Despite being hit hard by the economic crisis, Spain’s outbound study market has seen steady growth over the past few years due to many believing language training can leverage job opportunities. The sector is predicted to continue its upward trajectory this year and ASEPROCE is keen to place a mark of quality on its membership base.

“The industry shouldn’t be based on good faith alone but on regulations – especially when the client is becoming more demanding and savvy,” ASEPROCE President Juan Manuel Elizalde told The PIE News. “It [the regulation framework] is going to improve not just the relationship between agencies and clients but also between agencies and schools because the more transparent we are the better it is for everyone.

“This new system will allow clients to book their programs being sure of their quality and the quality of all the procedures have been checked and controlled by an independent third party,” he added.

“The industry shouldn’t be based on good faith alone but on regulations”

The process marks a milestone in the association’s 20 year history of working in a previously unregulated industry.

However, as a result, membership has dropped by a third, with many agencies leaving out of disaccord with the new regulation system, the cost of the annual audit on top of membership fees or because of the new requisite imposed in ASEPROCE that all members must pay VAT.

Elizalde commented that the organisation might not reach the pre-audit level of 70 members again but that quality control was more important. “It’s too bad that people left the association, but it’s better for our clients and will help each of us improve as companies. We’re satisfied with that,” he said.

The third party auditing process carried out by Lloyd’s Registrar took place over December. Auditors reviewed compliance in four areas of an agency’s business: its legal and financial standing, publicity of accurate and honest information about the schools they promote, the group leader selection process – which must include criminal background checks – and its customer satisfaction measurement– including a client complaint policy.

According to Elizalde, all 50 members met the minimum mark with a few minor improvements to be made. “This being the first year, we set the bar low to get an idea of where we all stood and to know what we can improve upon for a higher minimum next year,” he said.

Last year ASEPROCE members sent 100,000 students abroad with outbound numbers on the rise, particularly for full-year courses for 12-18 year olds, driven by demand for courses taught in English.

The group announced plans to undergo the self regulation in September last year, a goal of Elizalde’s when he was elected president three years ago.

“This being the first year, we set the bar low to get an idea of where we all stood and to know what we can improve upon for a higher minimum next year”

Under the new system, membership fees will remain the same but each agency must pay €500 for the yearly audit.

“We had four years to do this and we did it in three,” he commented. “It required hard work and effort on our part but it’s a positive move and lots of agency associations around the world will look at us as an example of something they can do in their own market.”

ASEPROCE follows associations who are making an effort to strengthen quality among members including Beijing-based BOSSA, the Ukraine’s AIEEA and several organisations in Turkey.