Training of referents

Guide for ACCREDITATION REFERENTS of EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROGRAMS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

The referent is the main person which responsible for organizing and conducting accreditation. Its activity is regulated by the normative documents of the Agency for accreditation of educational programs and organizations.  The referent monitors the whole accreditation process  in accordance with the normative documents.

Rights and duties of referents

 Duties of the referent:

• Organization of the accreditation process from beginning to end;
• Timely provision of experts with the necessary information materials and a self-assessment report ;
• Control over the preparation of the final report of the expert group, in accordance with the normative documents;
• Providing the necessary materials for making accreditation decisions;
• Timely provision of the members of the Accreditation Board with the necessary materials for making accreditation decisions;
• Participation in the improvement of the accreditation process. 

Referent rights:

• Terminate the work of an expert at any stage of accreditation;
• To recall the expert at any stage of accreditation.

The process of accreditation:

1. Preparation stage
2. Visiting an educational institution
3. Preparation of the final report

1. Preparationstage

-  Sending a letter to the educational institution with the attached necessary information materials;

- Consultation of representatives of the institution;

- Conclusion of a contract with an educational institution for conducting accreditation;

- Making a visit plan;

- Adjustment of the timetable;

-  Review of the self-assessment report ;

-  Making recommendations for additions and changes to the self-assessment report ;

-  Selection and formation of a group of experts;

- Instructing experts; 

-  Signing by the experts statements about objectivity ;

- Provision with the necessary documents for the accreditation of experts;

- Coordination of the time of the interview in an educational institution;

-  Settlement of issues on the organization of working conditions, food and accommodation of the expert group with the educational institution .

2. Visiting an educational institutions

• Accompanying the experts during a visit to an educational institution;
• Control over the exact observance of visiting programs;
• Organization and recording interviews;
• Control over the preparation of materials for the final report (it is desirable to complete by the end of the visit);
• Control of the experts with regard to fulfillment of the conditions of application of the expert is ready for operation.

Control over experts in terms of their compliance with the conditions of the expert's statement on readiness for work.

3. Preparation of the final report and materials for the Accreditation Board

• Review of preliminary materials, recommendations, consulting in the preparation of the final report;
• ·         Sending the final report to the educational institution and adjusting it if necessary ;  
• ·         Sending the final report to the educational institution and experts ;
• Granting Accreditation Board all the necessary materials for decision-making;
• Organization of verification of the validity of the complaint ;
• Preparation of materials for a final decision;
• Suggestions for improvement of accreditation process.