IFEIA separates the people who gather and examine evidence from the people who decide, and separates both from the people who hear appeals. The roles below are described by function. Individuals are not named on this page.
| Body | Function | Safeguard |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation Committee | Takes accreditation decisions against the published standards and records the reasons. | Members declare conflicts of interest and withdraw from any decision in which they have one. |
| Secretariat | Receives inquiries and applications, maintains the registry, issues certificates and runs annual monitoring. | Administers the process; does not decide outcomes. |
| Independent reviewers | Examine the evidence for each application and report against the seven framework axes. | Appointed per review, with no interest in the applicant. |
| Appeals panel | Hears appeals against decisions and complaints about process. | Separate from the Committee members who took the original decision. |
Decision-making
The Committee decides on the reviewers' report, the institution's own self-assessment and its supporting evidence. A decision states its reasons, the scope and level covered, the effective date and the monitoring conditions, if any. The decision is entered in the public registry.
Conflicts of interest
Anyone taking part in a review or decision declares any financial, professional or personal interest in the applicant. Where an interest exists, that person takes no part. The full rules are in the Conflict of Interest policy.