The IALC Quality Scheme

Ensuring excellence in private language schools

All IALC language centres are accredited through the IALC Quality Scheme. The Scheme sets minimum requirements and standards in all areas of language school operation. Its foundation is the IALC Code of Ethics. The Code is updated regularly to meet changing consumer expectations and current best practice in international language schools. A central principle of the IALC Quality Scheme is continuous improvement.

Minimum criteria for IALC language schools

• be legally constituted
• be privately owned and independent of a large chain or network
• teach the official language of the country as a main activity
• have operated for at least three years
• operate all year round
• have five or more classrooms
• teach a complete range of language levels
• have national accreditation where a national scheme exists
• respect the IALC Code of Ethics
• comply with the IALC Minimum Accommodation Standards
• pass the IALC entry inspection

Entry Inspection

A qualified IALC inspector visits each applicant language school and assesses thoroughly all aspects of its operation: curriculum, teaching, academic management, accommodation, general management, administration, finance, marketing, feedback and complaint procedures, etc.

The inspector’s report is reviewed by the IALC Membership Committee. If the language school meets IALC requirements, the Committee proposes it at the next IALC annual general meeting, where IALC members may ask questions about any area of the inspection before voting on the application.

Continuous quality assurance of IALC language schools

Quality Audit Each IALC language school is re-inspected every four years. The inspected school receives feedback including points of excellence, recommendations and requirements. Requirements must be implemented within a set timeframe. If a serious problem is discovered, a second and final audit is scheduled. Failure to meet all IALC requirements at the second audit results in loss of IALC membership.

Each IALC language school completes and signs a detailed, factual self-assessment annually. This enables IALC to verify that the language school continues to comply with IALC standards.

Each IALC language centre creates a quality plan. The quality plan shows how the school plans to maintain and develop the quality of its services and facilities over a period of one to three years. The quality plan and annual self-assessment provide the basis for the on-site quality audit.

If ownership or management control of an IALC language school changes, IALC will, if necessary, schedule a special audit to ensure that IALC standards and requirements continue to be met.

IALC inspectors are experienced, senior staff working at IALC language schools. They undergo inspection training and attend further training seminars. Each inspection (new members) or audit (existing members) is carried out in strict compliance with IALC guidelines.

Following the audit, the IALC language school receives feedback on its strengths and any weaknesses. It must implement any requirements stated, and is strongly encouraged to implement the inspector’s recommendations.

With language schools teaching eight languages in 21 countries worldwide, IALC’s international composition enables a rich exchange of good practice and experience. Not only the language schools, but also the inspectors learn from an IALC inspection.

"The audit allowed us to stop and consider together all the elements involved in the process of teaching/learning Spanish as a second language. This time of reflection allowed us to pose ourselves different questions. Our reflection gave us a concrete idea of our strengths and, most important of all, allowed us to detect the areas we need to work on, that is to say, our weaknesses.

The IALC audit was fruitful and beneficial for us in improving the services we provide."

Julia Hernández Cruz
Audit coordinator and Director of Humanities and Linguistic Studies
The Centre for Linguistic Multicultural Studies, Cuernavaca, Mexico

"Being able to audit schools in a different country gives an insight into the different ways in which IALC guidelines are put into practice in different cultures. It is a two-way process in which both participants gain."

Alexandra Borges de Sousa
Director of Studies – International Relations
CIAL Centro de Linguas, Lisbon and Faro, Portugal

Complaints Policy

A study abroad agent or student who wishes to complain about an IALC language school may call in force the IALC Complaints Procedure. We require that the complainant tries first to resolve the problem directly with the school and, for practical reasons, does not pursue the complaint simultaneously through another scheme.