This review occurs in the pre-application stage and ensures that a program/institution is well prepared and situated for the eventual PEQAB review, before the institution invests the time and resources to submit the full and formal application to the Minister.

Any institution that is

a) considering applying for ministerial consent or

b) in the process of preparing a consent application can request a pre-application review by PEQAB.

In both cases, the Readiness Review is voluntary and meant as a non-binding guide. The review is neither comprehensive nor consultative; it is a cursory review solely based on the information provided. No subject-matter experts will be involved in conducting the Readiness Review. Any PEQAB feedback and recommendations provided through the Pre-application Review will, therefore, focus on the completeness and coherence of an application and whether formal standards appear to be appropriately addressed.The detailed content review of the institution or study program remains the task of External Expert Review Panels (EERP) and the Readiness Review cannot predict an EERP’s findings or final Board recommendation.

There are no costs attached to this Readiness Review. PEQAB recommends to any institution or program seeking initial consent to avail themselves of this free service. If you are not sure whether your institution may benefit from a Readiness Review, please contact [email protected].

Inquiring about a Readiness Review

An institution sends an email to the CEO of PEQAB requesting a Readiness Review ([email protected]). The email appends a) an overview of the planned application for Ministerial consent* or b) the draft application.

Potential applicants still considering whether to submit a consent application (i.e. type ) are invited to submit detailed information about their planned application for Ministerial consent. This information would normally include

• a brief history and overview of the institution
• an overview of the administration and governance
• an outline of the current and planned program offerings
• the human, financial, technical, facilities, and other resources necessary to carry out the planned activities
• if the institution is accredited by another recognized agency or accreditor, the agency’s or accreditor’s most recent accreditation action or review report and any other relevant correspondence.
  

Readiness Review

Once a Readiness Review has been requested and the review documentation has been submitted, the PEQAB Secretariat will conduct a review to

• determine the completeness and coherence of the application
• determine whether PEQAB’s formal standards appear are appropriately addressed
• identify potential shortcomings in meeting PEQAB criteria.

After receipt of the Pre-Application Review documentation, PEQAB will conduct the review and submit a brief report to the institution within 20 business days.

Outcomes

Your program/institution may receive one of four non-binding recommendations as the outcome of a Readiness Review:

• Submit ‘as is’: The application appears complete and the PEQAB Secretariat has not found any potential shortcomings in meeting the PEQAB criteria.
• Submit with minor changes: The application is mostly complete and PEQAB has found only a few potential minor shortcomings in meeting the PEQAB criteria.**
• Postpone: The draft application displays one or more apparent major weaknesses*** and it is recommended to postpone submitting the application until certain changes in the documentation, the program and/or the institution are made.
• Do not submit: The draft application displays several apparent major weaknesses*** that may require significant amounts of time to address and that may lead to a recommendation to deny consent.

It is up to the institution to take the Readiness Review recommendations into consideration and decide the best path forward for the institution or (proposed) program. Readiness Review recommendations have no influence on whether the Minister will refer an application to PEQAB and are not determinative of any later PEQAB review. Readiness reports are kept confidential from any appointed External Expert Review Panel.

Notes

* The more information provided the more the comprehensive and suggestive the readiness review report will be.

** Minor revisions are those that can be implemented without significant time or resources, and the institution would appear to have the capacity to implement them.

*** Major revisions are those that would take significant time and/or resources to rectify, and/or should be addressed.