of English language education to international learners in Malta. It is a quality control body and also seeks to promote Malta as an English-language destination. The directors of the main schools we work with in Malta have had important positions in this organization and/or were founding members.
Canada
LANGUAGES CANADA
Languages Canada is Canada’s premier language organization representing its two official languages: English and French. Membership is limited to programs from the public and private sectors that meet the rigorous standards of the association. The organization is recognized by the Canadian government and internationally. It brought together existing language education associations CAPLS (Canadian Association of Private Language Schools) and CLC (Canadian Language Centre), who created a new association that would include all public, private, English and French accredited language education program members.
Australia
NEAS (National ELT Accreditation Scheme)
NEAS endorses English language centers in universities, colleges and high schools in Australia. It serves as internationally recognized quality control symbol.
ENGLISH AUSTRALIA
This is the national peak body for the English language sector of international education in Australia. It represents over 120 member colleges throughout the country that provide quality English language programs to students and professionals from around the world. The best language schools in Australia belong to this association, and as a result, over 80% of international students learning English there study with an English Australia member college.
ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students)
ELICOS programs have been designed for students who require English language training before commencing formal studies in Australia. The Australian government has an official ELICOS student visa especially for students who do one of these courses. ELICOS programs are open to everyone, including people who are in Australia on a tourist or visitor visa and people who do not want to do any further study after their English classes are over.
International
QUALITY ENGLISH
Quality English Schools are privately owned, independent and run by the people who own them. Quality is paramount to the principles of these schools, which have to have local accreditation certifying their high academic standards before they can apply to become a member of Quality English. Quality English Schools and Quality Education Colleges are selected from the best independent schools and colleges in English speaking countries. The organization conducts a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the schools meet its criteria while also gathering feedback from current students, and the agents the school or college works with. It carries out regular inspections to ensure the high standards are being maintained. Quality English is the only language school organization to ask agents for their opinions before a school can join. All member schools are regularly inspected, and must have excellent standards of teaching and student care. Marshall Language Services works with many Quality English schools around the world.
QUALITY ENGLISH AUTHORISED AGENCY
These are agencies who are recognized by the Quality English association for their high standards of professional service and are permitted to use their logo. Marshall Language Services has been an authorized Agency for many years and is listed on the Quality English website.
Italian
ASILS (Associazione Scuole di Italiano come Lingua Seconda)
This is an association for quality control of the most renowned language schools in Italy. The teaching of the Italian language must be the primary focus of these schools.
Spanish
CEELE (Calidad en la Enseñanza del Español como Lengua Extranjera)
This seal of quality was jointly created by the Department of Spanish University of Alcalá and the Spanish Association of Economic Resources in order to provide on internationally accepted standard in the teaching of Spanish. CEELE certification assures that specific internationally accepted criteria have been met by its schools. Schools that apply for certification are subject to an inspection that evaluates 11 diverse aspects of teaching Spanish as a second language. The inspection is repeated every two years.
INSTITUTO CERVANTES
This organization was created in Spain to promote the teaching, study, and the use of Spanish and to contribute to the diffusion of Hispanic cultures around the world. It is made up of 87 centers in 44 countries, with two in Spain. It is a quality control body for its schools and organizes the official DELE exams for the Spanish language.
French
Qualité FLE (Français Langue Étrangère)
This label is issued by a government commission that includes the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Ministry of Culture and Communication, and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The label is assigned for a period of 4 years if the institution can meet quality criteria in five key areas: teachers, training and teaching, welcome and support, premises/safety/equipment, consistence and organization.
CAMPUS FRANCE
Under the support of ministerial authorities and working with institutions of higher learning and their associates, Campus France aims to promote French language learning throughout the world, and to improve the experience of foreign students pursuing their higher education in France. It is a quality control organization for language schools in France.
FLE.FR
The Agency for Promoting French as a Foreign Language – FLE – is the professional organization in charge of promoting the learning of French in France by people around the world. The Agency is in charge of the French language professional website www.fle.fr, which was created in 1996. It welcomes teachers of French from all over the world in Paris at the Librairie pédagogique du FLE – French language Bookstore, where meetings, trainings and lectures are held throughout the year. The Agency also offers its professional expertise to national and international organizations, to support the pedagogical integration of digital tools and resources related to the teaching of French.
German
FADAF
This organization promotes the study of the German language for foreigners at the university and non-university level. It is a quality control body for German language schools in German speaking countries and abroad.
International/Multiple Languages
IALC (International Association of Language Centres)
This is one of the most prestigious accreditations possible for a language school. IALC is comprised of 141 schools around the world, offering nine different languages. All IALC schools are independently operated (they do not belong to large school chains) and place quality in their services at the very top of their priorities to students. The schools specialize in immersion training where the language is spoken. Every IALC center is inspected and committed to continuous improvement in all areas: teaching, management, administration, accommodation, facilities, cultural activities and customer service. IALC schools offer a unique experience and a safe environment with experienced teaching professionals who are truly passionate about language and cultural exchange. Marshall Language Services has been working with IALC schools since the agency was founded and gives this particular accreditation the most weight in selecting a school to work with.
IALC PARTNER AGENCY
These are agencies that have been officially recognized by IALC to represent its schools. These agencies operate in a way that is consistent with the IALC Code of Ethics and agents must satisfy a set of criteria and provide references from IALC member schools in order to qualify. Marshall Language Services was one of the first agencies in Italy to achieve this distinction.
EAQUALS
This is another important professional association for language study around the world. Accredited Members are language centers of all types teaching courses in any language. EAQUALS members currently teach more than 25 languages in over 30 countries worldwide. They have achieved high international standards and are committed to continuous improvement. Accreditation is only awarded after a comprehensive and rigorous quality assurance process, including an on-site inspection, which is repeated every four years. EAQUALS is recognized as an authority on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and has produced a range of tools to assist with its practical implementation.
ALTO
This organization is the only premium forum joining leading language travel agents, schools, and national associations as one global community. ALTO’s mission is to provide a global platform for leaders and decision makers within the language travel industry to further develop and grow the industry through networking, professional development, idea, and information exchange.
IHWO (International House World Organization, or IH)
This is another very important school association within the language learning industry. The International House World Organization is one of the largest and oldest groups of language schools in the world. Founded in 1953, it is a network of over 150 affiliated private language schools in 52 countries, on every continent. Its schools teach a wide variety of other languages and are all independently owned and run. Only schools that meet its exceptional quality standards are allowed to use the International House brand. IH pioneered teacher training programs for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and some teachers trained at its schools have written famous course books, including Headway, Cutting Edge, Language To Go, Natural Grammar and Fountain. Marshall Language Services also very much takes IH schools into consideration in selecting which ones to use for her clients, and some of these schools also belong to IALC.
World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE)
World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation is a global nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting and developing opportunities for young travelers and the youth, student and educational travel industry, with 600 members from 120 countries. Members of WYSE Travel Confederation include Adventure Tour Operators, Au Pair Agencies, Cultural Exchange Programs, Language Schools and Agents, Student Insurance, Flights and Identity Cards, Universities, International Education, Study Abroad Programs, Volunteer and Work Abroad Programs, Tourism boards, official tourism organizations, and national associations.
ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs)
ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs) is an organization that primarily organizes international workshops, bringing schools and agencies together in various locations throughout the world, several times a year. Marshall Language Services regularly attends the largest and most important of these, in Berlin, Germany.
ICEF Agency
Agencies who wish to attend ICEF workshops must undergo a quality assurance scheme that meets ICEF’s strict standard of quality, and if their application is accepted, they are also entitled to identify themselves as an ICEF Agency and to use the official logo. Agencies who have received ICEF Agency Status are evaluated every two years to ensure ongoing compliance with its standards. ICEF’s industry-leading quality assurance processes are increasingly recognised worldwide as an important qualification for agencies who have been successfully vetted for, and participated in, ICEF Workshops. Marshall Language Services is an ICEF-recognized agency.
ST STAR AWARDS
ST Star Awards are unique peer-voted awards in the international education industry. Education organizations vote for their preferred agent partners and vice versa. The ST Star Awards acknowledge the important mutual links between those organizations that offer education and work experience to international students and those organizations sending students overseas for an international study experience. When a school or organization wins an award five times, it receives Superstar Status. Many schools with whom Marshall Language Services works have been nominated or won an ST Star Award, and some have even reached the Superstar Status.
