Australia has a highly-regarded national accreditation scheme for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) insitutions that sets standards for class sizes, the professional qualifications of teachers, curriculum, teaching methods and materials.
National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme (NEAS)
The National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) is Australia's official English language training accreditation system. It is internationally renowned as world's best practice in the regulation and quality assurance of English language tuition. Under NEAS, private and publicly funded institutions must meet the same rigorous standards. NEAS is a highly-regarded national accreditation scheme for English language teaching centres that sets standards for:
- class sizes;
- the professional qualifications of teachers
- approved curriculum
- teaching methods and materials
- accommodation services provided by the college
- orientation programs on arrival
- organised social and cultural activities; and
- welfare counselling.
The Australian Council of Private Education and Training (ACPET) is the peak association of private providers of higher education and vocational education and training in Australia. It represents over 400 members in dealing with government, the education and training community and has, as its mission, the enhancement of quality, choice, innovation and diversity in Australian education and training for individual, national and global development.
English Australia is a group of about 65 colleges working to high professional standards set by the ELICOS Association, the association of centres teaching English to international students in Australia. English Australia colleges give a guarantee of quality and fee security. They have modern facilities usually including language laboratories, video and library facilities.
In addition, all private colleges in Australia must subscribe to a Tuition Assurance Scheme which guarantees that students will be provided with the tuition for which they have enrolled. Together these arrangements provide international students with quality and high levels of support and assurance.
Education Services for Overseas Students ESOS
All students on a student visa are covered by the consumer and financial protections of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.
A brief summary of the ESOS framework is available in (pdf 44kb and rtf 976kb).