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Applicant Status is a way to help providers, who are beginning to adopt or develop more flexible methods of delivery, to work with ODL QC and achieve the standards set by the Council.
Full accreditation by the Council is normally only available if there is a proven track-record, where a provider can demonstrate a high quality of service to learners from enrolment to course completion.
Applicant Status can be granted even when no learners have completed, or even started, a course.
Applicants must satisfy the Council that its provision so far is compatible with eventual accreditation, and that it is committed to achieving full accreditation in due course.
They should submit a short statement outlining:
- who they are;
- what links (if any) they have to other organizations;
- what courses or other provision they are developing;
- who the intended learners/audience/customers are;
- what stage the development has reached;
- their plans for the next six to twelve months.
Applicant Status will normally be available for a period of six months, renewable up to a maximum of two years in exceptional cases.
A modest fee will be charged, depending upon the size of the provider, and whether its provision is still under development or has already been partially introduced.
Applicants can work with the Council to develop their open and distance learning provision, and will receive advice and guidance on good practice and full access to other services offered by the Council.
Providers granted applicant status can state this in their promotional literature, but cannot use the ODL QC quality mark, which is reserved for those providers which have achieved full accreditation.
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