Reference Guide for EAQUALS inspections - Support

EAQUALS standards and assessment criteriaThe EAQUALS inspection scheme looks at all aspects of language teaching services. The internationalteams of inspectors seek evidence from different sources to verify that EAQUALS standards are beingmet. This is done mainly through a visit to the institution, lasting between two and four days,depending on the size of the institution. It includes the observation of all activities, including theobservation of teaching, meetings with key staff and teachers, clients and partners, studyingdocuments, inspecting premises and accommodation, if applicable.The EAQUALS accreditation scheme is international, and the standards and criteria are notprescriptive, although the basic requirements are clearly established. During the inspection process,these requirements can be applied in different ways in different contexts, and it is the institution’stask to provide evidence which demonstrates that they meet the requirements.The EAQUALS assessment of the institutions focuses on the global picture. For example, it does notinspect the performance of individual teachers but looks at the general level of teaching and supportfor learning being carried out at the institution. The assessment standards are not absolute, providedthat basic requirements are complied with, it is accepted that there may be room for furtherdevelopment, even in areas of excellence.Guidelines on how to apply requirements in various country-specific contexts are summarised in theindividual Country Notes, which include local regulations on legal requirements, teachers’qualifications, labour law, etc. Country notes are available on the EAQUALS website under:http://www.eaquals.org/page.asp?p=2641. Please note that local requirements do not definethe terms of the EAQUALS Charters, and if local standards are lower it is always EAQUALSstandards which are applied.For a full list of areas of the EAQUALS Inspection Scheme and focus pointsgo to page 16.9Reference Guide to the Inspection Scheme for Institutionsversion 6.2© EAQUALS 2011