International Accreditation and Recognition Council Newsletter March 2011

Accreditation for the future

 Contents

 

Educational Academy

Online Courses Australia

College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies

Committee meeting January 2011

Invites are requested to attend your school's events

Join us on LinkedIn

Affiliations in the pipeline

 

 

Welcome to our new members

 

Educational Academy, UK

Educational Academy is based in Chelmsford , UK.  The school provides short courses in multitude of industry areas.  They also deliver online Certificates and Diplomas in vocational education. The school is part of E-ducational.com. E-ducational.com's learning philosophy is based on profit through partnership. They support individual or corporate learning by providing timely solutions to your learning needs. This is not learning as you have experienced before as it is tailored to your needs, your goals and your expectations and delivered when you need the information to support your goals. 

Check them out at www.elearning.academy-zone.com 

 

Online Courses Australia, Australia  

Online Courses Australia is based in Queensland. They are registered with the National Audit and Registration Agency (NARA) as a Registered Training Organisation (32080). As an RTO, they operate under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF). This means they provide quality assured and nationally recognised qualifications. Their courses have been independently evaluated by government, local government and industry representatives to guarantee that they meet the highest standards of course excellence. Moreover, their administration and organisational operating systems comply with International Quality Assurance standards (ISO 9001: 2008).

Check them out at http://www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au

 

College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies, Australia  

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies is based in New South Wales. They are a NTIS Registered Training Organisation which conducts itself under the Australian Qualifications Framework; ACPET Member and a member of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Association. If you’re a busy person you will find their innovative and flexible courses are designed to fit your needs, your schedule and your lifestyle. Whether you are a veterinarian wishing to expand your treatment options; a veterinary nurse or technician involved in educating clients; an animal health professional or someone who just wants to learn more, there is a course for you! 

Check them out at www.civtedu.org

               

 

Members Update March 2011

 

Keep up-to-date on what IARC has been doing over recent months and remain aware of your membership responsibilities.

 

·   IARC held an Executive Committee Board meeting in January on the Gold Coast, Australia. Discussions included specific plans for ongoing growth of IARC membership throughout 2011 but we need your input. It was suggested IARC should become a member of relevant associations and/or organisations linked to not-for-profit business or industry related associations. If you have any particular association or industry body you would IARC join – please just let us know and we will put it to the Committee Board for consideration.

 

·    Do you have an event in your school which you would like a representative of IARC to attend? Perhaps you have a graduation ceremony in the future which IARC can become part of? Perhaps you would like IARC to visit your school – our marketing staff can write a profile article on your school and publish it.  

· IARC has joined LinkedIn. Join our group for information and listings. You will be invited to join us and our network – get linked in now. http://www.linkedin.com/groups/IARC-3816178?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

 

·  We are working to strengthen IARC’s professional relationships. Affiliations strengthen the credibility and professional capabilities of IARC.  We are currently in discussions with a small number of potential affiliates for IARC to discus to arrange mutually beneficial relationships with them. 

 

 

IARC President and Secretary UK Visit Successes

IARC President, John Mason, visited the UK in February. In this photograph John meets with new member Educational Academy and established IARC member Academy for Distance Learning (ADL).

 

John met with Tony Stringer, Chief Executive Officer and James Macaskill, Director and Academic Head of Educational Academy; and Daryl Tempest-Mogg, Director of Vocational Education from Academy for Distance Learning (ADL).  2011 looks set to be a year of good growth of these members, with strategies for increasing student enrolments and other sales aspects of the businesses discussed at length. Mr Mason’s experience in education management enabled him to lead these members into thinking of innovation for their own school’s success and for the success of the students.  Mr Mason is a firm believer in increasing profits to enable schools to put funding back into the schools development of courses and procedures overall. 

  Text Box: From left to right: Tony Stringer, Daryl Tempest-Mogg, James Macaskill and John Mason

Jade Pollock, IARC Secretary, was also in the UK earlier in January. In this photograph, Jade was invited to spend time with well-known IARC member, Academy for Distance Learning (ADL). In this picture Jade Pollock, meets with Daryl Tempest-Mogg and Amanda White, Academic Registrar, of ADL.

 

Jade spent two days with ADL looking closely at their student services procedures and course structures mostly. Jade enjoyed meeting the staff, seeing the school premises and facilities and talking through some key ideas to help ADL improve student services and educational practice where possible.

 

 

                 Text Box: From left to right: Daryl Tempest-Mogg, Jade Pollock, Amanda White                                                                                       

 




What do employers think of online education programs by Jade Pollock, IARC Secretary

Anecdotal research suggests there is a clear shift in the perspectives of employers from a time when online education raised brows, to employers today being in great support of online education for initial and ongoing training of employees.  When online learning launched many years ago, critics claimed online education schools were nothing more than diploma mills - that is, establishments run to profit from the money people paid to claim they had a Dipoma or Degree. We're pleased to find things have changed since those days. In this world of electronically supported learning and teaching, online education programs seem to make the most sense ... and employers agree.

 

What we are seeing today is an openness of employers to not only employ staff who have studied initially via online learning, but also to encourage their staff to study via online education throughout their professional development.  People turn to online education most often as this results in having flexibility within the learning schedule - many people are stuck in a nine-to-five job and are simply too busy, making the possibility of attending university not at all likely.  Additionally, some people feel uncomfortable by the thought of going back to school in a classroom situation.  This can be an intimidating experience for many. 

 

The level of study undertaken doesn’t appear to make a difference in the opinions of employers – people may study any level of education from certificates to online Masters Degrees via distance education. Research shows that people have obtained advanced degrees from online universities, most often people advanced in their careers studying further to secure managment or high level positions. 

 

What does this tell us about the online education? It tells me personally that employers recognise online education to be valid and worthwhile.  Education and training of employees is critical in ensuring the skills and knowledge required for success in a position.  There is a growing need for well trained staff and online education is the ideal way to get retain employees and develop their skills base at the same time.

   

Become an IARC Member

 

If you would like further information on becoming an IARC member, please contact admin@iarcedu.com and we’ll happily send you the information pack and application form or check out our website at www.iarcedu.com and click on ‘Members’ then ‘Join IARC’. 

 

There is a straightforward application process and a non-refundable $200 AUD application fee.   

 

 

Benefits of IARC membership

 

We have helpful and friendly staff who can happily answer any questions you have relating to membership or the application process.  Normally applications are processed in the office within 1-2 weeks and sent to and returned from the committee within 5-10 days after that. The majority of applications are quick and simple. 

 

Come join us and become part of it…  

 

 

Accreditation for the future

 

IARC

PO Box 2092

Nerang MDC

Qld 4211, Australia
Phone: +61 7 5562 1088

Fax: +61 75562 1099