FAQ

Procedures


The accreditation process for professional public official basic development program includes the following stages: 

1. Submission of an accreditation application;
2. Recognition of an educational institution as accreditation seeker;
3. Appointment of Accreditation Experts Panel;
4. A preliminary study of the accreditation seeker self-assessment report and documentation attached to it by the Accreditation Experts Panel and elaboration of the visit agenda;
5. Carrying out an accreditation visit;
6. Drawing up the Accreditation Experts Panel draft report and submitting it to the Center;
7. The Accreditation Experts Panel draft report introduction to the accreditation seeker;
8. Presentation of the accreditation seeker feedback on the factual inaccuracies in the Accreditation Experts Panel draft report to the center;
9) Final report framing by the Accreditation Experts Panel and submitting it to the Center;
10) Introduction of the Accreditation Experts Panel report to the accreditation seeker;
11) Sending the accreditation application, the Accreditation Experts Panel report and submitted to the Center accreditation seeker feedback on the Accreditation Experts Panel draft report to the Public Official Professional Development Essential Program Accreditation Council (after this - the Council) members;
12) Holding an oral hearing on the accreditation issued by the Council and making the decision;
13) Publication of the reasoned decision by the Center.


The Council makes a decision on accreditation according to the terms provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia. Herein, if the identification of substantial circumstances (in the composing experts panel, in the examination of program compliance with the accreditation standards, in consideration of the issue by the Accreditation Council and/or other similar bases) requires more than defined by the legislation period, the Center within 5 working days after the commencement of administrative proceedings makes decision on the setting of the administrative proceedings period, which should not exceed 3 months.


Submission of the accreditation application

The accreditation application submitted to the Center for the accreditation of the program shall be attached with:
a) Submitted self-assessment report of each program accreditation and documentation attached to it;
b) The document confirming payment of the fee for review of the accreditation application.

The documentation to be submitted to the Center may be presented through electronic document turnover system or in material form when the documents attached to the accreditation self-assessment report submitted to the Center via electronic information carrier.

Requisites required for transferring funds to the Treasury:
The Receiver's Bank - State Treasury
Name of the Recipient - Total Treasury Account
Bank code - TRESGE22
Receiver's account/treasury code - 707637113
(Purpose of settlement - "Fee for review of accreditation application of the Public Official Professional Development Program").





Recognition of the institution as accreditation seeker

In 3 working days, the center inspects the documents attached to the accreditation application. The Center sets the relevant institution for at least 5 and not more than 15 working days to correct the shortage.

In case of shortage not identified for the institution or deficiency re-mediated in the established time-frame, the Center issues an individual administrative-legal act on recognition of the institution as accreditation seeker, and in case of shortage remediation failure - an individual administrative-legal act on leaving the application without discussion.


If the accreditation seeker does not pay an accreditation fee in 5 calendar days after getting familiar with the individual administrative-legal act on recognition as the accreditation seeker, the Center issues an individual administrative-legal act on the termination of the administrative proceedings.


Formation of Accreditation Experts Panel

In 60 days from the payment of the accreditation fee, the Center issues an individual administrative-legal act on the creation of an Accreditation Experts Panel and visit the institution seeking accreditation.

The Accreditation Experts Panel composes of the Accreditation Expert Corps members. The Accreditation Experts Panel presided by the Experts Panel Chairman.

An accreditation expert obliged to declare if he/she has a conflict of interest with the institution seeking the accreditation in which the visit should be made.

An accreditation seeker institution entitled to submit the Center with the justified statement on the challenge toward accreditation expert/experts in 2 working days from the acquainting above-mentioned individual administrative-legal act. The justification of the claim on the challenge to be based on the rule of selection, duties, and cancellation of the Officials program Accreditation Experts Corps membership, and/or existence of circumstances envisaged in Article 92 of the General Administrative Code of Georgia.
The Center discusses the statement on the challenge in 3 working days. In the case of satisfying the claim, the Center makes a decision on an amendment to the Accreditation Expert Panel. In the case of not satisfying the claim on the challenge of accreditation expert/experts, Accreditation Expert Panel continues its activities in the same composition.

The extent of the visit to the accreditation seeker institution and the number of members of the Accreditation Experts Panel determined by the Decree of the Center on creation Accreditation Experts Panel and visit the Accreditation seeker institution. Taking into consideration the volume and specificity of the work according to the rule of selection, duties, and cancellation of the Accreditation Experts Corps membership.

In order to manage efficiently and adhere to the unified approach to assessment within the scope set by the legislation, the Center authorized to send the staff member to the visit with the Accreditation Experts Panel.



Accreditation Self-Assessment Report Evaluation

The Center sends documentation to study to each member of the Accreditation Experts Panel.
To study the completed self-assessment report and attached documents and identifying their compliance with the accreditation standards, the Chairperson of the Accreditation Experts Panel ensures distributes of duties among the Panel members.

Before accreditation visit, the Accreditation Experts Panel examines completed self-assessment report and the attached documents, on the basis of that develops and agrees with the Center the visit agenda. In the course of agreeing on the visit agenda, the Center considers argued opinions of the institution. The Center sends the final version of the agenda to the institution.


Implementation of an accreditation visit

The Chairperson of the Accreditation Experts Panel during the visit ensures distribution of duties among the Panel members.

A member of the Accreditation Expert Panel participates in the work of the group, ensures the implementation of the functions envisaged by the rule of selection, duties, and cancellation of the Experts Corps membership.

According to the agreed agenda, an Accreditation Expert examines all matters for concluding within the accreditation visit, including interviews with stakeholders, if needed, requests additional documentation, conducts a visual inspection and implements unforeseen by the agenda activities.

The institution obliged to facilitate the Accreditation Experts Panel in the implementation of accreditation visit and preparation of the relevant report, to present required for their accreditation documentation and ensure interviews with the requested by the Experts Panel persons.

On the last day of the visit, the Accreditation Expert Panel presents the principal findings of the Accreditation Expert Panel to the accreditation seeker institution.

The Center authorized to issue an individual administrative-legal act on termination of administrative proceedings if the institution hinders the activity of Accreditation Experts Panel or amends to the accreditation application and/or attached documentation.


Preparing the report

The draft report of the Accreditation Experts Panel is drawn up and submitted to the Center as a result of the study of the self-assessment report and attached documentation, as well as the accreditation visit results. The draft report describes the compliance of the educational program with accreditation standards.

The Center establishes formal compliance of the Accreditation Experts panel draft report. If the compliance established, the draft report sent to the institution. If required, the draft report of the Accreditation Experts Panel returned to the Accreditation Experts Panel to ensure formal compliance.

In 2 working days from the acquisition of the draft report the accreditation status seeker, submits the feedback to the Center on the factual inaccuracies in the draft report (if any), which sent to the Experts Panel and the Council.

Upon acquaintance with the feedback if submitted or after the expiry of the specified above submission deadline if not submitted at all, the Experts Panel formulates the report in the final form and presents to the Center. The Center sends the Accreditation Experts Panel report to the institution.


Oral hearing

The Council makes a decision on accreditation based on the Accreditation Documents, the Accreditation Experts Panel report, study of the feedback on the Accreditation Experts Panel draft report and the oral hearing.

The Council meeting convened by the Chairman of the Council or the Director of the Center.
The interested party informed on the oral hearing at least 7 days before it. Participating in administrative proceedings party is authorized to attend the oral hearing.

The session led by the Chairman of the Council; In his/her absence - by the Deputy Chairman, and in absence both of them - by a member of the Council defined by the majority of attendees. In case of impossibility of fulfillment of the duties by the Secretary of the Council one of the members of the Council fulfills his/her functions by order of the chairperson of the session.

The session is authorized if attended by more than half of the Council members.

Representatives of the institution and the members of the Accreditation Experts Panel participating in the oral hearing; the representatives of the Center and/or other stakeholders authorized to participate in the discussion after permission of the Chairperson of the session.

By the decision of the Council, another expert of the relevant field, a member of the professional organization, field specialist and other persons may be invited to the oral hearing,


The Chairperson of the session obliged to ensure that the significant circumstances of the case examined at an oral hearing.


The participant in administrative proceedings is authorized to declare a mediation for the examination of the sufficient to the case circumstances.

In the decision-making at the oral hearing, the document of the accreditation seeker developed after the accreditation visit not taken into consideration.


The protocol of the Council is drawn up in 5 workdays after holding the session and signed by the Chairperson and the Secretary of the Council.
An individual administrative-legal act is issued based on the Council protocol and signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of the Council.


Accreditation-related decisions

The Council makes one of the following decisions:
a) on accreditation;
b) on accreditation refusal;
c) on the cancellation of accreditation.

The accreditation period is 5 years.

A decision published on the website of the Center in 5 workdays after its acceptance. In conjunction with the publication of the decision, the Experts Panel report published on the website of the Center.
The Center provides information to the Bureau on accredited Programs within a week after the accreditation for publishing information on the administered by the Bureau website.