STANDARDS


Quality Framework for Organisational Membership

Any institution which has achieved Organisational Membership has 

1. submitted an application which meets the minimum standard threshold of 4 criteria per element of the QUALITY FRAMEWORK - below.  
2. been judged unanimously by the Executive Committee as an organisation who can represent IARC's broad goals, mission and vision.*



Element 1: The Education Enterprise 
Organisation and Administration, Policy and Legal Responsibility 
Focus on Students  

Identify problems, secure relevant information, and recognise possible causes of conflict. 

1.1

Applied policy relevant to the experience of the students (i.e. company policy affecting the education delivered to students).

1.2

Transparent and easily accessible terms and conditions of enrolment.

1.3

Responsibility of Staff

Identify procedure or techniques for delegating authority, decision making and information processing, planning and allocating resources. 

1.4

Internal policy affecting the rights and responsibilities of individual employees. 

1.5

Apply the highest values and ethical standards as they relate to the entire professions which exist within the staff. 

1.6

 

Element 2: Financial Resource Management 
Budgeting and Planning, Auditing and Financial Reporting and Technology in Finance Operations 

Focus on Students

Communicate the relationship between funding sources and courses or programs e.g. are non-profit, focus resources on course improvements, invest in external systems of endorsement.

2.1

Obtain the services of an internal or external auditor, and/or prepare a corrective action plan where necessary.

2.2

Keep current with technology applications and programs and their security requirements.

2.3

Responsibility of Staff

Recognise and forecast the major source of revenue as enrolments and use multiple approaches to determine reliable enrolments.

2.4

Establish and verify compliance with finance-related legal and contractual provisions e.g. annual accounts submissions to government.

2.5

Develop an operational plan, which specifically includes the use of current technology, to meet the organisation’s financial goals and objectives.

2.6

Element 3: Human Resource Management 
Human Relations, Labour Recruitment and Employment Agreements and Personnel Administration 

Focus on Students

Create a high performing business through enabling feedback opportunities for current and former students.

3.1

Ensure the selection and recruitment of the most suitably qualified individuals for positions particular those in curriculum or product development, instructional design, or teaching and learning support.

3.2

Provide opportunities to feedback on dealings/communications specifically with the organisation’s staff, which may significantly enhance the experience for students.

3.3

Responsibility of Staff

Recognise and promote compliance with standards of ethical behaviour and standards for professional conduct applicable to all staff. 

3.4

Review and act upon current (or changing) local, federal or national laws and regulations with respect to employment agreements e.g. pension contributions amendments, casual contract agreements.

3.5

Administer employment agreements considering common employment provisions, and grievance procedures.

3.6

Element 4: Information Management 
Courses and Programs Evaluation, Communications and Management Information Systems 

Focus on Students


Effectively manage a change process when evaluation determines that courses or programs must be improved.

4.1

Have accessible ways of communicating with the organisation’s support staff, instructional or teaching staff.

4.2

Ensure students have adequate technology infrastructure in place to access information relating to their student status, the course or program materials or for assessment submission and results.

4.3

Responsibility of Staff


Participate in the planning and implementation of courses and programs improvement e.g. input from industry experts.  

4.4

Demonstrate a clear understanding of any legislation which surrounds mass communication or individual communication with students or prospective students.

4.5

Ensure that appropriate data security and privacy of records are maintained.

4.6


Element 5: Ethics and Professional Conduct 
Ethical Standards, Ethical Conduct and Professional Integrity 

Focus on Students 

Provide an inclusive culture for learning, removing preferential treatment for particular social groups based on gender, race or ethnicity, religious or political views (examples). 

5.1

Maintain confidentiality of data and information e.g. password protected student portals.

5.2

Provide a mechanism for student grievance to be disclosed safely and respectfully.

5.3

Responsibility of Staff 

Actively seek professional associations and relationships with external quality control systems aimed at improving courses and overall organisational management.

5.4 

Implement policies and administrative rules fully which pertain to ethical standards of the organisation.

5.5

Pursue appropriate measures to correct or eradicate unethical actions or behaviours within the organisation. 

5.6
   
Element 6: Creating Successful Learners
Contribute to Student Success, Design Implications and Quantity of Learning

Focus on Students 


Provide clear easily accessible instructions on how to access course materials and peripheral support materials.

6.1

Access a clear description of the functionality of the course.

6.2

Access information which highlights the number and complexity of assessments are proportional to the total course length and the material delivered.

6.3

Responsibility of Staff


Communicate fairly and make marking criteria accessible and grading styles accessible to all students.  

6.4

Undertake regular and appropriate course revisions. 

6.5

Clearly communicate expectations of study and course with students. 

 6.6
   

 

Rules of Recognition

By submitting an application for recognition by IARC, an organisation is deemed also to be applying to become a member of IARC, with equal rights and responsibilities as all other recognised members. 

Before an organisation's recognition and membership can be official, the following conditions must be satisfied:
  1. Only organisations which are legal entities in their own right may join. Membership is not available to individual persons at present.
  2. All recognised members must adhere to an acceptable, written code of practice and ethics in their dealings with the public, students, and any other organisations which provides for fair and equitable dealings in line with quality education and training institutions around the world. A sample code can be supplied if requested.
  3. All recognised members must agree with and support the Mission Statement of IARC.
  4. All organisations recognised by IARC will be obliged to adhere to a flexible, yet stringent set of standards that ensure a high standard of content, delivery and assessment within education and training courses.
  5. Standards will be maintained by simple threat of removal of recognition if an organisation is found, after investigation of complaints, to contravene standards.
  6. Recognised members must provide documentary evidence that they satisfy minimum requirements with respect to administration of their institution; content of the courses provided; delivery of the courses provided and assessment of students.
  7. Signatures from two existing recognised members, one nominating and the other seconding the application, must support new applications for recognition.
  8. All organisations must agree to implement the IARC system of complaint arbitration. Where the necessity arises for IARC to act as arbitrator of a complaint, the recognised organisation and the complainant must accept the IARC's decision as final and binding.
  9. All recognised members must agree to make their students and/or trainees aware that they can complain to IARC under certain conditions.
  10. For recognition to continue, recognised members must provide a documented Annual Audit. Audit requirements will be specified by the IARC committee and must be conducted by a person in authority within the organisation.
  11. Every five years, recognised members are required to submit documentary evidence to the IARC Executive Committee as though making a new application for recognition. Recognised members must agree to make such a submission at any other time, at the request of the IARC Committee.
  12. A recognised member must also pay the initial joining and membership fee, as specified, at the time of joining.
Any organisation approved as an Organisational Member of IARC can promote their school, college or institution as Approved and Registered with IARC.

Conditions of Organisational Membership 

IARC reserves the right to decline an IARC application without recourse or explanation, although we do endeavour to provide feedback. There is an appeal process which can be initiated to enable Organisation's to reapply for membership.  
 
*It should be noted that any approved Organisational Member who is later found to fail to maintain the standards on which membership was granted, the membership can be revoked at the discretion of the Committee.