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POLICY STATEMENT
Cambridge International College is committed to a policy of equal opportunities. It is Cambridge International College’s aim that potential and actual Members are treated equally and fairly on the basis of merit regardless of age*, disability, family responsibilities, gender, marital status, nationality, race, ethnic origin, disability, religious or political views or social or economic background. Cambridge International College follows a code of practice to ensure that this policy is fully effective. (Note: Cambridge International College uses the term “Member” instead of “student”).
*Cambridge International College treats 16 years as the minimum age for admission. There is no upper age limit for admission.
CODE OF PRACTICE
1. Member Admissions and Policy
1.1 Cambridge International College’s Prospectus reflects its Equal Opportunities Policy towards Members. All literature will use non-discriminatory language and will encourage applications from all groups or areas equally. Prospective Members will be given full details of the costs they can expect to face and of financial arrangements available to them.
1.2 Cambridge International College’s aim is to accept Members likely to benefit from its programmes.
1.3 A Member’s academic qualifications provide evidence of aptitude or ability to succeed in the programme applied for but other evidence relating to applicant’s ability is also relevant, such as work experience. Previous academic results will be regarded as only one type of evidence of aptitude or ability; in assessing a Member’s potential, weight will be given to any identifiable factors put forward by the applicant which may have led the applicant to ‘under perform’, for example: attendance at poorly equipped or poorly staffed schools/colleges; poor facilities, or none, for private study at home; early family responsibilities; a background in which the candidate’s interest in education has not been encouraged; a disability or prolonged illness which has affected educational
development; financial hardship.
In addition to clear and concise information for each Program and level of study & training offered by the College, advice on study & training and progression is available and will be provided on request.
Each Enrolment/Registration Form - printed, electronic and on CIC’s website, allows applicants to state any special needs they may have.
1.4 Cambridge International College staff are always happy to answer queries which applicants, applicants’ parents, guardians, sponsors or employers may have.
1.5 Staff dealing with admissions will be aware of and conform to Cambridge International College’s Equal Opportunities Policy relating to Members.
1.6 Cambridge International College will put in place arrangements to allow the monitoring of applications and admissions to Cambridge International College. If there is any indication that Members of one group have received less favourable treatment than Members of another group the situation will be investigated and appropriate action taken. Cambridge International College will monitor Members who temporarily or permanently withdraw from their programme and will contact and encourage those Members to complete their study & training.
1.7 Cambridge International College recognises the need to strike a balance between admissions staff who exercise judgement on the ability of applicants to succeed in their chosen programmes and the need to ensure that Cambridge International College’s Equal Opportunities Policy for Member’s is fully met. If an applicant complains that his or her application has not been treated in accordance with the policy, the complaint will be referred to the Principal and/or Vice Principal for investigation.
1.8 Decisions on applications will normally be made within days of receipt of a fully completed application for enrolment in accordance with the College’s stated requirements, at the College in Britain. The College may exercise its right not to accept an applicant for study & training with the College and should such a situation arise, non-acceptance will be for reasons which do not contravene the stated Equal Opportunity Policy.
1.9 Admissions are made based upon the College’s rules and regulations as stated in its literature and website.
1.10 Once an applicant has been accepted as a Member of the College and a Membership Number has been allocated, CIC cannot and will not re-allocate that Membership to another person, irrespective of whether the enrolled Member changes circumstances, returns Study and/or Training Materials, or whether the Member completes or does not complete the study & training enrolled/registered for.
1.11 Once an applicant has been accepted as a Member of the College and a Membership Number has been allocated, and Study and/or Training Materials have been despatched, the Refund Policy is that the College will not offer a refund of Fee, irrespective of whether the enrolled Member changes circumstances, returns Study and/or Training Materials, or whether the member completes or does not complete the study & training enrolled/registered for. CIC maintains a ‘no refunds policy’; however, the occasions on which a refund is requested is historically less than a handful a year, and on such rare occasions each case is dealt with on its merits personally by the Principal or Vice Principal. CIC will be sympathetic and understanding towards such requests but CIC will only make exceptions to the policy for a very good reason. CIC may take in to consideration factors such as the length of time after enrolment that a refund request is made, or other specific factors - each case is treated on its own merits.
1.12 In the rare and unlikely event that a complaint is to be made, policy is that the complainant should send a letter or email to CIC, clearly stating the exact nature and details of the complaint, Membership Number, name and address. As appropriate, a senior member of staff, the Vice Principal or Principal will answer in good time; where a complaint is justified then CIC will do its utmost to speedily remedy the complaint.
2. Assessment
2.1 Cambridge International College’s aim is to provide a fair method of assessment based on equality of opportunity to all of its Members.
2.2 Special arrangements may be made for Members with known disabilities, to compensate for the restrictions imposed by the disability without affecting the validity of examinations and assessments.
2.3 Assessors are made familiar with Cambridge International College’s Equal Opportunities Policy for Members and checks are made that Assessors act in accordance with this policy, as detailed in the College’s Guidance for Tutors Booklet.
2.4 Should a Member fail an Examination - which should not be the case if the Study & Training Guide provided on enrolment is followed - then a written/printed explanation will be sent to the Member, explaining why that result was given, and giving advice on how to do better in future, and offering the opportunity to attempt a new and different Examination. Additionally, reasons why the answers did not achieve a pass mark are also provided. Every Examination result which is a Fail will be reviewed or moderated by either the Principal or Vice Principal personally, or an appointed moderating Tutor.
2.5 The College has a very experienced set of Tutors, and a very thorough, rigorous and accredited Examinations, Internal Moderation and Assessment Quality Control system. As stated in the Study & Training Guide, the College reserves the right not to enter into any communication concerning any result awarded. However, if a Member makes a written appeal to the College about a result, fail or otherwise, the procedure is that the appeal will be dealt with personally by the Principal or Vice Principal in consultation with staff, assessors or other third parties as appropriate.
3. Curriculum
3.1 Cambridge International College recognises the importance of the development of the individual through the educational process and the role of the curriculum in ensuring that development.
3.2 Cambridge International College is committed to the promotion of equal opportunity with respect to programme content, approaches to learning, assessment methods and the structure of programmes and aims to ensure that learning materials and examination papers reflect the principles of equal opportunities.
3.3 Cambridge International College aims to provide programmes which are of relevance and interest to persons from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds.
4. Teaching
4.1 All staff of Cambridge International College will use language which is non-discriminatory and does not cause offence to particular groups, although reasoned and non-discriminatory arguments may be used to test and challenge views, opinions and assertions of all kinds.
5. Health and Safety
5.1 Cambridge International College aims to provide its staff and any Members on its premises with a healthy and safe environment in which to work. The enforcement of reasonable health and safety requirements does not constitute discrimination.
5.2 Cambridge International College will make every effort to ensure that, so far as reasonably practicable, all parts of the College are accessible and safe. The needs of people with disabilities will be given particular consideration.
6. Staff Training
6.1 All Cambridge International College staff who normally have contact with Members will receive a copy of this Equal Opportunity Policy and Code of Practice, supplemented by basic training appropriate to their role in the College.
6.2 Specific advice and training will be given to admissions staff in relation to recruitment and admission, assessment, tutoring and Member disciplinary procedures.
David S Lawson
Director of Training
April 2008
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