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THE-ICE Re-accreditation Process

THE-ICE Re-accreditation

Overview

Accreditation and membership of THE-ICE, once awarded, is valid for a period of five (5) years. After this time, members must apply for re-accreditation to maintain their accreditation and membership status. Institutions seeking re-accreditation of their TH&E (tourism, hospitality, events, and culinary arts) education programmes and membership of THE-ICE must continue to meet THE-ICE Standards of Excellence, and demonstrate and reflect on their ongoing commitment to quality assurance and enhancement. The re-accreditation process must commence before the current accreditation expires, unless consideration of special circumstances has been approved in writing. 

THE-ICE Re-accreditation process – THE-ICE C2Q Accredited Members

THE-ICE has an ethos of ongoing engagement and involvement with its member institutions and, accordingly, does not require a replication of the original Accreditation procedure to grant re-accreditation for its Committed to Quality (C2Q) Accredited Members. THE-ICE Re-accreditation Procedure seeks to minimise the burden of accreditation on both Auditors and institutions by incorporating revisions and changes since the original accreditation.

C2Q Accredited Members of THE-ICE engage in annual quality monitoring through THE-ICE ISBSB™ Student Satisfaction Survey, so there is no need or benefit to repeating the original accreditation in full. Accordingly, THE-ICE has developed a re-accreditation procedure that is positive, progressive, and reduces the burden on accredited members.

The following key features exemplify the approach THE-ICE adopts to re-accreditation:

  • Re-accreditation is generally desk based (unless the institution requests a site audit and/or THE-ICE Auditors determines that a visit is necessary), which significantly reduces the time and resources required to organise and conduct the event.
  • Re-accreditation can normally be undertaken in two (2) months, requiring approximately one-third of the time and resources of the original accreditation.
  • The Re-accreditation Application fee is also significantly reduced, to one-third of the original Accreditation Application Fee.
  • The re-accreditation decision is taken by THE-ICE CEO, without the need for Board approval and so further reducing the timeline.

THE-ICE C2Q Accredited Member Re-accreditation Application does not repeat the original accreditation (structured around the 14 Standards of Excellence), and comprises only five sections:

  1. Recommendations: a review of actions taken in response to Auditor recommendations from the most recent Accreditation or Re-accreditation, and of the outcomes of these actions.
  2. Significant changes at the institution: details, rationale, and outcomes of any significant changes to the status, programmes, staff, premises, etc. of the institution since Accreditation or previous Re-accreditation was granted. If there are substantial changes outlined in the self-review document, THE-ICE may require a site visit to the institution be included in the re-accreditation process.
  3. Evidence of quality enhancement: details of any other measures, actions, or achievements that demonstrate commitment to quality enhancement by the applicant institution, including other accreditations, rankings, research output, student competitions, events hosted, graduate successes, etc.
  4. THE-ICE ISBSB Reflection Report, which focuses on three key items:
    • Longitudinal performance of the applicant institution against the key ISBSB questions (response rate, likelihood of students to recommend the institution, and overall student satisfaction with arrival, learning, living, and support experiences at the institution) since the most recent Accreditation or Re-accreditation.
    • Longitudinal performance of the applicant institution against their 3-5 selected questions (key performance indicators) since Accreditation or previous Re-accreditation.
    • Reflection on actions undertaken as a result of the applicant institution’s performance against key ISBSB questions and institution-specific KPIs, and the outcomes of these actions.
  5. The institution as a learning organisation: identification of a key quality challenge, on which the Auditors will provide advice and support, and critical reflection on the institution’s quality journey and current quality status.

The re-accreditation process for C2Q Members offers a more streamlined and straightforward approach, recognising and reflecting on the institution’s ongoing efforts in quality enhancement through their annual engagement with THE-ICE initiatives and more broadly.

THE-ICE Re-accreditation process – Accredited Members 

The process for re-accreditation of Accredited Members replicates the initial accreditation procedure, including completion of the Accreditation Application documents, updated to reflect any changes since the most recent accreditation, and a site audit of the institution. The full process of THE-ICE Accreditation can be found here.

In addition to completion of THE-ICE Accreditation Application, which is structured around the 14 Standards of Excellence, Accredited Members applying for re-accreditation must submit a reflection on any Recommendations made by the Auditors in the most recent accreditation, reflecting on the actions undertaken as a result of these recommendations and the outcomes of those actions.

As for the re-accreditation of a C2Q Accredited Member, the re-accreditation decision is taken by THE-ICE CEO, without the need for Board approval, and so reducing the re-accreditation timeline.

Re-accreditation Outcomes and Support for Institutions

Institutions are fully supported by a member of THE-ICE Executive Team in preparing the Re-accreditation Application. Following the submission of THE-ICE Re-accreditation Application, the assigned Auditors will jointly prepare the Re-accreditation Report, including an overview of the applicant institution’s performance and recommendations, for review and decision by THE-ICE CEO.

Undertaking the process of Re-accreditation will result in one of the following outcomes for applicant institutions:

  1. Re-accreditation.
  2. Re-accreditation with requirements (including a site audit conducted by independent Auditors of THE-ICE Assessment Panel).
  3. Repeat Full Accreditation, in the case of major changes to the institution or serious and ongoing underperformance.

For further information

For further information please contact THE-ICE via email: accreditation@the-ice.org