What is Language Accreditation?

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• Accreditation is a comprehensive and continuous self-evaluation process that a language education institution performs in educational education on a voluntary basis.

• In order for the self-evaluation to be objective, the studies are evaluated by experts, who have passed through this process and who have been trained, independent of the institution or program being evaluated.

• Evaluation is made according to certain criteria. New arrangements may be requested from the institution/program when deemed necessary.

• Accreditation helps all stakeholders to focus on the mission and vision, reinforces the transparency and commitment of the institution, and balances personal goals and organizational balances.

• Accreditation enhances continuous improvement and total quality awareness.

 

 

What is not Language Accreditation?

• The institution/program determines its goals,

• The institution/program has to abide by the laws and regulations while choosing the methods it follows in reaching its target, considering the current conditions,

• Administrators are obliged to follow a transparent policy towards all staff, students, and third parties,

• Transparency should be accessible to everyone, with all oral and written sources.

• Institutions/Programs that receive language accreditation do not have to achieve the same outputs,

• Institutions/Programs do not have to recognize each other's in-house language proficiency exams,

• Institutions/Programs abroad may not accept language proficiency exams

 

 

Advantages of Language Accreditation

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Language accreditation helps all stakeholders to focus on the mission and vision, reinforces the transparency and commitment of the institution, and balances personal and organizational goals. Besides, accreditation has a guiding feature in order for the institution to see its current opportunities, obstacles, strengths, and weaknesses and to make the necessary arrangements. This is reinforced by the self-study process of the institution, thus increasing the educational quality, transparency, reliability, and prestige of the institution.

 

The gains of accreditation to its stakeholders can be summarized as follows.

 

Administrators

• have the opportunity to regularly evaluate the benefits of existing practices and changes made.

• evaluate the capability of the program in terms of continuity of mission and goals.

• ensure that the applications in the program are kept up to date with research and applications.

• involve lecturers and staff in achieving the goals of the program.

 

Instructors and Lecturers

• participate in an ongoing process to ensure the quality of the program.

• evaluate their own teaching methods and professional engagement.

• gain knowledge on subjects outside of their own classes/lessons.

 

Students

• check whether the curriculum is tailored to their needs.

• are convinced that the evaluation criteria are reliable and valid.

• give feedback on whether the auxiliary units provide quality service.

• compare the service offered by the program/institution with the service it provides.

 

Other Stakeholders

• access correct information thanks to the transparency of the institution.

• make a choice by knowing what the program/institution has to offer.

• evaluate and compare themselves.