Accreditation : an overview of the international portfolio PDF Download

Author: Conseil canadien d'agrément des services de santé
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 26

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Author: Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 26

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Author: ד"ר ערן נוטע Dr. Eran notea
Publisher: קוואלטי הנדסה פיננסית
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : iw
Pages : 15

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Evaluation of the International Standard for Inspection Bodies and comparison with Israeli’s regulations for investment portfolio management Manufacturers in the modern commerce world have understood that in order to succeed in a competitive global market they have to comply with the customer’s expectations, while observing a continuous improvement of the production processes or the service and the reduction of costs. This global orientation was taking shape the development of quality management approaches that accentuated the quality of production processes and quality management issues. In the last decade, international standards in the quality management field were published with the aim to provide the customer a trust in the supplier’s organization. The quality standardization formation accentuated the issue of services rendered to the customer, those which he could not examine and inspect by comparing to benchmark results or by comparing between different suppliers (for example compliance with reliability requirements or laboratory’s test results). For this type of services, international standards that were more meticulous were developed, referring to the organization’s form of management and its’ professional capabilities, which included the level of workforce, instrumentation and environmental conditions. Two concepts were developed in order to discriminate between fields that only included the organizational management system and those that also required proof of professional capabilities- Certification and Accreditation Certification refers to demands from the management-organizational framework. In order to acquire certification the existence and maintain of a compatible quality system is inspected. Accreditation refers to demands from the quality system and in addition the proof of professional capabilities of the organization and its’ employees. The accreditation is given to laboratories, to bodies that grant certification to organizations that supply products and services, to bodies that certificate the professional level of personnel, to bodies that confirm organizations’ standing up to environmental, safety and health requirements and to bodies that carry out inspections. In order that organizations in a country will be able to prove their compatibility with the international standards, the country should develop an infrastructure that includes a National Accreditation Body (NAB). This body will accredit the certification bodies operating in the country. The certification bodies should be a “third party” that will inspect certain requirements from various organizations. As an example a certification body for manufacturing and service industries audits compliance to ISO 9001. Several certification bodies for this purpose operate in Israel: Certification Department at the Standards Institution of Israel [SII], RONET ICS Ltd., IQC, DNV [Technion R&D Ltd.], GESCO Ltd., SKAL. A customer that approaches a supplier that received certification from a certification body that has been accredited by a NAB can trust the supplier’s quality management system. Nevertheless, the customer should check if he is receiving a product (or service) that complies with the specifications agreed with the supplier. The NAB accredits all kind of certification bodies and laboratories according to the appropriate requirements. The NAB operates according to ISO 17011. Companies that provide inspection services should comply with ISO 17020(2012). The Inspection body performs inspections according to the requirements in a validated reference document that has been agreed upon with its customer or that is mandated by local regulations. The accredited inspected body has the right to grant a certification to the inspected customer’s site or project. In 1995 EN 45004 was published in included the requirements for imparting trust in an organization that performs an inspection, it replaced the previous ISO Guide 39(1988) . Nevertheless, in that period the discrimination between accreditation and certification had not yet been determined and the term “Acceptance” was in use. In 1998, on determining the discrimination and the determination – that the inspection bodies will also undergo accreditation- the ISO 17010(1998) were developed. This standard is influenced by EN 45003(1995) or its equivalent ISO Guide 58(1993) which refers to the accreditation body operating for laboratories, and also by ISO Guide 61(1996) that refers to the accreditation body for certification bodies. The process of accreditation, i.e. if the inspection of management system processes and employees professionalism complies with requirements, has received the term “Conformity Assessment”. The ISO committee that dealt with this issue (CASCO) has prepared several guiding documents. The “tools” of the conformity inspection, according to the historical sequence of those documents are: an inspection, an examination, an audit, a certification, and an accreditation. These tools can serve first and second parties, regulators and everybody else that presents requirements for conformity. The segmentation concerning the capability of applying the tools is shown in Table 1, where the NAB is indicated as third body. Tools for the assessment of conformity I Party Party II Party III Producer’s declaration * Inspection * * * Testing * * * Auditing * * * Certification * Accreditation * Table 1: apply tools for conformity assessment As can be seen, each one of the parties can conduct an examination, an inspection, and an audit. The field of inspection services is very broad, and touches a wide variety of services. For example: an inspection of maintenance activities, conformity to requirements and supervision in a building site, evaluation of companies’ assets, financial statement, periodic inspection of elevators, supervising fire extension systems and other safety devices, schools’, surveillance, supervising measurement performance, etc.,. The requirements for accreditation and for not settling only for the certification of inspection bodies, stems from the fact that it is difficult to install trust in an inspection that has been carried out, as it is impossible to verify it by carrying it out by performing a second time under the same conditions and with the same inspection body or with another one. This is the reason underlying the decision that an inspection body should stand up to an accreditation similar to testing and calibration laboratories’ as it strongly depends on the performers’ professionalism. In light of the requirements and partial interpretations published so far, the difference between an inspection body and a testing/calibration laboratory is not quite clear. So far, part of the inspecting work has only been carried out by laboratories. ISO 17020 relates to activities of bodies whose tasks may include inspection of materials, products, facilities, plants, work processes, service operations and decisions on the level of conformity with defined requirements. The inspection usually relates to all the life cycle of items including the steps of design and recycling or disposal. The results of the inspection are reported to the customers and whenever law requires the inspection the results will be reported also to the relevant authorities. The definition of inspection according to ISO 17020 involves professional judgment for conformity assessment, and this concept has serious implication on the qualification of the inspectors employed by the inspection body. The range of the activity of inspection services covers a very wide human activities, such as: conformity inspection of items to defined requirements, inspection in construction sites, inspection of financial balances, inspection of elevators, fire extinguishing systems and other safety systems, inspection of education levels, inspection of geodetic measurements. It was decided that inspection body would be accredited as required by testing and calibration laboratories and certification bodies. The aim of the present work was to understand the ISO 17020 requirements and its implications, the standard uniqueness and the meaning for laboratories that previously preformed inspection within the frame of the accreditation scope for testing. In part one the study the following aspects were considered: a) The approaches for inspection at different sectors: the definitions used previously at the ISO standards, the approach of the European Union to inspection, interpretations of national bodies and the meaning of inspection in ISO 9001. The huge volume of experience gained with inspection in the different sectors served as the basis for the understanding that inspection findings and results should be interpreted relying on professional judgment, and employment of suitable professional inspectors who can cope with the examined subject. They should have the knowledge to understand the effect of deviations and be able to report the inspection results including a clear statement on conformity to defined and accepted criteria. All this accumulated experience contributed to the development of ISO 17020. b) The interpretation of the ISO 17020 requirements according to the European understanding: analysis was performed of the standard in light of the European interpretations EAL-G24. The analysis pointed at three major innovations: - Novel definition of inspection. - Novel criteria for independence of the inspection body. - Suitability of the inspection method to the inspected item. c) Comparison between the requirements from a testing laboratory and from an inspection body: up to present testing laboratories performed some of the inspection activities. Analysis of ISO 17020 articles in comparison with ISO Guide 25 (That was Replaced to ISO 17025), the requirements from laboratories, was performed. d) The differences identified by us are essential. A laboratory that used to perform both inspection and testing activities will have to be redefined as an entity that includes a laboratory and an inspection body. The laboratory shall comply with ISO 17025 and the inspection body with ISO 17020. The second part of the study: The Law for the Regulation of Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Investment Management — 1995 ("Investment Advice Law") regulates the investment advice and portfolio management industries in Israel. The law is primarily a consumer protection law, the primary of objective of which is to set industry standards of professionalism, good conduct and accountability for individuals and firms engaged in providing advisory and portfolio management services. In addition to establishing threshold requirements for entering the profession, the Law addresses issues such as mitigating conflicts-of-interest between financial intermediaries and clients, the necessity of tailoring services to the individual needs of the investor and the marketing of financial instruments to retail customers. The Law also establishes 'know-your-customer' procedures and sets clear requirements for the disclosure of service fees and for the prevention of directed brokerage activities. The Investment Advice Law regulates the licensing and supervision of investment advisors, investment product marketing agents and portfolio managers. Investment Advisor – a person engaging in providing advice to others, which pertains to the evaluation of investing, holding, acquiring or selling securities and financial assets. Investment Marketing Agent – a person engaging in investment advice that has ties to certain financial products (an advisor that is not necessarily objective). Portfolio Manager - a person engaging in discretionary execution of investment transactions on behalf of others. According to the Law, all legal persons engaged in investment advice, investment marketing or investment portfolio management in Israel and vis a vis investors in Israel must be licensed by the ISA (The Israel Securities Authority) These bodies undergo accreditation by The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) and are under its ongoing surveillance. The rules and regulations system in Israel determines how investment portfolio managers and investment portfolio marketers undergo accreditation. Only accredited person is approved to function in this sector as a consultant, marketer or a manager of an investment portfolio. The Law for Regulation of Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Investment Portfolio Management Law, 1995 and the Israel Securities Authority regulations, published from time to time, determine the regulative framework according to which these bodies have to operate. The aim of the present work was to understand and Analysis the similarity of the elements in the ISO standard for inspection bodies and the above mentioned regulative framework. Examining the model that exists in Israel for an organization that undergoes accreditation in the financial field and its’ conformity to the requirements and criteria demanded by the accreditation according to ISO. This examination enabled us to understand how the legal requirements in Israel resemble the generic ones required from bodies undergoing accreditation according to the international requirements and criteria. It is important to understand similarity of both elements because, the closer the standardization of Israel would be similar to the accepted international criteria the markets outside Israel will be open for Israeli organizations to offer their services in compliance with the international standards. The present part also offers Actual implementations of models that were developed to stand up to standards and the requirements of the law in a corporation that manages investment portfolios. These include establishment of a system including work procedures for an organization, a uniform model for characterizing clients’ needs, that neutralizes the element of “risk love” or “risk hatred” of the investment marketer or the investment portfolio manager by determining the mode of portfolio management and characterizing the client’s needs. The study focused on the professionalism and experience required from the inspectors and on the need to rely, in many cases, generic procedures. The classification scale for independence of inspection bodies introduced in ISO 17020 exceeds by far on the one used in previous published ISO standards.

Author: Gudmund Hernes
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Accreditation (Education)
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Book Description
Higher education systems throughout the world in developed and developing countries are undergoing diverse types of changes that are often interrelated. One of these changes is the considerable growth in the private provision of higher education over the last decade, in particular within developing countries. The IIEP Policy Forum identified the most recent trends and findings of trade in higher education and by discussing the international driving forces that push national governments to establish quality assurance systems for their higher education institutions and programmes.

Author: Congressional Research Service
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781545197226
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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There are three general types of accrediting agencies, each of which serves a specific purpose. Regional accrediting agencies operate in six regions of the United States and concentrate their reviews on IHEs within specific regions of the country. National accrediting agencies operate across the United States and review institutions with a common theme (e.g., religiously affiliated institutions). Finally, programmatic accrediting agencies operate nationwide and review programs and single-purpose institutions. The accreditation process is voluntary and must be requested by educational institutions or programs. While accrediting agencies' review processes are guided, in part, by federal requirements, specific procedures for reviews are adopted by the individual agencies and vary among them. In general, however, the review process begins with an institutional self-assessment, then an institution is reviewed by an outside team of peers primarily composed of higher education faculty and practitioners, and finally, a comprehensive report is submitted by the team of peers to the accrediting agency, which then makes an accreditation determination. Although the federal government relies on accrediting agencies to evaluate the quality of education offered at IHEs, the HEA and ED regulations provide a variety of requirements that accrediting agencies must meet to be recognized by ED. Key provisions require that accrediting agencies meet general membership requirements (e.g., agencies must have a voluntary membership of IHEs); consistently apply and enforce standards that ensure the education programs, training, or courses of study offered are of sufficient quality to meet the stated objective for which they are offered; use review standards that assess student achievement in relation to the institution's mission, including, as applicable, course completion, passage of state licensing examinations, and job placement rates; evaluate, among other considerations, an institution's or program's curricula, faculty, facilities, and fiscal and administrative capacity; and meet due process requirements with respect to the institutions and programs they accredit.

Author: Stefanie Schwarz
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402027966
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 496

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Book Description
This volume presents a rich account of the development of accreditation and evaluation in 20 European countries. It shows how accreditation is becoming a main mechanism in the steering of higher education across Europe. The book is unique in its analysis of forces driving towards the spread of different models of accreditation in the emerging European Higher Education area.

Author: Magd, Hesham
Publisher: IGI Global
ISBN: 1799880877
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 378

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Book Description
Quality accreditation in higher education institutions (HEIs) is currently a buzzword. The need to maintain high-quality education standards is a critical requirement for HEIs to remain competitive in the market and for government and regulatory bodies to ensure the quality standards of programs offered. From being an implicit requirement that is internally addressed, quality assurance activities become an explicit requirement that is regularly audited and appraised by national and international accreditation agencies. HEIs are voluntarily integrating quality management systems (QMS), institutional and program-specific, in response to the political and competitive environment in which it exists. Through its higher education department or by creating non-profitable accreditation bodies, many governments have implemented a quality framework for licensing HEIs and invigilates its adherence based on which accreditation statuses are granted for HEIs. Global Perspectives on Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education Institutions provides a comprehensive framework for HEIs to address quality assurance and quality accreditation requirements and serves as a practical tool to develop and deploy well-defined quality management systems in higher education. The book focuses on the critical aspects of quality assurance; the need to develop a concise and agile vision, mission, values, and graduate attributes; and to develop a system that effectively aligns the various activities of the HEI to the attainment of the strategic priorities listed in the institutional plans. The chapters each cover the various facets of the quality assurance framework and accreditation agencies' requirements with practical examples of each. This book is useful for HEI administrators, quality assurance specialists in HEIs, heads of academic departments, internal auditors, external auditors, and other practitioners of quality, along with stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in quality assurance and accreditation in higher education.

Author: Jane Clifford O'Brien
Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences
ISBN: 0323508812
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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- NEW content on OT theory and practice includes the latest updates to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and OT Code of Ethics. - New coverage of the role of certified Occupational Therapy Assistants shows where OTAs are employed, what licensure requirements they must meet, and how they fit into the scope of OT practice. - NEW chapter on cultural competence provides the tools you need to work with culturally diverse clients in today's healthcare environment, and includes case studies with examples of cultural competence and its impact on the practice of OT. - NEW Centennial Vision commentary provides a 'big picture' view of today's occupational therapy, and shows how OT is becoming a powerful, widely recognized, science-driven, and evidence-based profession as it reaches the age of 100.

Author: Pedro Matos
Publisher: CFA Institute Research Foundation
ISBN: 1944960988
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
This survey examines the vibrant academic literature on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. While there is no consensus on the exact list of ESG issues, responsible investors increasingly assess stocks in their portfolios based on nonfinancial data on environmental impact (e.g., carbon emissions), social impact (e.g., employee satisfaction), and governance attributes (e.g., board structure). The objective is to reduce exposure to investments that pose greater ESG risks or to influence companies to become more sustainable. One active area of research at present involves assessing portfolio risk exposure to climate change. This literature review focuses on institutional investors, which have grown in importance such that they have now become the largest holders of shares in public companies globally. Historically, institutional investors tended to concentrate their ESG efforts mostly on corporate governance (the “G” in ESG). These efforts included seeking to eliminate provisions that restrict shareholder rights and enhance managerial power, such as staggered boards, supermajority rules, golden parachutes, and poison pills. Highlights from this section: · There is no consensus on the exact list of ESG issues and their materiality. · The ESG issue that gets the most attention from institutional investors is climate change, in particular their portfolio companies’ exposure to carbon risk and “stranded assets.” · Investors should be positioning themselves for increased regulation, with the regulatory agenda being more ambitious in the European Union than in the United States. Readers might come away from this survey skeptical about the potential for ESG investing to affect positive change. I prefer to characterize the current state of the literature as having a “healthy dose of skepticism,” with much more remaining to be explored. Here, I hope the reader comes away with a call to action. For the industry practitioner, I believe that the investment industry should strive to achieve positive societal goals. CFA Institute provides an exemplary case in its Future of Finance series (www.cfainstitute.org/research/future-finance). For the academic community, I suggest we ramp up research aimed at tackling some of the open questions around the pressing societal goals of ESG investing. I am optimistic that practitioners and academics will identify meaningful ways to better harness the power of global financial markets for addressing the pressing ESG issues facing our society.

Author: Sathiyaseelan, Anuradha
Publisher: IGI Global
ISBN: 1668497794
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 346

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Book Description
Global Applications of Indian Psychology: Therapeutic and Strategic Models addresses the critical problem of the limited perspective in traditional Western psychology, which fails to encompass crucial aspects of human experience and well-being in our complex modern world. Edited by Anuradha Sathiyaseelan and Sathiyaseelan Balasundaram from Christ University, India, this comprehensive guide offers an interdisciplinary exploration of Indian psychology as a solution to this challenge. Delving into the historical and philosophical foundations of Indian psychology, the book provides readers with a profound understanding of its principles and theories. It highlights the wide-ranging applications of Indian psychology across disciplines such as management, health, and clinical practices, emphasizing the significance of ancient Indian texts, ayurveda, yoga, and mindfulness meditation. By facilitating cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration, this book bridges the gap between Indian and Western psychology, equipping researchers, and practitioners with insights from both traditions. This comprehensive approach fosters a more comprehensive understanding of human psychology and empowers individuals to develop effective strategies for promoting well-being and flourishing on a global scale. With its unique perspective and practical insights, Global Applications of Indian Psychology: Therapeutic and Strategic Models fills a crucial gap in the field, catering to teaching professionals, students, healthcare experts, policymakers, researchers, and scholars in their pursuit of a deeper understanding of human psychology and its application in improving lives worldwide.