Approved Study Centre Agreement
Terms and Conditions
THIS AGREEMENT IS BETWEEN:
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply of Easton House, Easton on the Hill, Stamford, Lincs PE9 3NZ (hereinafter referred to as CIPS)
and
Study Centre name
(hereinafter referred to as THE STUDY CENTRE) based at the following address:
Study centre address
AGREEMENT FOR THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD:Date from... date to.....
TheChartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) is an Awarding Body regulated by Ofqual, the qualification regulator for England and Northern Ireland. CIPS Awarding Body is committed to high levels of quality assurance and policies that are open, transparent and free from bias, and demonstrates this commitment by setting standards for the approval of other organisations and institutions to offer courses of study leading towards its regulatedqualifications.
CIPS has agreed that THESTUDY CENTRE has approval to offer CIPS qualifications, subject to the terms and conditions of this agreement.
2.DETAILS OF STUDY CENTRE APPROVAL
2.1 Study Centre Approval Criteria
THE STUDY CENTRE is approved to offer CIPS qualifications under the terms of this agreement, subject to satisfactory annual monitoring by CIPS of a range of published criteria covering the following areas:
- Business structure, financial stability and policies
- Centre management and administration
- Staffing and other resources
- Learner support and feedback
- Quality assurance, evaluation and review.
2.2 Approval Grades
There are three grades of study centre approval:
- CIPS Approved Centre:
- A study centre that has fully met the criteria for approval, or
- A study centre that has met most of the criteria for approval, and has agreed to satisfy certain conditions with 6 months in order to fully meet the criteria
.
- CIPS Centre of Merit:
- A study centre that has been a CIPS approved study centre for a minimum of two years, and has met the criteria for a Centre of Merit
- CIPS Centre of Excellence:
- A study centre that has been operating as a CIPS Centre of Merit for at least two years, and has met the criteria for a CIPS Centre of Excellence.
THE STUDY CENTRE’S grade is reviewed annually as part of the audit process. Grades can go down as well as up. At CIPS’ discretion, a limited time period may be given to remedy any areas of concern before THE STUDY CENTRE’S grade is lowered.
3.FEES and PAYMENTS
3.1A non-refundable approval application fee shall be payable by THE STUDY CENTRE to CIPS upon application for study centre approval or as soon thereafter as invoiced by CIPS.
3.2An approved study centre fee shall be payable by THE STUDY CENTRE to CIPS at the beginning of this agreement, and after each annual approval or as soon thereafter as invoiced by CIPS.
Notes:
(i)Please note that the fees related to study centre approval and audit may change from year to year. Please consult CIPS website, or contact CIPS for current fees.
(ii)Newly approved study centres are required to have an interim visit after 6 months, to confirm that processes and procedures are as described at the initial approval stage.
(iii)If study centres wish to offer provision at satellite centres, CIPS w ill charge an additional annual fee to cover administration of such applications and additional monitoring.
(iv)In the event that THE STUDY CENTRE postpones or cancels an initial, interim or annual visit, CIPS may at its discretion charge an abortive visit fee plus travel costs.
(v)Candidates for CIPS examinations should pay their CIPS registration and assessment fees directly to CIPS. However, with prior agreement from CIPS, THE STUDY CENTRE may be responsible for the collection of fees. In these circumstances, THE STUDY CENTRE must forward any CIPS registration and assessment fees that have been collected from its learners as soon as they are received by THE STUDY CENTRE. These fees are the property of CIPS.
(vi)Tuition fees collected from learners accepted onto the programme(s) shall be at the level agreed with CIPS but will be the property of THE STUDY CENTRE.
(vii)Candidates for CIPS examinations who have not paid registration or assessment fees by the stipulated dates may be refused entry to the assessment procedure and may not receive details of assessment decisions.
4.RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF CIPS
CIPS will:
4.1Manage the relationship between itself and THE STUDY CENTRE using systematic and consistent processes based on clear and objective criteria that ensure the maintenance of quality across CIPS provision.
4.2Provide fair and consistent assessment and moderation processes in relation to all assessment types and all candidates.
4.3Provide access to relevant personnel at CIPS to support THE STUDY CENTRE to deliver CIPS courses, including advice on launching CIPS qualifications and continual lifetime development of the market.
4.4Provide THE STUDY CENTRE with appropriate guidance material to enable them to fulfil CIPS requirements in relation to
- Learner recruitment, induction, and registration
- Tutor training
- Examination procedures
4.5Supply all necessary unit content and tutor guidance materials prior to the commencement of the programme(s).
4.6Notify THE STUDY CENTRE of any changes to qualification or unit content, updates to course information, and training procedures.
4.7Provide the THESTUDY CENTRE with copies of /access to relevant CIPS policies eg
- Equal opportunities
- Complaints procedure
- Appeals
- Reasonable adjustment
- Special consideration
- Sanctions
4.8Allow access to the CIPS (members only) part of the website by tutors and administrative staff, including for on line booking of examinations
4.9Allow use of the CIPS relevant study centre logo, proprietary information, and free electronic access to central promotional material for adaptation by THESTUDY CENTRE for its localised market
4.10Promote CIPS courses at THE STUDY CENTRE on the CIPS website
4.11Take all reasonable steps to protect the interests of learners in the event of THE STUDY CENTRE withdrawing from its role in delivering CIPS qualifications.
5.RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE STUDY CENTRE
THE STUDY CENTRE will:
5.1.Maintain compliance to statutory and regulatory requirements at all times, taking all reasonable steps to ensure that CIPS is able to comply with its conditions of recognition.
5.2.Undertake delivery of CIPS qualifications as required by CIPS in accordance with Equalities Law
5.3.Take all reasonable steps to comply with requests for information made by CIPS or the regulators as soon as is practicable.
5.4.Meet and maintain on an ongoing basis the approved study centre criteria relating to
- Business structure, financial stability and policies (and their related procedures), including policies/procedures for handling complaints and appeals
- Course management and administration
- Staffing and other resources
- Learner support/feedback
- Quality assurance, evaluation and review
- Examination facilities
and take immediate action to remedy any shortfall in meeting these criteria identified by CIPS, either at the approval stage or through subsequent monitoring processes.
5.5.Assist CIPS in carrying out any reasonable monitoring activities, and assist the regulators in any investigations made for the purpose of performing their functions.
5.6.Return an annual report to CIPS using the template or guidance provided.
5.7.Be responsible for local marketing and promotion and market development relevant to CIPS accredited qualifications.
5.8.Maintain appropriate public and employer insurances.
5.9.Pay fees to CIPS within 30 days of receipt of invoice.
5.10.Apply in writing to the CIPS Education Network Manager for approval, in advance of making any subsidiary or collaborative arrangement for the delivery of CIPS qualification(s) with any third party or from any other study centre campus.
5.11Advise CIPS immediately and in writing of any changes to the original application, or of any circumstances that may affect the quality and standard of CIPS programme(s) or prevent THE STUDY CENTRE from continuing to deliver any CIPS programme(s) that they have been approved for.
5.12Take all reasonable steps to protect the interests of its learners by making provision for them to complete their CIPS programmes if THE STUDY CENTRE is unable, or does not wish, to continue its relationship with CIPS.
5.13At all times act, and carry out business, in a professional manner as a representative of the CIPS brand, avoiding any actions or behaviours that could bring the reputation of CIPS into disrepute.
6.TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
6.1 Either party has the right at any time to give notice in writing to terminate this agreement.
6.2Should THE STUDY CENTRE wish to terminate the agreement, it must honour its commitment in 5.12 above.
6.3 CIPS shall have the right to terminate this agreement at any time by giving notice in writing to THE STUDY CENTRE, in accordance with its Sanctions Policy, in any of the following events:-
-ifTHE STUDY CENTRE commits a material breach of any of the terms or conditions of this agreement and fails to remedy the same within the timescale set by CIPS so to do. Failure to comply with the responsibilities and duties of a study centre as outlined in Section 5 of this agreement will be considered to be a material breach of the agreement.
-if learner recruitment, retention or achievement is consistently below the national average for 2 consecutive years since the last audit where candidates were on-programme.
-If learner recruitment fails to take place after one year of approval.
-if issues raised from learner complaints are not resolved within a reasonable time from the date of the complaint.
-ifTHE STUDY CENTRE does not resolve, within a consecutive 12 month period, issues of concern identified by CIPS either at the approval stage, or as a result of subsequent monitoring activity.
-if THE STUDY CENTRE is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, or a petition is presented or meeting convened for the purpose of winding up THE STUDY CENTRE , or THE STUDY CENTRE enters into liquidation whether compulsorily or voluntarily, or compounds with its creditors generally, or has a receiver appointed for all or any part of its assets, or if any event analogous to any of the foregoing shall occur.
-if there are any changes in the management or control of THE STUDY CENTRE without the prior written agreement of CIPS (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld).
6.4 In any of the above circumstances, THE STUDY CENTRE shall have the right to appeal against any proposal by CIPS to terminate the agreement, using the appeals procedure available from CIPS.
6.5 On termination of this agreement from any cause THESTUDY CENTRE shall (unless otherwise directed by CIPS in writing) continue to deliver the programmes which are current at the date of termination until their expiry.
6.6Upon the termination of this agreement for whatever reason, THE STUDY CENTRE shall cease use of the CIPS brand name, relevant CIPS study centre logo, and any proprietary information within a timescale as determined by CIPS and conveyed to THE STUDY CENTRE. After this time, THE STUDY CENTRE shall forthwith deliver to CIPS (or as CIPS may otherwise direct) all materials (whether in paper or any other medium) and any other documents supplied to it in relation to the delivery of CIPS qualifications.
7FORCE MAJEURE
Neither CIPS nor THE STUDY CENTRE shall be liable or deemed to be in default on account of any delay or performance or any other act under this Agreement due to circumstances which could not have been contemplated and are beyond the party’s reasonable control, provided that the party concerned notifies the other with all possible speed, specifying the cause and probable duration of the delay or non-performance, and shall minimize the effects of such delay or non-performance. Upon the giving and receipt of such notice, both parties shall use their reasonable endeavours to agree such suspension or variation of the terms of this agreement as they shall consider appropriate.
8 ASSIGNMENT
Except as otherwise provided in this agreement, neither party to this agreement shall without the previous consent in writing of the other party assign this agreement or any rights or obligations associated with it.
9 LIABILITY
9.1.Any use of the information provided as part of the agreement is at THE STUDY CENTRE’s own risk and CIPS does not accept any liability arising out of any reliance placed on the information provided as part of the agreement.
I hereby declare that I have read, understood and agreed to adhere to the terms and conditions of this agreement:
Signed on behalf of THE STUDY CENTRE
Name
Position
Date
Signed on behalf of CIPS
Name
Position
Date
Study Centre Agreement v3 Jan 20131