Obtaining accreditation from reputable standards bodies is necessary to confirm the quality and standard of your institution's work, especially at the start. Accredited institutions find it easier to recruit members, find participants for training courses, cover the cost of events and entice international presenters to work for them. However, for new institutions it is also about balancing the achievable with the desirable. It may be necessary to achieve a lower level accreditation as a stepping stone to higher level and international accreditation.
In some cases initial affiliation of your institution to an academic body, such as a technical University, for administrative purposes can dramatically increase the possibility of early accreditation.
Accreditation operates at a number of levels:
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Accrediting Bodies |
Attributes accredited | |
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Local Education Board & Academic Institutions |
Trainers Training Materials Complete curriculum & Syllabi Diplomas |
Premises & Facilities Management and Organisational Capability
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Local Chambers & Industry Federations |
Trainers Training Materials Complete curriculum & Syllabi Diplomas |
Premises & Facilities Management and Organisational Capability
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National Education Ministry |
Trainers Training Materials Complete curriculum & Syllabi Diplomas |
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National Industry and Trade Federations |
Trainers Training Materials Complete curriculum & Syllabi Diplomas |
Premises & Facilities Management and Organisational Capability
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National Social Institutions |
Not for profit status Management team |
Accounting, Tax and Official Reporting Conformity |
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National Chartered Professional Institutes |
Trainers Training Materials Complete curriculum & Syllabi Diplomas |
Premises & Facilities Management and Organisational Capability
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International Academic |
Trainers Training Materials Complete curriculum & Syllabi Diplomas |
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International Organisations |
Trainers Training Materials Complete curriculum & Syllabi Diplomas |
Premises & Facilities Management and Organisational Capability
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International Professional Bodies |
Trainers Training Materials Complete curriculum & Syllabi Diplomas |
Premises & Facilities Management and Organisational Capability
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Accreditation may be given separately or globally or for a combination of attributes | ||
Steps towards accreditation
a) Research
1. Find out about the requirements of the accreditation schemes that are most applicable to your institution. Look at similar institutions in other parts of the world and see whom they have chosen to be accredited by. Ask your members which accreditation schemes they most value. Have they heard of the schemes that you are proposing to apply for?
2. Carefully check the requirements and scope of each of the schemes. Make an honest appraisal of your institutions capabilities and readiness for an accreditation application. How much does each application cost and what is the duration of the procedure? If your application fails, how soon can you reapply? What rights of appeal exist? What are the continuing requirements for maintaining accreditation (this might include periodic audit visits)?
3. Plan and timetable the activities you will need to undertake in order to be apply for accreditation.
b) The Application
1. Ensure that you check and double-check the requirements to be sure that your application package includes all the documents needed in the right order and signed by the correct people.
2. Write a short introductory page about your institution's objectives and how accreditation will help it to reach those objectives and help its beneficiaries and country. Complete the package with a content page and number the documents and a timetable showing dates when audit visits would not be advisable.
3. Ensure references are signed, dated and include accurate full address details of referees so that the accrediting body may contact them.
4. Complete all forms and cross-check entries to supporting documentation in the package.
5. Send the package according to the instructions of the accrediting body but follow-up to confirm its arrival and the timetable for any proposed audit visits.
Sample
Information required for accreditation of one training module for the National Education Ministry (Slovakia)