Independence and Transparency

Independent from whom?

• From the bodies we accredit. An institution cannot buy a result. Fees pay for the review, whatever the outcome, and HCDE does not sell consultancy to an applicant or to a body it is reviewing.
• From governments. HCDE is not a government body and does not act on a government's behalf. Its accreditation is not governmental recognition.
• From other organisations. HCDE makes its own judgements under its own standards and does not outsource a decision to anyone else.

Six commitments

1. The standards are published. Anyone can read exactly what HCDE assesses, before and after applying.
2. The process is published. The stages, who takes part, and what an applicant can expect are set out in Accreditation Process.
3. Decisions come with reasons. Each applicant receives a written decision explaining why.
4. Conflicts are declared and managed. See the Conflict of Interest Policy.
5. Appeals are heard by others. People who were not involved in a decision decide whether to confirm it.
6. The record is public. The registry shows status honestly, including suspensions and withdrawals.

What HCDE does not claim

• It does not claim that its accreditation is recognised, licensed or approved by any government.
• It does not claim membership of, or endorsement by, any other organisation unless that is documented and stated here.
• It does not publish figures about how many bodies it has accredited, how many countries it reaches, or how many learners benefit, unless the numbers can be supported from its own records.

Holding HCDE to account

If you think HCDE has not lived up to any of this, say so. The Complaints and Appeals Policy explains how a complaint is handled, and the Governance page explains who is responsible.