Any educational institution that intends to earn the accreditation status from the EAAHE must demonstrate compliance, through the application for accreditation (Self-Assessment Report), with the education quality standards set forth by EAAHE.
1. Consideration of Eligibility:
Accreditation focuses on higher education institutions. An eligible member must be any kind of organization, entity or company properly authorized to conduct higher educational teaching and certification, to award postsecondary degrees, certificates or other educational or professional credentials.
The entities eligible for accreditation must prepare individuals to achieve competencies and attain the educational qualifications necessary to begin functioning in a specific occupation. In other words, they must prepare individuals in a branch of knowledge, science, art or business that has application in a specific occupation, usually requiring significant specialized training, or profession.
2. Application for Re-accreditation:
The EAAHE has prepared an application for re-accreditation that will guide the applicant institutions in the preparation of the Self Study Report and the required documentary evidence. The applicant may download and print this application for re-accreditation, then fill it out and finally send it out to the EAAHE Secretary by email (.doc, .pdf or .jpg formats are accepted).
This application is a legally binding contract between the EAAHE and the applicant institution that states the rights and obligations of both parties.
The applicant institution may submit the application for verification of its accreditation eligibility without including any fee. Once the EAAHE Secretary confirms the eligible options, the applicant institution is entitled to pay the corresponding fee.
The EAAHE will not start any accreditation process without the corresponding application.
3. Re-accreditation Fees:
The institution of education applying for accreditation to the EAAHE must pay the re-accreditation fee once the eligibility has been confirmed by the EAAHE Secretary, and before any actual evaluation of the accreditation process starts. (For details, look at the bottom of the page.)
4. Evaluation Process:
The EAAHE will distribute the application for accreditation and attached documents to an available member of the commission for the assessment of how each standard is addressed by the applicant educational institution. Each standard is graded in a 0 to 4 scale.
The evaluation of each standard is graded according to the following scale:
4 – Outstanding: No need for improvement.
3 – Standard: May improve.
2 – Acceptable: Requires improvement.
1 – Insufficient: Not meeting the minimums.
0 – Nule: Failed to comply with this requirement.
5. Interview or Site Visit:
If deemed necessary, the commissioner may require an interview (online or face-to-face) with the appointed representative of the applicant educational institution or arrange a site visit from a member of the commission. This action is usually scheduled if the material provided by the applicant is insufficient for a clear judgment, or for further clarification about specific accreditation standards. The travel costs and expenses related to the interview or site visit will be paid by the applicant educational institution. The interview or site visit goals, schedule and budget will be settled in advance by the EAAHE Secretary in consultation with the applicant. Usually, one day interview or visit will be enough to resolve any concerns.
6. Announcement:
The EAAHE Secretary will communicate the results of the initial evaluation results status to the other members of the Commission. The other members of the Commission have 15 days since the announcement to review and amend the conclusions and grades of the initial accreditation report.
7. Conclusion:
The EAAHE Secretary will communicate the results of the accreditation status and any grade amendments from the other commissioners to the president of the EAAHE. The president will review the accreditation report to resolve any discrepancies that may have occurred during the standards grading. The final grades of the accreditation report are endorsed by the president of the EAAHE.
The EAAHE Secretary will inform the new applicant educational institution of the conclusions of the accreditation report and will provide suggestions, if applicable. In the case that full accreditation is gained, the EAAHE Secretary will send the corresponding accreditation diploma.
In any case the detailed accreditation report is always sent to the applicant.
The resulting average will determine the accreditation status:
Full accreditation: Final average ranging 3,0 – 4,0. Requires re-accreditation review every five years.
Conditional accreditation: Final average ranging 2,0 – 2,9. This is a one year long temporary status. The educational institution must undergo a new re-accreditation review within 12 months of conditional accreditation. If full accreditation is not achieved in this review, the accreditation status will be denied.
Denial of accreditation: Final average ranging 0,0 – 1,9. The Accrediting Commission will explain the reasons for the denial. The accreditation fee is not refundable in this situation. Any educational institution in this case may reapply for accreditation after a 12-month-period.
Fees for the Re-accreditation of Educational Institutions
The institution of education applying for accreditation to the EAAHE must pay the accreditation fee once the eligibility has been confirmed by the EAAHE Secretary, and before any actual evaluation of the accreditation process starts.
1. Re-accreditation (Full):
Full accreditation for universities, educational institutes, vocational institutions, colleges and schools.
The re-accreditation process is the same as the initial accreditation process.
This fee includes the re-evaluation of the application for full accreditation (Self-Assessment Report).
This fee includes the final applicant accreditation assessment report.
This fee includes the year of accreditation maintenance fee.
This fee does not include any additional expenses derived from required site visits.
2. Re-accreditation (Online):
Online accreditation for open universities, distance learning centers, lifelong learning centers and online courses.
The re-accreditation process is the same as the initial accreditation process.
This fee includes the re-evaluation of the application for online accreditation (Self-Assessment Report).
This fee includes the final applicant accreditation assessment report.
This fee includes the year of accreditation maintenance fee.
Rights of The EAAHE Accredited Institutions
The EAAHE accreditation is an important recognition because it gives the assurance to the public, in particular to prospective students, that you, as an education provider, meet quality educational standards in the global market.
The EAAHE accredited institutions are entitled to:
- Claim Accreditation by the EAAHE.
- Use the EAAHE name and seal.
- Receive an accreditation diploma.
- Be listed on the EAAHE Web as an Accredited member.
- The EAAHE Web will provide a link to the accredited member web.
- Use the EAAHE monitoring and feedback services.
- Be periodically informed of any comments received on its behalf.
- Get a fee invoice for tax deduction purposes.
- Promote your institution through the EAAHE Education Network.
