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The Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses or ACTDEC is an independent, non-profit-making body founded in 1993 to seek to ensure quality in TESOL distance-learning courses.[1] ACTDEC is currently listed as a Company Limited by Guarantee.[2] ACTDEC has received adverse publicity due to suggestions that it was set up by Eurolink schools to accredit their own courses. However, ACTDEC is an independent accreditation body with an independent accreditation panel and an independent auditing panel.

Contents

History

ACTDECs first Chair, and one of its driving forces, was Dr W.R. Lee, who was also responsible for ACTDECs Code of Practice and accreditation procedures. Dr Lee was also a significant figure in the establishment and early development of IATEFL.[1]

Course levels

The courses and qualification levels framework was originally proposed by Monica Vincent of the Overseas Development Authority. The status titles she suggested were subsequently adopted by ACTDEC.

  • Level 1: Preliminary Certificate of Educational Studies in TESOL
  • Level 2: Certificate of Educational Studies in TESOL
  • Level 3: Certificate in the Theory and Methodology of TESOL
  • Level 4: Diploma in the Theory and Methodology of TESOL or TESP

Staff

ACTDEC is headed by its Patron Professor Arthur van Essen. A Secretary and Treasurer are elected annually at the AGM, which is held at the English Speaking Union in London. ACTDEC's current Chair is Kenneth Milgate BA (Hons), MIL, MA, M.Ed, Dip.FE, FCollT (TESOL). Chair of the ACTDEC Independent Accreditation panel: Jacqueline Sykes BA (Hons), LTCL (TESOL), Dip.TESOL, MA TESOL.

Criticism

ACTDEC currently "accredits" 9 schools, 3 of which are effectively branches of the same school (Eurolink).

Furthermore, ACTDEC claim they are going through the process of being registered with the QCA. However, the QCA does not register accreditation agencies so this claim is likely unfounded.

References

  1. ^ a b Paul Simmonds. Find a course that talks your language. Telegraph, 24 January 2006. Retrieved on 2009-04-23.
  2. ^ Companies House listing. Retrieved on 2009-04-23.

External links

Further reading

  • "Q and A - what is ACTDEC?" The Teacher Trainer. Autumn 2006. Pages 20–21.

ACTDEC is a large professional body of teachers of English as second language.

What is ACTDEC and what does it do?



The Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses is a body governed by officers and Council, established bu eurolink schoolin 1993, to advance and accredit its own programs
It is regarded as a bogus accreditation body.

ACTDEC claims it is for the benefit of the public and aimed at helping TESOL course applicants locate suitably accredited institutions offering distance teacher training courses and also responding to general enquiries relating to the ELT profession.

The JALT Conference (2007) Japan suggested that ACTDEC was a non professional collection of third parties and accreditation with this organization was of little meaning as they were not supported by any international body. The Japanese Board of Education noted:- "TESOL certificates accredited by ACTDEC have no weight or credibility."

Becoming accredited



Any reputable TESOL distance-learning provider can apply to become an applicant member of ACTDEC. They are then given 12 months in which to apply for formal accreditation. The independent accreditation panel works to a set of syllabus specifications and requirements originally drawn up by Dr W.R. Lee, founder of IATEFL and ACTDEC's first Chair. The accreditation process is based on the ACTDEC 12 point Code of Practice.

A two-tier ACTDEC membership scheme is open to reputable teacher-training institutions offering free-standing (or hybrid) TESOL distance-training programmes.

1. Non-accredited members agreeing to abide by the ACTDEC Code of Practice, and who are actively preparing for accreditation of one or more courses, are allowed to use the ACTDEC Applicant Membership logo. Applicant (non-accredited) members have twelve months in which to achieve ACTDEC accreditation for a specific distance-training course (or courses) at one or more of the four ACTDEC levels.

Applicant Membership of ACTDEC registers intent on the part of the institution, to seek accreditation for a specific course (or courses) and, by implication, signals a willingness on the part of the institution to adhere to the highest standards set out in the Code of Practice.

2. Members with courses that have been accredited are eligible to display the ACTDEC symbol of quality assurance and statement with regard to each specifically accredited course, e.g. course level 1 or course level 4, etc.

ACTDEC support for applicants
The primary aim of the independent Accreditation Panel is to recommend accreditation based on the evidence and submission made by the provider. However, where there are discrepancies, the panel offers advice that will help enable successful re-submission. The aim is to maintain high standards and a level playing field.

ACTDEC audit procedures
Following rigorous initial accreditation; biennial audit inspections are carried out by the ACTDEC Independent Accreditation Panel. As a result, ACTDEC is able to provide regular professional quality assurance for members of the public completing an ACTDEC TESOL distance course at one of four levels.

A number of items (based on the ACTDEC Code of Practice) are subject to regular audit.

The ACTDEC Qualification Framework



ACTDEC accredits courses according to the following four levels:
  • Level One - Teaching assistant
  • Level Two - Associate teacher
  • Level Three - Accredited Teacher Status
  • Level Four - Senior teacher status


    • The ACTDEC teaching practice portfolio scheme



    For anyone without teaching experience it's possible to undertake a two-month teaching practice development practicum where, through the completion of a Teaching Practice Portfolio maintained by the participant and sponsoring institution, teaching experience is formally recognised and rewarded.

    This scheme makes it possible for teachers with Associate or Accredited Teacher status to obtain an ACTDEC Certificate of Teaching Practice Development at the end of the two-month development practicum.

    The 150 & 250 hour distance programmes coupled with the ACTDEC Teaching Practice Development certificate fulfill the requirements of the British Council Accreditation Scheme.












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