WHAT IS EAQUALS?
WHY EAQUALS?
AVO-Bell and EAQUALS
EAQUALS CHARTERS
EAQUALS certificate at AVO-Bell
WHAT IS EAQUALS?
EAQUALS is an association of providers of language services, founded in 1991, with over 100 accredited members in 22 different countries. EAQUALS grants its quality label to institutions that meet its high inspection standards.
The EAQUALS charters provide clear specific quality guarantees, and enable those who need to recommend or take decisions on language learning provision to choose reliable partners.
EAQUALS contributes to European projects related to language teaching, including the recent development in cooperation with ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) of an electronic version of an EAQUALS/ALTE European Language Portfolio for adults (www.eelp.org). It also publishes training materials on different aspects of language teaching management.
To promote its aim and communicate its quality guarantees to organisations and individuals, EAQUALS:
- makes public presentations in various parts of Europe
- takes part in workshops and professional conferences
- contributes to professional journals
- collaborates with other quality assurance bodies
- promotes the recognition of the EAQUALS mark as a guarantee of quality to professional and individual consumers
WHY EAQUALS?
When you choose an EAQUALS school you can be sure of the following:
Legal requirements: All legal requirements are scrupulously checked during EAQUALS inspections. EAQUALS members are committed to exceeding minimum standards in all areas, including client welfare, health and safety, and staff pay and conditions. All EAQUALS schools are accredited by the appropriate national agency in countries where such agencies exist; EAQUALS membership is a commitment to providing added value.
Truthfulness: All information published by an EAQUALS school is scrupulously checked in EAQUALS inspections. EAQUALS members are committed to providing clear, accurate and complete information about all aspects of the courses and services offered.
Teaching: Effective, well-planned and enjoyable teaching by well-qualified, trained staff with access to extensive teaching resources. All EAQUALS members have observation and teacher development programmes. All teachers are observed and evaluated in EAQUALS inspections.
Curriculum: A tried and tested teaching/learning system with a clearly defined curriculum. Objectives and assessment are based upon the Common European Framework of Reference. Balance and variety in the programme are assured.
Appropriate standards: The EAQUALS quality standards that are used for self-assessment and as inspection criteria are industry-specific: they have been developed by language teaching specialists over many years. Unlike most quality management schemes, including ISO schemes, the EAQUALS scheme covers not just processes and documentation but also what happens in reality. The focus is on the school-in-action, the experience of clients – not the school-in-theory.
External quality control: The existence of internal quality assurance systems is verified and all aspects of the school are rigorously controlled during EAQUALS inspections. All EAQUALS schools undergo a thorough two day inspection by two independent inspectors every three years in relation to very detailed quality criteria covering all aspects of the operation.
AVO-Bell and EAQUALS
AVO-Bell School of English is the only educational centre in Bulgaria which, after a rigorous inspection encompassing all aspects of the work and organisation of the school, has met the standards required by EAQUALS.
In 2007, not only did AVO-Bell fulfill all the criteria covered in EAQUALS' inspection framework, but it also achieved excellence in two of the yardsticks of quality.
In 2010, on the eve of its 20th anniversary, ABO-Bell successfully passed its second EAQUALS inspection with brilliant results and lived up to the reputation and status of a school that offers language training in accordance with the highest European standards and criteria for quality.
The EAQUALS inspectors identified the following areas of excellence in the institution:
• Academic Management – Assessment and Certification
• Academic Management – Quality Assurance
• Academic Resources
• Communications
• Information
• Management and Administration
EAQUALS awarded the mark of quality to AVO-Bell School of English and thus guarantees that AVO-Bell:
• works according to European standards of foreign language teaching
• fosters an atmosphere conducive to an effective learning process
• assures opportunites for training and development to staff
• guarantees that the service provided corresponds to the service advertised
EAQUALS CHARTERS
The general charter
The General Charter is about the commitments, undertakings, duties and legality of Accredited Members of EAQUALS. It mentions in particular:
• Non-discrimination
• Continuous internal development
• Clear information to clients, students and staff
• Health and safety
• Compliance with relevant legislation, and
• Compliance with the other EAQUALS charters
Click here for the full text of the EAQUALS Charters for accredited members.
The EAQUALS course participants` charter
This charter is a clear undertaking by each accredited member to provide quality services in all areas related to a language course provided by an EAQUALS accredited member. The main areas covered are: qualifications, experience and professional skills of the teachers and trainers; the teaching and learning materials and organisation of the teaching programmes; suitability of the premises; and the provision of detailed, truthful information about the course of studies. The complete Course Participant’s Charter is to be displayed in each EAQUALS accredited school.
The EAQUALS staff charter
This charter concerns the working conditions, duties and entitlements of both the academic and non-academic staff where not already defined in national law. It requires an EAQUALS school to deal fairly with its staff, in accordance with local norms, to provide suitable working conditions, and, for example, to provide training for staff. The Staff Charter is to be displayed in full in the staffrooms and offices of EAQUALS accredited schools.
The EAQUALS information charter
This charter guarantees the veracity, comprehensiveness and clarity of the information provided by the school in its brochures, publicity, websites and other information sources.
Charter for EAQUALS associate members
Associate Members do not undergo inspection but have to demonstrate that they support and comply with the Charter for Associate Members. Additional requirements are made of Associate Members that are examination boards.
EAQUALS CERTIFICATE at AVO-Bell
The EAQUALS Certificate of Achievement is for language learners at EAQUALS member schools. It states their individual Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level at the end of their course of study. The levels range from A1 (elementary) to C2 (similar to a native speaker of the language). In order to be entitled to award the EAQUALS certificates, schools must first demonstrate that they have a valid and reliable system for assessing learners’ CEFR levels, and must meet the rigorous standards of the EAQUALS Certificate Scheme.
The EAQUALS Certificate of Achievement scheme is based on the methodology recommended by the Council of Europe in its manual for examination providers: Relating Language Examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Manuel1_EN.asp
Features of the EAQUALS Certificate of Achievement
Each certificate has:
- a unique number;
- a statement of the CEFR level achieved by the student;
- a descriptor of what the student can do in the language;
- the name of the institution which issued the certificate;
- the date of the beginning and end of course.
Certificate records are stored and certificates are created on a secure EAQUALS website, which means EAQUALS has full control of the process. Authorised users may, if they wish, search for a specific record or certificate number to check authenticity.