Standards VI : Collaborative Provision

A. Any provision delivered by two or more organisations is covered by a written agreement which clearly specifies the respective rights and division of responsibilities between the partners.

B. One organisation (the “principal provider”) has legal responsibility for delivery of the provision, and the learner is made aware of this.

C. The principal provider has in place procedures which ensure that all aspects of a provision meet ODL QC standards.

This applies, for example, whenever:

1. the provision is offered by a provider as, or equivalent to, its own, in its published lists or prospectus, whether offered in or developed through partnerships with other bodies or not;
2. part of the provision is delegated to a third party (such as an overseas agent);
3. the provider is acting as agent for courses offered by another.

D. ODL QC Accreditation is specific to a particular service and a particular named aspect of a provision.    Providers must avoid statements which imply that their accreditation extends to services not explicitly covered.

For example, if materials accredited under a materials-only accreditation, or supplied by a provider with full accreditation, are incorporated by a non-accredited third party into a new provision, those materials may include a statement that they have been developed by an ODL QC accredited provider, or are themselves accredited, but should not indicate or suggest that any subsequent provision based on them, is accredited

E. Providers should not promote courses as their own if they are not.