Standards and Code of Practice

Membership of or accreditation by the International Association for Distance Learning requires that distance courses offered by members or accredited institutions comply with the minimum conditions prescribed by the Standards Committee.

Members and accredited institutions must satisfy IADL assessors, officers and regulatory staff that their organisation, products and services comply with the minimum standards required by the Standards Committee, and agree to adhere to the conditions below to the best of their ability.

1. The provider demonstrates a high commitment to educational values.

This should be evident in any mission statement, corporate objectives, or strategic goals the provider adopts, and its actions should at all times be compatible with those values. The provider should also be committed to the continuous professional development of its staff and tutors.

2. The provider is financially responsible and can meet its obligations to learners.

An institution's financial resources should afford all enrolled learners a reasonable prospect of completing their studies. 

3. The provider adopts widely accepted norms of good business and employment practice including (but not limited to):-

3.1. Having a clear, fair and effective procedure for dealing with complaints.

3.2. Having a fair and effective policy on refunds, which is made clear to the learner prior to enrolment.

3.3 Not discriminating, directly or indirectly, on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, or religious or political belief. 

3.4 Having adequate premises and equipment to conduct its business.

4. All staff are suitable for the positions they hold, and possess appropriate qualifications and experience.

5. All tutor support is of high quality. Where a provider employs more than one tutor, steps are taken to ensure that tutor support is consistent throughout the provision.

Such measures may include but are not necessarily limited to:- 

5.1  The development of normative schemes for marking and assessment.

5.2  Guidance notes for tutors.

5.3  Regular meetings of tutors. 

5.4  Sharing information on good practice, problems and solutions. 

5.5 Ongoing monitoring and review of tutors work, including sampling of tutor marking and comments. 

5.6 An appraisal system for tutors. 

5.7 Guidance for new tutors in the special requirements of open, distance and online learning. 

5.8 Providing adequate administrative backup for tutors.

5.9 Such other provisions as the provider deems appropriate.

6. Sufficient resources are available to ensure that every learner receives an adequate individual service

7. The provider adheres to all IADL recommendations and guidelines for the provision of open, distance and online learning.

8. If the provider has adopted its own set of systems and standards by which its performance can be assessed, these standards are compatible with IADL or other appropriate standards and seek, wherever possible, to strengthen those standards in ways appropriate to the particular provision in question. 

Such systems and standards may, for example:- 

(a). identify & select suitable tutors and authors of course materials; (b). monitor and review the continuing competence of all staff on a regular basis; (c). set time limits for responding to external approaches, marking and returning assignments to learners, or reviewing course materials (d). seek and encourage feedback from tutors, staff, learners and other customers on evaluating and improving materials and services; (e). measure outcomes, and use those measurements to enhance provision.

9. If a member or accredited institution sells course materials to any third party which is not an approved member of, or accredited by IADL, those materials may include a statement that they have been developed by an IADL recognised provider, but should not indicate or suggest that the materials themselves, or any subsequent provision based on them, is approved by IADL.

10. IADL approval covers the complete range of products and services provided by the member or accredited institution unless otherwise stipulated.  Providers may also apply for recognition of individual courses or programmes.

11. Any provision may be deemed to be approved by IADL if it is: 

11.1 Subject to that provider's own quality control procedures; or 

11.2 Subject to the quality control procedures of a partner organisation which is itself recognised by IADL.

11.3 Approved by IADL as a separate item.

11.4 Already approved by another accreditation agency or regulatory body recognised by IADL.

12. Where a provider has sought and obtained accreditation by another organisation in areas relevant to those under consideration by IADL, that accreditation, and any submission made in support of it, may be used as evidence in support of an application for membership of, or accreditation by, IADL.

13. A member may choose to acknowledge membership of IADL in its prospectus, on its website and on other publicity or promotional material. It may use the statement "Approved Member of the International Association for Distance Learning". 
Members are entitled to display the IADL Logo



on their website and on promotional literature or teaching materials, and will receive a membership certificate, valid for the duration of their membership.

14. A course-provider accredited by IADL may choose to acknowled its accredited status in its prospectus, on its website and on other publicity or promotional material. It may use the statement "Accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning". 
Accredited organisations are entitled to display the IADL Logo on their website and on promotional literature or teaching materials, and will receive a certificate of accreditation for the duration of their accredited status.

15. Members and accredited institutions will be required to submit an annual return in the format required by IADL.  Members and accredited institutions also agree to allow IADL and/or its duly appointed inspectors or assessors to make unannounced on-site evaluations or other quality control checks which may be required by the Standards Committee.   

16. Members and accredited course-providers should report any changes of significance in their operating circumstances or methods of course delivery to IADL. 

The above conditions constitute a voluntary code of good business practice for IADL members and accredited organisations. IADL reserves the right to vary these conditions from time-to-time, without prior notice.