This September will mrk the lunch of ACCA s new Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition progrmme. lerning in with the new High-qulity tuition is integrl to ACCA s growth nd reputtion strtegies. As n orgnistion, ACCA does everything it cn to signpost qulity tuition to students. The Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition progrmme, which replces the existing University nd College Registrtion Scheme (UCRS), is forml recognition of the qulity tuition nd support tht leding tuition offer to ACCA students globlly. It is the pltform from which ACCA will develop mutully-beneficil reltionship with tuition, incresing the vilbility of effective nd innovtive ACCA course delivery nd first-clss student support. As n Approved Lerning Prtner, tuition re expected to demonstrte tht they meet chllenging performnce trgets, representing globl best prctice in the provision of ACCA course tuition nd support. The ims of the progrmme re to: pprove the highest-qulity ACCA tuition, who hve demonstrted their success in supporting students throughout their ACCA studies support our lerning prtners in providing students with the environment to succeed. Levels of pprovl The Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition progrmme fetures two levels of pprovl Gold nd Pltinum. Entry requirements for these levels re s follows: Gold pprovl is the entry level of pprovl. It requires tuition to meet rnge of chllenging performnce trgets covering n institution s overll mngement, nd more specificlly, its ACCA course mngement nd delivery. Gold pprovl cn be given to tuition who re teching ny ACCA qulifiction ACCA, CAT, DipFM nd DipIFR either through fce-to-fce tuition or by distnce lerning. Pltinum pprovl is the highest nd most prestigious level of the progrmme, vilble for both fce-to-fce nd distnce lerning. In working with Pltinum-pproved Lerning Prtners, ACCA ims to provide students with ccess to the tuition nd support they need to become ACCA members. For this reson, Pltinum pprovl is given only to those who tech the ACCA Qulifiction s prt of their course delivery. To be considered for Pltinum pprovl, tuition must lredy be TABLE 1 Gold Gold pproved nd, in ddition to the chllenging performnce trgets tht hve been demonstrted to ttin Gold pprovl, the tuition provider must lso meet ACCA s Pltinum performnce trgets nd Pltinum pss-rte trgets over two consecutive sets of results. Approvl is given to tuition who demonstrte tht they meet the chllenging performnce trgets set by ACCA. Gold nd Pltinum pprovl re grnted only to high-qulity tuition whom ACCA is confident in recommending to students. Tble 1 shows the minimum ACCA tuition provision tht tuition must offer in order to be eligible for ech level of pprovl: Pltinum Approvl prerequisite Teching ny ACCA Teching t lest the ACCA qulifiction ACCA Qulifiction, Qulifiction nd lredy CAT, DipFM or DipIFR chieved Gold pprovl Delivery Full time or prt time, fce to fce Full time or prt time, fce to or distnce lerning fce or distnce lerning Approvl requirements Performnce trgets Performnce trgets plus pss-rte trgets Approvl period Lsts for one yer Lsts for three yers Renewl fee Annul Annul Monitoring Annul Annul Support Continuous Continuous August 2007 tech ccounting 13
The benefits Approved Lerning Prtners Student Tuition benefit from the following: Best prctice certifiction: being recognised s n Approved Lerning Prtner will provide direct ssurnce to students of the institution s exemplry stndrds of tuition nd support. Brnd enhncement: by becoming n Approved Lerning Prtner, tuition will demonstrte to students nd their employers tht they re committed to providing high-qulity tuition nd student support, therefore enhncing their own reputtion nd brnd. Continuous improvement: Approved Lerning prtners will hve ccess to rnge of development opportunities, tools nd events provided by ACCA to help support them in improving their tuition. Dedicted contct nd customer service: Approved Lerning Prtners will be provided with excellent ccount mngement nd support through ACCA s hed office nd ntionl office network. Promotion by ACCA: n pproved institution will hve priority entry on ACCA s online dtbse of tuition, with up to 100 words of promotionl text, plus dvertising opportunities on ACCA s website, in student ccountnt nd through ACCA ccess, our direct miling service. Online services: pproved institutions will hve ccess to their own ccount including the fcility to mintin detils, pply to upgrde pprovl, pply for re-pprovl, use of the progrmme s results nlysis service nd ccess to pst results nlysis reports. In ddition, n institution s online ccount will provide ccess to host of exclusive ACCA resources, such s the Knowledge Librry, ACCA s online Professionl Ethics module nd up-to-the-minute informtion on TABLE 2 Gold ACCA promotionl tools, including the use of the Gold-pproved title nd the distinctive Gold-pproved logo, together with certificte of Gold pprovl from ACCA Free results nlysis reports t ech exm session for pper-bsed nd computer-bsed exms Priority booking t ACCA s tuition provider events Recommendtion by ACCA s qulity tuition provider Support in trying to chieve Pltinum pprovl tilored to the needs of the institution developments t ACCA. A number of dditionl resources re vilble bsed on ech level of pprovl nd summrised in the tble below. Pltinum ACCA promotionl tools, including the use of the Pltinum-pproved title nd the distinctive Pltinum-pproved logo, together with certificte of Pltinum pprovl from ACCA Free results nlysis reports t ech exm session for pper-bsed nd computer-bsed exms Priority booking t ACCA s tuition provider events, including ACCA s techers conference Active promotion by ACCA to our Approved Employers nd prtners s highest-qulity tuition provider Mrket informtion pckges including ssistnce with potentil expnsion opportunities Fetures (written by your lecturers) nd profiles in tech ccounting mgzine The opportunity to comment on ACCA exms by providing written representtion for considertion t ACCA s Exmintion Review Bord 14 tech ccounting August 2007
Fees The following fees pply to Approved Lerning Prtners: Gold: 650 yer plus 50 initil ppliction fee (non-refundble) Pltinum: 750 yer. Becoming n Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition To become n Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition you cn tech ny of ACCA s qulifictions for Gold level, but must t lest tech the ACCA Qulifiction for Pltinum level. In ddition, s one of the ims of the progrmme is to pprove qulity tuition for ACCA exms, tuition need to be ble to demonstrte their success. Tble 3 shows the minimum ACCA tuition provision tht tuition must offer in order to be eligible for ech level of pprovl. TABLE 3 Performnce trgets When pplying for pprovl, tuition will be ssessed ginst series of performnce trgets which hve been set by ACCA in the min res of institution mngement nd ACCA course mngement nd delivery. A number of ssessment elements hve been identified within ech of these min res, nd the performnce trgets re grouped within these elements. Specific trgets within ech of the relevnt ssessment elements hve been set for of distnce lerning. See Tble 4. Tuition pplying for pprovl will be encourged to provide complete ccount of why they believe they meet ech trget, supported with relevnt evidence or documenttion. Tuition re given brod flexibility in how they demonstrte chievement of ech trget, nd ACCA invites tuition to relte trgets to their institution nd give insight into their individul prctice. ACCA welcomes diversity nd innovtion in ll res of institution mngement nd course delivery nd, s such, does not impose set methods nd prctices upon Approved Lerning Prtners. ACCA will support the ppliction process for tuition with detiled guidnce including exmples of documents or evidence tht cn be used to support the clim tht performnce trget hs been met. Next steps Plese contct ACCA s Lerning Prtnerships deprtment t tuition@ccglobl.com for further informtion nd n ppliction pck detiling how to become n Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition. Approvl level Gold ACCA Any of ACCA s qulifictions ACCA Qulifiction, CAT, DipFM or DipIFR course TABLE 4 Institution mngement Assessment element Gold Plt ACCA course mngement nd delivery Assessment element Gold Plt Pltinum Running minimum of eight ppers nnully from the ACCA Qulifiction, which must include ll ppers in the Professionl level nd two Options To qulify for Gold or Pltinum pprovl, tuition must offer full-time or prttime fce-to-fce tuition, or n equivlent distnce-lerning course. When distinguishing between wht constitutes full-time or prttime course from revision course, ACCA will tke into ccount: the style of tuition the durtion of the course the timing of the course in reltion to the exms. Attendnce/prticiption nd retention Complints procedure Premises nd fcilities Terms nd conditions Tutor bsence/course cncelltion Finncil vibility Continul improvement course delivery Progress monitoring Continul improvement student support Administrtion stff Tutors Student feedbck Teching/study progrmme Support mterils Tutor contct detils Student support nd dvice Administrtion stff Course review meetings Reports to sponsor Promotionl mteril Induction August 2007 tech ccounting 15
ACCA Tuition Provider List ACCA s Tuition Provider List is n online directory of tuition who tech ny of ACCA s qulifictions. From September 2007, the new ACCA Tuition Provider List will not only disply ll Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition with Gold or Pltinum sttus, but will lso list institutions which hve not been formlly ssessed by ACCA. This resource provides students with the opportunity to mke n informed decision bout ll of the tuition options vilble to them, nd provides tuition with the opportunity to promote their courses through ACCA s website, even if they do not choose to pursue forml pprovl. How to get on the Tuition Provider List Inclusion in the new Tuition Provider List is open to ll tuition who tech ACCA qulifictions, including (see Tble 1): TABLE 1 Approved Lerning Prtners Student Tuition Tuition who re not eligible to pply for pprovl Tuition who hve been unsuccessful in their ppliction to become n Approved Lerning Prtners Student Tuition Tuition who choose not to pursue forml pprovl The cost of inclusion in the Tuition Provider List is 50 yer. This fee is covered s prt of the nnul fee pid by Gold nd Pltinum Approved Lerning Prtners Student Tuition. Institutions cn pply for inclusion in the Tuition Provider List simply by sending pyment to ACCA s Lerning Prtnerships deprtment nd completing short ppliction form either by completing n online form vi ACCA s website (vilble from September 2007) or downloding copy of the form. Listings will be displyed on ACCA s online tuition provider dtbse until 31 December, fter which tuition will be given the opportunity to renew their listing ech yer. The benefits for tuition Promotion through ACCA s chnnels: detils of colleges nd the courses offered will be displyed on ACCA s online dtbse of tuition.tuition Listing is provided utomticlly s benefit of Gold nd Pltinum pprovl Listing provides tuition who hve not yet commenced teching, or who re not yet ble to meet the performnce trgets for Gold pprovl with the opportunity to recruit students by promoting their courses through the online tuition provider dtbse Listing is provided utomticlly for the reminder of the current yer following n unsuccessful ppliction for Gold pprovl Tuition who do not wish to be subject to ACCA s pprovl nd monitoring processes my still hve their course detils promoted through the online tuition provider dtbse will lso hve the opportunity to dvertise on ACCA s website nd in student ccountnt mgzine. No pprovl process: tuition will not hve to go through ny pprovl or monitoring processes, mking this the idel choice for colleges beginning or developing ACCA courses. Results nlysis service: tuition will hve ccess to results nlysis reports for pper-bsed nd computer-bsed exms for fixed fee of 30 per exm session. Online services: tuition will hve online ccess to their ccounts, including the fcility to mintin detils, renew listings, pply to become n Approved Lerning Prtner, nd the of use ACCA s results nlysis service nd pst results nlysis reports. Plese contct tuition@ccglobl.com for further informtion on the Tuition Provider List nd detils of how to pply. 16 tech ccounting August 2007
trding plces Converting from UCRS to the Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition progrmme By September 2007, ll existing UCRS tuition will receive confirmtion of their new Gold or Pltinum pprovl, or will hve their detils trnsferred to the new Tuition Provider List. UCRS Premier nd Premier Plus tuition Existing Premier nd Premier Plus tuition should now hve received their invittion to pply for Gold or Pltinum pprovl under the new progrmme. If you re new tuition provider, you will be expected to complete n ppliction for the relevnt level of pprovl, nd submit evidence of meeting the ssocited performnce trgets. This ppliction will be subject to review by the Lerning Prtnerships deprtment before the pproprite level of pprovl is confirmed in dvnce of the progrmme s lunch in September. As prt of the conversion process, colleges will lso receive n pprovl visit by n ACCA representtive nd detils of ech visit will be confirmed in writing. Following confirmtion of the relevnt level of pprovl, tuition will receive new pprovl certificte, together with usernme nd pssword for myacca, where they will be ble to downlod the pproprite pprovl logo nd ccess the benefits ssocited to their level of pprovl vi dedicted tuition provider web portl. UCRS Registered tuition In July, ll existing UCRS Registered colleges received notifiction tht from September 2007 their detils would be trnsferred to the ACCA s Tuition Provider List. This does not men, however, tht these institutions cnnot pply to become n Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition. ACCA is committed to helping Registered UCRS tuition who hve the potentil to meet the Gold performnce trgets to become Approved Lerning Prtners in time for conversion in September. Registered tuition should consider crefully whether their institution is ble to meet the performnce trgets for Gold pprovl before mking the decision to submit n ppliction. If tuition provider identifies ny performnce trgets tht cnnot be met, ACCA sks tht they dely their ppliction until they re confident tht the institution cn meet ll the trgets. If n institution decides to proceed with n ppliction for Gold pprovl, n ACCA representtive will crry out pre-pprovl visit of the premises s prt of the ppliction process. Therefore, tuition wishing to secure pprovl in time for the lunch of the Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition progrmme in September should ensure tht they submit their pplictions to ACCA s erly s possible to llow their visit to be scheduled. Institutions whose pplictions re successful will receive new pprovl certificte, together with log-in nd pssword for myacca, where they will be ble to downlod the pproprite pprovl logo nd ccess the benefits pproprite to their level of pprovl. Tuition new to teching or not currently pproved on the UCRS Informtion pcks on the new Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition progrmme re vilble now. Applictions re welcomed from tuition who re new to teching ACCA, nd from tuition who tech ACCA but hve not previously sought pprovl. For further informtion bout joining or converting to the new Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition progrmme, e-mil tuition@ccglobl.com or spek to ACCA representtives t your nerest ACCA office. August 2007 tech ccounting 17
online services for tuition Throughout this edition of lerning, we hve mde reference to number of services for tuition. These services hve been updted nd consolidted nd re vilble online. They include: Enhnced online dtbse nd serch function: feturing more detiled informtion on the courses offered by ech institution in ACCA s Tuition Provider List. In ddition, quick serch nd dvnced serch options give potentil students the bility to pinpoint the exct tuition they require. Appliction nd renewl: tuition cn pply for inclusion in ACCA s Tuition Provider List or become n Approved Lerning Prtner Student Tuition online. Approved Lerning Prtners cn trck the sttus of their ppliction online nd renew their detils nnully t the touch of button. Account mintennce: tuition cn mintin their contct detils nd course detils s displyed on ACCA s Tuition Provider List online t ny time. Resources: by logging into myacca, tuition nd students cn ccess host of online support resources nd benefits. Improved results nlysis service: offering the cpcity to uplod students detils, in spredsheet formt, to ACCA s results nlysis service. Tuition cn lso gin ccess to current nd pst results nlysis reports online. ACCA's results nlysis service ACCA opertes results nlysis service, which llows ll tuition to find out how their students re performing ginst worldwide pss rtes t ech exm session, for both pper-bsed nd computer-bsed exms. The service provides tuition with tngible evidence of their success in teching students towrds ACCA s qulifictions. The subject brekdown fcility within the report lso helps tuition to pinpoint res for future development. Tuition Providers who subscribe to ACCA s Tuition Provider List re invited to use the results nlysis service for fee of 30 per exm session. Results nlysis for Approved Lerning Prtners As requirement of their pprovl, ll Approved Lerning Prtners must prticipte in the results nlysis t ech pplicble exm session. Pltinum Approved Lerning Prtners re required to meet Pltinum pss-rte trgets to retin their pprovl t this level. Gold Approved Lerning Prtners re not required to meet pss-rte trgets but, s benefit of Gold pprovl, ACCA will nlyse the results of ll Gold institutions nd provide this nlysis s vluble source of performnce feedbck nd mens for identifying when Gold Approved Lerning Prtners re redy to dvnce to Pltinum pprovl. 18 tech ccounting August 2007