UNOSEL
Union Nationale des Organisations de Séjours Educatifs, Linguistiques et formation en langues
About UNOSEL
UNOSEL (Union Nationale des Organisations de Séjours Educatifs, Linguistiques et formation en langues) is a French non-profit association founded in 1978. It is the largest federation of language schools and language and educational tour organizers in France, currently comprising 57 members who organize educational and language stays, summer/holiday camps, and school trips.
UNOSEL serves as both a quality label and an internal forum for its members, focusing on four core values: Trust, Ethics, Security, and Education. The association has been active for more than 40 years in developing educational provision for young people and adults, particularly in French as a second language programs in France.
The organization plays a major role in the profession and sits on the NF-Service Special Committee for Language Study Tour Organisers. As an expert in the field, UNOSEL took an active part in creating the European Standard for language tours and language courses under the aegis of the European Standards Committee (CEN – Comité Européen de Normalisation).
UNOSEL holds the National Approval for youth and popular education activities and serves as a strategic and technological observatory over the language learning business, collecting important information about markets, products, and consumer expectations.
Membership Requirements
UNOSEL has a rigorous membership process with strict quality requirements:
Labelling Process:
- Organizations must follow a comprehensive labelling process that may take several months
- Schools must pass a vigorous audit throughout all their departments to receive membership
- All criteria must be met and inspection passed to obtain the UNOSEL Quality Label
- Accredited members are re-inspected every 2 years (some sources indicate every 3 years) to ensure continuous quality standards
Member Responsibilities:
- UNOSEL members acting as agents are considered fully responsible for every aspect of a course/stay
- Partner schools/providers are also required to meet all standards defined in the label
- Members must comply with current French legislation
- Organizations must be professional and meet all quality criteria specific to their sector of activity
Organizational Structure:
- Members include a mixture of large and small structures, companies, or non-profit organizations
- All members have equal say in decision-making within the association
- Members work on three operational committees: Educational Tours for Schools, Language Study Holidays, and Educational Tours for Young People
- These committees meet regularly to examine sector problems, invite experts, and make progress in quality
Quality Standards:
- Members must maintain high standards in educational provision
- Regular participation in committee meetings and association activities
- Commitment to the four core values: Trust, Ethics, Security, and Education
- Compliance with all UNOSEL quality criteria and standards
Complaint & Arbitration Procedure
UNOSEL has established formal complaint and arbitration procedures to protect participants:
Mediation Process:
- UNOSEL has signed the Charter of the Mediation of Tourism and Travel
- Any student with a complaint against a UNOSEL member can request assistance from an impartial mediator
- The mediation organization provides independent help with dispute resolution
- This process ensures that participant expectations are satisfied and protected
Quality Assurance:
- Regular inspections every 2-3 years ensure continuous quality standards
- The association monitors compliance with French legislation and UNOSEL standards
- Committee structure allows for ongoing review and improvement of quality standards
- Members are held accountable for maintaining professional standards
Consumer Protection:
- UNOSEL was founded specifically to advise and protect participants of language study holidays and educational tours
- The association maintains regular contact with consumer organizations and workers' council representatives
- Ongoing dialogue with various stakeholders helps identify and solve problems
- The quality label serves as protection for consumers choosing educational programs
General Information
UNOSEL operates through a well-structured organizational framework:
Operational Structure:
- Three main committees handle different sectors: Educational Tours for Schools, Language Study Holidays, Educational Tours for Young People
- Committees meet regularly and serve as the association's lifeblood for decision-making
- Members exchange information and ideas about activity evolution and development
- Equal representation for all members regardless of organization size
Industry Impact:
- Largest federation of language schools and educational tour organizers in France
- Active participant in European standardization efforts
- Regular contact with ministries, tourist information offices, local authorities, multinational companies, professional organizations, parents' associations, and consumer organizations
- Serves as strategic and technological observatory for the language learning business
Annual Statistics (2019):
- 55,000 individual language stays abroad
- 403,000 students taking part in school and educational group tours
- 47,000 people taking part in holiday camps
Mission Areas:
- Advising and protecting participants of language study holidays and educational tours
- Helping the profession develop and enhancing its image
- Defending industry interests and ensuring proper representation in France, Europe, and worldwide
- Encouraging development of relations between institutions to attain common objectives
- Maintaining dialogue with stakeholders to contribute to finding solutions
Contact Information
Main Office:
UNOSEL
9 rue des 2 Avenues
75013 Paris, France
Phone: (+33) (0)7 76 15 68 82
Email: info@unosel.org
Website: https://www.unosel.org/
Type: Non-profit Association
Founded: 1978
Geographic Focus: France
Total Members: 57 (as of current data, some sources indicate 62)
Legal Status: Holder of National Approval for youth and popular education activities
Specialization: Educational and language stays, summer/holiday camps, school trips, French as a second language programs