| Q | Can ACTDEC accredit face to face courses? |
| A | No, ACTDEC currently accredits only distance learning courses. |
| Q | Can an applicant institution have several contact persons? |
| A | Ideally, there should be only one officer at the applicant institution to whom all future related correspondence should be addressed. |
| Q | How do I start with my application? |
| A | You need to have three documents to use as a guideline in submitting your application:
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| Q | How important are the Performance Indicators? |
| A | The Performance Indicators are the key to the whole application. In the application all parts of the performance indicators (1-12) should be covered. |
| Q | What information do I have to provide under number 1 ( publicity, advertising, pre course information) of the Performance indicators? |
| A | An up and running website address should be included, or the text to be used on the website publicising the course. However, the website must be operational before accreditation is awarded. |
| Q | In number 5 (course structure, syllabus content and length), is it enough to send a list of everything which is included in the course? |
| A | A complete course content list should be provided. Additionally it is expected that at least two complete modules are included so that the accreditation panel can get a more in depth insight into the course. It is felt that everything should be sent in rather than just two modules. |
| Q | Should there be a set pass mark for the course? |
| A | To be in line with ACTDEC policy the pass mark of the distance training programme has to be 50%. |
| Q | What qualifications do our staff need to meet ACTDEC’s standard? |
| A | Especially for non- native speakers running a course, an English qualification (e.g. IELTS score 8) is expected, and staff must also possess a recognised teaching qualification.We would recommend a Cambridge Proficiency in English qualification ideally or something at this level. IELTS is most regularly used for people going to university and so is a guide to a student’s level but may not always be as appropriate as CPE. Certainly a 6 at IELTS would not be adequate and an absolute minimum would be 7 but ideally 8. |
| Q | Under number 12 of the performance Indicators (course evaluation and quality assurance) what kind of evaluation data is required? |
| A | Examples of course feedback sheets completed by the trainees is expected. |
| Q | How do I know if our course to be accredited meets the criteria of the ACTDEC syllabus? |
| A | Please refer to the Specimen Regulations and Syllabus sheet for the course level you are applying for. Here you will find a complete list of what is expected for the syllabus for each level. |
| Q | How important is teaching practice? |
| A | It’s really important for two reasons. First, discerning employers prefer teachers to have had supervised teaching practice. Second, because of their accreditation criteria, most institutions in the UK require teachers holding a TESOL certificate, to have had at least six hours observed teaching practice as part of their certificate programme. If you can possibly do so you should follow the teaching practice option(s) provided by your course provider as it will provide you with proof of classroom teaching practice and increases your job opportunities. |