UK Accreditation
The Accreditation Process
UK Accreditation Process
Our accreditation begins with the application, followed by the inspection phase - covering the full range of your institution’s educational provision, supporting activities, and documentation. The four year accreditation period ensures that (by committing to continual adherence to the ASIC Standards) your institution will maintain acceptable UK standards.
The 3 Stages of the UK Accreditation Process
Our approach challenges preconceptions about Quality Assurance and its impact. Our inspectors do not assert or instruct but rather encourage, guide, and motivate.
ASIC aims to enthuse and empower, to support lasting and continuous improvement and deliver tangible outcomes.
Interim Accreditation will last for a period of 12 months and allows the institution to begin recruiting students via the Short-term study visa, during which a Stage 3 visit will need to be arranged.
What happens during an ASIC Inspection?
Stage 2: Initial Inspection
During the visit, the inspector(s) will meet with key management staff, the principal, and the institution owner. A tour of the premises will take place, including a review of the documentation listed below. An initial report is submitted at this stage to determine whether ASIC will award Interim Accreditation or else advise on any conditions to address before moving forward. At this stage inspectors will need to see:
- Procedural documentation
- Quality manual
- Staff/student handbooks
- Attendance monitoring systems
- Sample student feedback forms
- Marked student assignments
- Performance monitoring systems
- Statutory documentation
Stage 3: Full Inspection Visit
Stage 3 involves a detailed audit of the areas listed below, observation of teaching, and meetings with staff and students to gather their perspectives. Throughout the visit, the inspector(s) will seek to encourage management and staff to look for ways to improve the institution's operation and educational provision - and suggest recommendations for consideration. Finally, there will be a concluding meeting with the principal where the inspector(s) will provide informal feedback on their findings. The notification of the decision to award full Accreditation is usually delivered two weeks after the Stage 3 visit. During Stage 3 inspectors will need to:
- Meet the principal and CEO
- If appropriate, meet the owners and the chair of governors
- Introductory meeting will all staff if possible
- Detailed survey of the library, resource area
- Assess research facilities and research outputs
- Assess the IT provision
- Assess laboratory and audio visual equipment
- Visit the refreshment areas
- Meet a representative group of staff without senior managers being present
- Observe a number of teaching sessions
- Meet a representative group(s) of students without any staff being present
- Hold a final meeting with the principal to give an informal report of their findings
