ECML experts: Laura Muresan, Romania; Richard Rossner, United Kingdom
Working language: English
Website: link

Experts: Laura Muresan, Romania; Richard Rossner, United Kingdom
Local organisers: Eva-Maria Schädler, Office of Education, Liechtenstein
Working languages: English and German

Information from the ECML experts: In mid-February 2014, two ECML experts were invited to Liechtenstein to study the feasibility of developing and introducing minimum quality standards for providers of language courses for adult migrants. The authorities in Liechtenstein feel that such standards and external verification of compliance with them are needed given that these language courses are largely financed from public funds. The visit comprised:
A visit and class observation at one of the language schools providing integration courses (as background), followed by a meeting with the academic coordinators of the school.
A meeting with the representative of the Office of Education, who had requested the visit.
A meeting with the Head of the Permits and Integration Division, which funds integration courses through a voucher scheme, in order to define general needs and support that might be required in the future.
A further meeting with the representative of the Office of Education to discuss an outline plan for follow-up proposed by the experts on the basis of the previous day’s meetings.
The visit will, subject to agreement between the Liechtenstein authorities and ECML, be followed by further fact-finding in the country, and a workshop for school managers to raise awareness and consult on appropriate quality criteria. Many countries do not yet have national schemes to ensure that publicly funded courses for this vulnerable group meet clearly defined quality standards. The experts involved in this targeted support project have considerable experience in quality assurance for language course providers, including consultation on criteria and auditing procedures, gained in the design and running of the EAQUALS accreditation scheme, which has existed for over 20 years. Under Council of Europe auspices, the EAQUALS self-assessment handbook for language centres has been adapted for use by those providing courses designed for adult migrants. A workshop run by ECML experts focusing on issues raised in a checklist is a good starting point for any member state wishing to raise awareness of quality issues and/or to develop their own quality assurance measures in this field, and/or to contribute to the development of international standards and to a scheme for verifying their compliance.

Information from the local organiser: Due to current developments on national level the issue of quality assurance in language and citizenship courses for adult migrants has become an issue in Liechtenstein.
In February 2014 Liechtenstein made use of a new training and consultancy activity offered by the ECML.
Two ECML experts were invited to Liechtenstein, in order to elaborate on a possible program for an ECML Training activity in Liechtenstein. The visit included meetings with representatives of relevant offices and a visit to a provider of language courses for adults as to get direct feedbacks of the need of the intended target group for such a training activities. The moderators were well informed by the national coordinators but besides that, they had prepared themselves with much accuracy So given the limited time available, an elaborated program for a training activity was drafted at the end of this 1 ½ day visit.
The new format of activities does perfectly meet the needs at national level allowing to deal with specific topic that may have direct impact at national level.