UK ELT's accreditation scheme is 40!
Study abroad agents, education providers, the UK's international education champion and many others involved in UK ELT are helping us mark four decades of Accreditation UK this autumn.
We will be reminding agents of the quality standards that accredited centres offer through a series of fam trips around the UK departing on Monday 5 September, and an accompanying communications campaign.
The agents, many of whom are in London for ST Alphe UK, will attend a dinner marking the 40th anniversary on Sunday 4 September, the night before the fam trips depart. Other dinner guests include those who have supported the Accreditation UK scheme over the years, current and former inspectors, heads of agent and ELT associations from around the world, British Council officials, English UK staff, Department for International Trade representatives, plus accredited centres involved with the scheme and the fam trips.
Jodie Gray, English UK's chief executive, said:
"We are very proud to celebrate 40 years of Accreditation UK which has supported our industry to drive up standards, achieve excellence and an international reputation which is second to none.
Student experience is at the heart of our offer. Accreditation UK's focus on academic and management quality, as well as standards of care and safeguarding, means our schools are trusted by parents all over the world and students leave wanting to return.
Accreditation UK works so well because of its unique structure: it is proudly independent but its work is informed by people who work in the sector and understand what our ELT centres and teachers do every day of the week."
Accreditation UK began in 1982 when the government's education department stopped inspecting private language schools and the British Council took over as the recognising body for all ELT services in the UK. The inspection scheme was called the English Language Schools Recognition Scheme, while the Courses Validation Scheme was developed for state sector providers. The schemes merged to become the English in Britain Accreditation Scheme in 1998 and finally Accreditation UK in April 2006.
Changes to the visa regulations in 2009 resulted in increased demand for accreditation with numbers peaking at over 570 in autumn 2014. There are now just over 400 accredited providers, with demand continuing from new applicants.
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