Mapping to International Quality Assurance Principles
Purpose of This Alignment Statement
The International Accrediting Commission for Digital Education (IACDE) maintains Core Accreditation Standards that are intentionally aligned with globally recognized quality assurance principles for higher education, digital learning, and institutional accountability.
While IACDE operates as an independent accrediting body, its standards reflect widely accepted international norms articulated by organizations such as UNESCO, OECD, CHEA, and INQAAHE. This alignment ensures that institutions reviewed under IACDE standards are evaluated according to principles consistent with global expectations for educational quality, integrity, and learner protection.
Global Reference Frameworks Informing IACDE Standards
IACDE’s framework is informed by the following internationally recognized sources:
- UNESCO – Quality assurance, access, and equity in education
- OECD – Institutional effectiveness, outcomes-based education, and governance
- CHEA (U.S.) – Accreditation principles, transparency, and accountability
- INQAAHE – Guidelines of Good Practice for quality assurance agencies
These frameworks consistently emphasize mission alignment, governance, academic quality, learner support, financial integrity, and continuous improvement.
IACDE Global Alignment Matrix
Standard 1: Mission and Purpose
Global Alignment:
UNESCO and INQAAHE emphasize that institutional quality must be evaluated in relation to institutional mission (fitness for purpose).
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE requires institutions to demonstrate a clearly defined, published mission that guides academic programs, governance, and operations. This ensures institutional coherence and avoids one-size-fits-all evaluation models, particularly for faith-based and digital institutions.
Standard 2: Governance and Leadership
Global Alignment:
OECD and CHEA identify governance, leadership accountability, and ethical oversight as foundational to institutional quality and sustainability.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE evaluates governance structures, leadership roles, and decision-making processes appropriate to institutional size and complexity, aligning with global expectations for accountability and responsible management.
Standard 3: Academic Programs and Curriculum
Global Alignment:
UNESCO and OECD stress outcomes-based education, curriculum relevance, and alignment with societal and workforce needs.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE requires clearly structured, outcomes-based academic programs that are periodically reviewed and updated to reflect emerging knowledge, technology, and industry demands.
Standard 4: Faculty and Staff Qualifications
Global Alignment:
CHEA and INQAAHE frameworks emphasize faculty competence relative to instructional role and delivery mode.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE evaluates faculty qualifications based on appropriate academic credentials and/or professional experience, with expectations for ongoing professional development and performance evaluation.
Standard 5: Student Support Services
Global Alignment:
UNESCO highlights learner support and retention as essential to equity and student success, especially in distance education.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE requires institutions to provide academic advising, technical support, and institutional resources sufficient to promote persistence, engagement, and completion.
Standard 6: Learning Resources and Technology
Global Alignment:
OECD and UNESCO identify access to learning resources and reliable technology as central to quality in digital education.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE evaluates the adequacy, accessibility, and reliability of learning platforms, instructional materials, and technology tools necessary to achieve learning outcomes.
Standard 7: Financial Stability and Integrity
Global Alignment:
CHEA and INQAAHE identify financial sustainability and ethical fiscal practices as core components of learner protection.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE requires evidence of sound financial management, transparent budgeting, and ethical business practices aligned with institutional mission and obligations.
Standard 8: Assessment and Continuous Improvement
Global Alignment:
Continuous improvement through assessment is a universal principle across OECD, UNESCO, and CHEA frameworks.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE evaluates institutional use of assessment data to measure learning outcomes, program effectiveness, and operational performance, with documented improvement actions.
Standard 9: Integrity and Transparency
Global Alignment:
Transparency, truthful representation, and ethical recruitment are emphasized across CHEA and INQAAHE guidelines.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE requires accurate public disclosures, ethical marketing, clear academic policies, and fair treatment of learners and stakeholders.
Standard 10: Commitment to Innovation and Access
Global Alignment:
UNESCO and OECD emphasize innovation, access, and inclusion as measures of educational relevance in a global context.
IACDE Alignment:
IACDE evaluates institutional efforts to innovate responsibly in digital education while expanding access to diverse, underserved, and global learner populations.
Evaluation Process and Global Practice
IACDE’s evaluation process reflects internationally accepted quality assurance practices, including:
- Institutional self-study aligned to published standards
- Evidence-based documentation review
- Holistic assessment of institutional effectiveness
- Ongoing accountability and improvement expectations
This process aligns with global norms emphasizing transparency, proportionality, and continuous quality enhancement.
Conclusion: Internationally Informed, Digitally Responsive
IACDE’s Core Accreditation Standards are intentionally aligned with globally recognized principles of educational quality assurance while remaining responsive to the realities of digital, faith-aligned, and nontraditional institutions.
Through mission-centered evaluation, outcomes-based academic review, learner protection, financial integrity, and innovation, IACDE contributes to a globally informed framework for responsible digital education.
Organizations and institutions ready to start their accreditation journey can begin today:
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Global Reference Sources
- UNESCO (2023). Quality Assurance in Online and Distance Education
- OECD (2022). Digital Transformation of Education Systems
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Principles of Accreditation
- INQAAHE. Guidelines of Good Practice
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