About
Governance
How HCDE is governed, who is accountable for what, and the safeguards that keep reviewing, deciding and appealing apart.
An accreditation is credible when the people who review a body are not the people who decide, and when those who decide can be challenged by people who were not involved. HCDE's governance is built around that separation, and kept simple enough to work for a small provider as well as a large institution.
The bodies
The Council
Holds ultimate responsibility for HCDE. It adopts the standards and policies, appoints the committees and panels, approves the fee schedule and receives reports on how the system is working. It does not decide individual accreditation cases.
Accreditation Committee
Takes the accreditation decision on each case, on the evidence and the review report, applying the published standards and the Decisions and Status definitions. It records its reasons in writing.
Review teams
Examine the self-study and the evidence, and write the review report. Each team is formed for the case from HCDE's pool of reviewers, and is matched to the type, size and subject of what is reviewed. Teams recommend; they do not decide.
Appeals Panel
Hears appeals against decisions. No member took part in the decision under appeal, and its outcome is final within HCDE.
Advisory Forum
Brings together institutions, training providers, employers and learners to advise the Council on the standards and on how HCDE serves them. It advises; it has no part in any individual decision.
Secretariat
Runs applications, the registry, certificates and communications, and keeps the records. It supports every body above without taking part in their judgements.
How a case moves
The Secretariat receives the application
It checks eligibility and completeness, and opens the record.
A review team is formed
After conflicts of interest have been declared and cleared.
The review team reports
It sets out its findings against each standard.
The applicant responds
The applicant sees the draft report first and can correct facts and comment before it goes to the committee.
The Accreditation Committee decides
The decision is issued in writing, with reasons, and recorded in the public registry.
An appeal, if any, goes to a different group
The Appeals Panel hears it.
Safeguards that apply to every body
- Independence. Members and reviewers act in HCDE's name, not in the interest of any institution, employer or government. The Conflict of Interest Policy sets out declarations, recusal and the register.
- Conduct. The Code of Conduct binds staff, reviewers, committee and panel members and contractors.
- Challenge. The Complaints and Appeals Policy explains how to challenge HCDE.
- Openness. Standards, process, fees, decisions and status definitions are published, and public notices are issued when a status changes.
Flexibility, with accountability
HCDE is built to be practical for the bodies it serves. The Council may adjust the number and composition of its committees and panels, form specialist review teams for particular subjects or delivery models, and use remote review where that is appropriate. Whatever the arrangement, three things do not change: reviewers do not decide, decision-makers do not hear their own appeals, and every change to these arrangements is published on this page.
HCDE names a member of the Council, a committee or a panel only when the person has agreed to be named and the appointment is documented. Each name appears on this page with the person's role and any relevant interests.
Questions before you begin?
Write to HCDE and we will explain the route that fits your institution, program or situation.