Sobre SACIC
Sistema de Acreditación de Centros Instituto Cervantes (SACIC) is an accreditation scheme created by Instituto Cervantes that aims to continually improve the teaching of Spanish as a second language throughout Spanish-speaking countries. Established in 1991, SACIC serves as the official quality assurance system for Spanish language schools worldwide.
Instituto Cervantes itself is a public foundation, born in Spain, which promotes the distribution of the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures overseas in non-immersion countries. As the official Spanish cultural institution, it has developed this accreditation system to ensure high standards in Spanish language education globally.
SACIC provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating and accrediting Spanish language schools, focusing on various aspects of their operations, from administrative procedures to teaching methodologies. The accreditation serves as a mark of quality, indicating to prospective students that a school meets rigorous standards for Spanish language instruction.
The system is internationally recognized as a leading accreditation for centers teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Schools that achieve SACIC accreditation demonstrate their commitment to excellence in Spanish language education and are recognized for maintaining high standards across all aspects of their operations.
Requisitos para Membros
To become a SACIC accredited organization, schools must meet comprehensive criteria across five main areas:
### 1. Organization and Administration of the Centre
- Legal Requirements: Meet the country's safety standards and have all necessary legal documentation
- Experience: Have a minimum of two years' experience in teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (SFL)
- Management Systems: Maintain student data management systems
- Quality Assurance: Have systems for assessing user satisfaction and handling suggestions, claims, and complaints
- Staffing: Have appropriate administrative and academic staff, including:
- At least one person working exclusively on administrative tasks
- A person responsible for academic coordination with dedicated office hours
- At least two Spanish-language teachers who meet specific qualifications:
- Completed university degree
- Specialized SFL training (minimum 60 hours)
- At least 600 hours of SFL teaching experience
- Formal employment relationship with the center
### 2. Teaching and Learning Services
- Academic Focus: Be dedicated to teaching Spanish as a professional activity
- Course Offerings: Offer at least three levels of Spanish courses on a permanent basis
- Curriculum: Have a comprehensive Teaching Plan that includes:
- Definition of levels
- Description of objectives and content
- Methodological orientation
- Assessment criteria
- Student monitoring and guidance procedures
- Course Documentation: Maintain lesson-planning documents and a system for class registration
- Assessment: Have clear student assessment criteria and procedures
### 3. Supplementary Services
- Offer a program of sports and social activities that promote Spanish-language culture
- Promote official language proficiency certification among students, particularly Spanish-language diplomas issued by the Ministry of Education of Spain
### 4. Teaching and Learning Facilities and Resources
- Physical Space: Have a locale with a valid activity license with a total surface area of at least 150 m² (may be less if the center's only activity is teaching Spanish)
- Teacher Resources: Provide a space for teachers with computers connected to the internet and a printer
- Classrooms: Have at least two classrooms preferentially assigned for teaching Spanish
- Common Areas: Maintain a common space for breaks between classes and sufficient toilets
- Library: Have a library or multipurpose space with a library area
- Technical Equipment: Provide sufficient technical means for SFL teaching, including at least two classrooms with audiovisual equipment
### 5. Information and Publicity
- Maintain a website and advertising brochures in at least two languages
- Include comprehensive information regarding the center, courses, content, prices, and conditions of services
### Evaluation Process
- Meet all the conditions of the Cervantes Institute Accreditation System as evaluated by an inspection
- The inspection examines all the areas mentioned above
- Accredited schools undergo re-inspection every 3 years to maintain their accreditation
Schools must be located in cities where the Cervantes Institute has no center of its own (except under exceptional circumstances) and deliver face-to-face Spanish language courses.
Procedimento de Reclamação e Arbitragem
SACIC has established a structured approach to handling complaints against accredited institutions:
- Initial Contact with School: A student wishing to lodge a complaint against a school accredited by Instituto Cervantes must first contact the school in question directly. This gives the institution an opportunity to address the issue through its internal procedures.
- Thorough Evaluation of Complaint Procedures: As part of the accreditation inspection process, SACIC conducts an in-depth evaluation of each school's complaints procedure. This ensures that accredited centers have appropriate mechanisms in place to handle student concerns professionally.
- Quality Assurance: The accreditation process verifies that complaints will be handled professionally within the school's established guidelines. This provides students with assurance that their concerns will be addressed appropriately.
- Monitoring During Re-accreditation: Since accredited schools undergo inspection every three years, their complaint handling procedures are regularly reviewed to ensure ongoing compliance with SACIC standards.
While SACIC itself does not directly intervene in individual complaints, its rigorous evaluation of complaint procedures ensures that accredited schools maintain appropriate mechanisms for addressing student concerns.
Informações Gerais
Year of Foundation: 1991
Total Number of Members: Not specified in the available information, but SACIC accredits numerous Spanish language schools worldwide.
Geographic Focus: Global, with a focus on Spanish-speaking countries and institutions teaching Spanish as a foreign language worldwide.
Organisation Type: Accreditation system operated by a public foundation (Instituto Cervantes).
Informações de Contato
Sistema de Acreditación de Centros Instituto Cervantes (SACIC)
Instituto Cervantes
C/ Alcalá, 49
28014 Madrid
Spain
Website: https://acreditacion.cervantes.es/
Email: centros.acreditados@cervantes.es