QUESTIONS

1. What is Education Quality Assurance (EQA)?
2. What is the purpose of the EQA Designation?
3. Who is responsible for the EQA Designation?
4. What is the role of BCCIE with regard to the EQA Designation?
5. Is EQA an accreditation mechanism?
6. What are the requirements institutions have to meet to be eligible for EQA?
7. Which institutions will have permission to use the EQA Designation brand?
8. Is it possible for an institution to have its EQA Designation revoked?
9. What is the process for dealing with concerns/complaints about EQA-designated institutions?
10. What if an EQA-designated institution closes?
11. Who can I contact to discuss the EQA process with or any questions I may have?

ANSWERS

1. What is Education Quality Assurance (EQA)?

   Education Quality Assurance is British Columbia’s brand or “seal” of quality post-secondary education for both public and private institutions.

2. What is the purpose of the EQA Designation?
   • Supports students in making informed choices
   • Creates a standard trademark recognizable worldwide
   • Reduces confusion caused by various quality assurance processes
   • Allows students to easily see which BC institutions have met government recognized quality assurance standards and have consumer protection mechanisms in place
3. Who is responsible for the EQA Designation?

   The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development is responsible for setting regulatory requirements for post-secondary education in BC and determining the quality assurance standards that must be met by institutions in order to be eligible for EQA.

4. What is the role of BCCIE with regard to the EQA Designation?
   
   BCCIE and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (the Ministry) entered into an Administrative Agreement on July 9, 2009. BCCIE, as an independent society, will administer the EQA Designation on government’s behalf by:
   • Receiving applications for EQA Designation;
   • Confirming EQA eligibility, based on the eligibility criteria set by government;
   • Granting permission to use the EQA brand, and ensuring conditions of brand use are upheld;
   • Providing international marketing and promotion of EQA-designated institutions; and,
   • Monitoring use of the EQA brand.
5. Is EQA an accreditation mechanism?

   No, EQA and BCCIE do not replace existing quality assurance processes or create new regulatory structures or processes. EQA Designation is based on an institution having met established quality assurance standards that exist under government recognized frameworks, and on being in good standing with both the Ministry and the applicable quality assurance body.

6. What are the requirements institutions have to meet to be eligible for EQA?

   Institutions must meet government recognized quality assurance standards as outlined in the table below. In addition, private institutions must have government approved tuition protection mechanisms in place to ensure students are protected in the event an institution closes before the student completes his or her program of study. Finally, all institutions must be in good standing with both the applicable quality assurance body and the Ministry.

   Public Institutions	Private Degree Granting	Private Career Training	Private Theological	Private ESL	Private Academic (non-degree)
   Meets standards through legislative and government accountability mechanisms	Degree Quality Assessment Process (Minister’s Consent)	Accreditation with the PCTIA	Voluntary quality assurance through the Degree Quality Assessment process	Voluntarily meet government recognized quality assurance and tuition protection standards	Voluntary quality assurance through DQAB or PCTIA
   Good Standing with Quality Assurance Body and the Ministry

   For more information on the degree quality assessment process, please visit their website at: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/degree-authorization/board/welcome.htm.

   For more information on the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA) Accreditation process, please visit their website at http://www.pctia.bc.ca/.

   Back To Top

7. Which institutions will have permission to use the EQA Designation brand?
   
   Only British Columbia institutions with EQA Designation will be permitted to use the brand. Brand use is limited to British Columbia institutions and their British Columbia-based operations; i.e., institutions with multiple campuses cannot use the brand for campuses based outside of British Columbia.
8. Is it possible for an institution to have its EQA Designation revoked?

   Yes. Institutions which no longer meet the standards of the applicable quality assurance body or are not in good standing with that body or the Ministry will be contacted by BCCIE and their EQA Designation will be immediately revoked.

9. What is the process for dealing with concerns/complaints about EQA-designated institutions?

   If any concerns are found through BCCIE’s monitoring, BCCIE will immediately contact the applicable quality assurance body with details. The quality assurance body will be responsible for dealing with issues relating to false or misleading advertising or concerns relating to an institution being in contravention of that body’s quality assurance requirements.

   In instances of an individual or student contacting BCCIE to make a complaint about an EQA- designated institution, BCCIE will refer the individual to the applicable quality assurance body for appropriate action.

   BCCIE will wait for the quality assurance body to complete an investigation on the complaint and once the investigation is complete, determine whether an institution needs to be de-designated.

10. What if an EQA-designated institution closes?

    If an EQA-designated institution closes, BCCIE will ensure that the institution is immediately removed from the EQA registry and ensure the institution’s use of the EQA brand is ceased. Students will be contacted by the appropriate quality assurance body with regard to options relating to student consumer protection or completion of their training program at another institution.

11. Who can I contact to discuss the EQA process with or any questions I may have?
    
    If you have any questions or concerns, please contact EQA staff at BCCIE between
    8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday at:

    Phone: 1.604.637.6756
    Fax: 1.604.637.6765
    Email: bceqa@bccie.bc.ca

    Back To Top