Australian Correspondence School (ACS)
 

THE SCHOOL

Established in 1979, ACS Distance Education is a leading Australian Distance Education provider which offers over 350 courses via Correspondence, online or on CDs. The Institution has offices in Australia, United Kingdom and is operated through Affiliates in the United States. Its head office is located on the Gold coast.

ACS has educated thousands of full and part-time students, many of whom have gone onto successful employment, both in industry or in their own businesses. Others have used their courses to develop a hobby, or simply broaden their general education. We currently have over 3000 students enrolled from Australia and around the world. The school employs staff in 3 states of Australia, plus the U.K., U.S.A and New Zealand. As such our courses and service have a truly global focus. Courses have been developed with strong industry input from around the world and are continually updated on the basis of surveys undertaken by both current students and graduates every month of the year.

The school holds high the ideals of practical education, emphasising in all courses those things which are relevant to "real life". Courses offered cater for hobby interest through to formal training in industry and the professions.

Education Philosophy

We believe that by providing a different education to mainsatream vocational colleges and universities, we are able to differentiate our graduates and give them real life advantages over graduates from more traditional institutions.
These differences however must be (and are) persued without compromising academic excellence in any way whatsoever.
In principle we tend to favour experiential learning and problem based learning rather than CBT (Competency Based Training).
We believe learning is more important than assessment. For us, assessment should be provided more to enhance the learning experience, and less to rank students,

More Than a School

The school and its tutors have always been active in industry. We believe strongly that maintaining an awareness of current information and trends enables us to keep our course notes and services to students up to date and relevant. When you study with this school you are learning from people who are doing what you are studying on a daily basis.

Staff come from varied backgrounds: with both teaching and hands on vocational experience (including ex university, vocational college and training staff; research academics, etc). Courses cover e learning or traditional studies; flexible education options for career (jobs), self improvement, professional development, life skills or general adult education.

 

ACS has been established since 1979, and has established a high level of respect in academic circles within a range of disciplines, in the UK, Australia and beyond. Staff include world renowned academics from several countries, and it maintains active partnerships with respected institutions in several countries including Ireland, Australia and India.

 
The school’s credentials are varied, and include:

ACS is recognised by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (IARC). Most ACS courses (certificate and higher) are accredited by IARC.

  • ACS is CYQ Centre Approved (centre code ACS523) with the YMCA in the UK
  • Accredited Training Centre with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers.

 

  • Selected courses have been registered under the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) through the UK Department of Defense (Provider Ref. No. 1853)     

              

  • ACS is accredited by the Accreditation Board of the Maldives

 

  • ACS is a member of the Institute of Horticulture (UK) Careers Advisory Board.

 

  • ACS conducts RHS qualifications (Certificate II to M.Hort qualifications are awarded by the RHS after passing RHS conducted examinations. These awards include ones accredited through the Qualifications Curriculum Authority).

 

  • College Member of Complementary Medicine Assoc. assessed to teach a range of areas incl. Counselling, Nutrition, Natural Therapies

 

  • ACS conducts a Diploma in Psychology and Counselling formally recognized through the Australian Counselling Association.

 

  • Selected Health Science courses articulate into diploma and degree level qualifications –both at government recognized Australian institutions and at World Health Organisation recognized institutions in the Caribbean.

 

  • Member of ACS Global Partners Network -committed to Ethical Education

ACS and it’s staff are members of many UK and overseas Industry bodies, including:

British Institute for Learning and Development

Gold Coast Education Network (foundation member)

Australian Council of Private Education and Training

(foundation Member)

Complimentary Medicine Association (UK)

Institute of Horticulture

Australian Nursery Industry Association

International Herb Association

Association for Coaching (UK) Organisational Member  (OMAC)

 

Articulation Arrangements

ACS has established articulation and partnerships with various other highly credible institutions. Through these formal arrangements graduates may obtain various types of formal recognition and accreditation for studies undertaken through ACS; and advance standing in selected courses at vocational or higher education levels that directly or indirectly are accredited through various industry or government bodies in a range of countries.

These articulation arrangements are varied from course to course and can be investigated in more specific detail by contacting the school.

Example: Graduates in the ACS foundation diploma in Natural health are afforded significant credits/advance standing in a range of Australian accredited Advanced Diplomas offered through Health Schools Australia.


 

 Professional & Industry Associations

Joining a Professional or Industry organization is a very real way of benefiting your career.

How memberships may benefit you:

  • Provides additional credentials (Often membership is only open to people who meet certain criteria such as an approved qualification and or certain)
  • Often allows you to put additional letters after your name
  • Provides networking opportunities
  • Provides business opportunities
  • Gives you a say in development of an industry (eg. Such bodies are often given opportunities to input into government)
  • Information or advisory services

Note: Every organization has its own distinct purpose and mix of services that are provided to the membership. Some are geared to support their members businesses more than others. Others may focus more strongly on professional development opportunities

A range of professional bodies accept ACS students (from appropriate courses) as members.

ACS encourages students to join and become active (where relevant) with the following organizations.

 

British Learning Association

british learning
Nursery and Garden Industry Association nursery affiliation
Institute of Horticulture

http://www.horticulture.org.uk/

Download the Application form

Parks & Leisure Australia - http://www.parks-leisure.com.au/
Australian Counselling Association - Diploma of counselling and Psychology offered by ACS is accredited by ACA http://www.theaca.net.au/ counselling
International Herb Association http://www.iherb.org/

Institute of Certified Bookkeepers  - www.icb.org.au

ACS Distance Education has been recognised as an Accredited training centre by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. So students who do the bookkeeping course with us can become members of this highly respected organisation

  
Alternative Technology Association  http://www.ata.org.au/

Complementary Medicine Association ACS is now a member of the Complementary Medicine Association (CMA) in the UK

http://www.the-cma.org.uk/