Why become a member?
Quality improvement is easier to organise when an institution has a clear framework, practical examples and people who take responsibility for progress. CQASE membership provides an institutional commitment to that work, supported by published requirements and an annual improvement cycle.
Members can use the CQASE standards and guidance to review their practices, contribute to consultation on the framework and share anonymised examples of improvements. Membership also creates a public record that identifies the institution and confirms the dates and status of its membership.
The distinction from accreditation matters. Membership involves a baseline check of institutional identity, public information and documented commitments. It is not a full assessment of all the systems covered by institutional accreditation, and it must not be described as an accreditation award.
Who membership is for
Membership is open to schools, universities and colleges, professional and vocational education providers, language schools, online academies, adult and continuing education organisations, and identifiable corporate training units. An applicant needs a responsible legal entity, an institutional website and an authorised contact.
New education providers can apply when their identity, learner-facing information and improvement commitments are ready for verification. Unlike accreditation, membership does not require a delivered teaching example or learner feedback. A new provider must still describe its current stage accurately and must not present intended activities as established results.
Membership is for institutions rather than individuals. A group with several legal entities should identify which entity is applying; a listing does not automatically cover other businesses using the same brand. Corporate units must identify their parent legal entity and the unit being listed.
The commitments behind membership
Every applicant must meet six baseline requirements: verifiable identity, accurate public information, fair learner terms and complaints arrangements, privacy information, a practical improvement plan, and acceptance of the membership code.
These requirements are intended to be usable. For example, a short paragraph can name one improvement for the next 12 months, the person responsible and a target date. No separate plan or report is needed. A statement that an institution “values excellence” is not a substitute for that plan.
Public policies need to be accessible through stable links. A reviewer should be able to identify the legal provider, understand the educational offer, find the fees and refund terms, and see how a learner can raise a concern. Private supporting records can be supplied through controlled access.
How to join
Read the requirements, prepare the evidence links and nominate an authorised representative. The online form asks for the institution’s identity, website, official registry record, requested listing scope and evidence for each membership requirement.
CQASE checks the application and requests specific corrections where information is missing, inconsistent or cannot be verified. A complete file normally has a target review time of ten working days. That target pauses while the institution prepares a response.
There is no application fee. The annual membership fee is €180, payable after approval. The 12-month term starts on the agreed activation date and is shown in the public register. Submitting a form or making a payment does not by itself create membership.
Participation and annual renewal
Membership is an ongoing commitment. Keep your institutional details current, report material changes within 30 days and review the priorities in your improvement plan. Sharing an anonymised example or improvement insight is voluntary and publication requires permission.
At renewal, confirm your details and describe progress on your chosen priority and the next step in a short paragraph. The purpose is to understand what changed and what remains to be done, rather than to reward the number of documents produced.
Use “Institutional member of CQASE” only while your record is active and link to the public entry. Membership does not confer statutory approval, accreditation of programmes or recognition of qualifications. It also does not reserve a favourable outcome in a later accreditation review.
Questions institutions often ask
Do we need accreditation before joining?
No. Membership has its own baseline requirements. An institution may join without applying for accreditation, or apply for accreditation separately.
Does membership include consultancy or a full quality audit?
No. It includes the baseline membership review, institutional listing and participation described here. Published resources support self-assessment; they do not replace a tailored operational audit or legal advice.
Can a newly established provider join?
Yes, if its identity and baseline information are verifiable and it has a credible improvement plan. Its public statements must accurately distinguish current delivery from future plans.
Will our internal improvement example be published?
Only with permission. Remove personal and confidential information before submitting an example. CQASE must agree any public description with the institution.