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The Quality of the FERIENBÖRSE
The
Quality criteria for the youth travel and youth mobility offers from
the FERIENBÖRSE |
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Our offers should
make up the greatest time of your life. That's the reason
why the legal representative of the vacancy bourse for
everybody from 6 to 26 (FERIENBÖRSE
für alle von 6 bis 26) the
registered non profit independent youth aid provider
Understanding by encountering (Völkerverständigung durch
Begegnung), just works together with special tour
operators that attach
great importance to the quality of support, lodging and
the whole program. The offer is going to be an
unforgettable experience if everything is alright for the
client. Quality, service and innovation are the most
important basics. The grade of the quality shapes the
future of attended children and youth travels. |
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How can
we guarantee that?
Each tour operator is (a
non profit
independent) youth aid provider,
and/or the
tour operator emphasize the
compliance with special norms, like EN, DIN or RAL, laws, and/or the
tour operator work together with a quality organization which rules quality criteria,
quality standards or guide lines to the members and
partners. |
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Here is an
overview about the quality organizations: |
from a to z |
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international:
national:
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international: |
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bits bureau international du tourisme social |
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The International Bureau for Social Tourism forms a
meeting place for all who aim to develop and promote a
human and social vision of tourism. BITS is open to
private bodies, associations, trade unions, co-operatives,
governments, local or regional authorities and companies
who share this objective. BundesForum Kinder- und
Jugendreisen e.V. as a member of bits, the
FIYTO Federation of International Youth
Travel Organizations, also a member of bits, and bits
themselves cooperate in
representing the needs of young travellers at
international level for example at youth mobility seminars
and conferences. |
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CSIET
Council on Standards for International Educational Travel |
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The duty of CSIET is finding legitimate international
youth exchange programs, and of course informing
prospective clients about those meaningful and reliable
international exchange programs. This process should give
young people the possibility to participate at interesting
exchanges. Furthermore is CSIET committed to importance
and educational values of the youth exchange and bids for
participation. The quality standards of CSIET apply for
commercial and non-profit providers, programs that last
for a long time as well as short time programs, family
stays and travels for pupils from the USA leaving the
county as well as foreign pupils visiting the USA. A
special member of CSIET is the DFH (Deutscher
Fachverband High School e.V.) - the so-called
German High School Association. |
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eurodesk |
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This organization is an
European information network with
national agencies in 27 countries (e.g.
Germany) and furthermore about
600 regional service points. This network tries to aim a
more facilitative access to Europe for youth workers and
of course the youth itself. Multifaceted pieces of
information about youth, education, apprenticeship,
mobility and so on shall help to benefit from an accreted
Europe with all its chances and possibilities of
cross-border activities. On eurodesk materials e.g. the
Flying Oranges and the leaflet
International Meetings for young people Germany are only
those organizations mentioned that operate within the
international youth work since years. FERIENBöRSE is
one relay of eurodesk. |
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EaIE European Association for International Education |
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The EAIE is a non-profit organisation whose
main aim is the stimulation and facilitation of the
internationalisation of higher education in Europe and
around the world, and to meet the professional needs of
individuals active in international education. The EAIE is a member-led organisation made
up of individual members. It has a committed membership of
more than 1600 international education professionals -
from rectors to professors to international exchange
coordinators. The EAIE is dedicated to serving and
representing this membership.
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EAQUALS European Association for Quality Language Services |
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At least
every 3 years checks EAQUALS its members. Thereby every
statements of the constitution and of the code have to be
checked by strict inspections. The membership is just
accepted if the school is able to show the fulfillment of
each guaranties. The executive of EAQUALS and the
secretary provide independent and professional ways for
persecution of each complain to the schools. The student
constitution describes any kind of services, a student of
an EAQUAL-accepted school can rely on. This services
include e.g. well educated teachers, interesting lessons,
clearly defined system of teaching and learning, correct
and significant tests that check the learning, qualified
locations and devices, efficient lodging facilities, and
of course the well-being of the participant. The
constitution of information guarantees accurate and
complete indications. |
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European Norm EN 14804 |
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The European
Norm DIN EN 14804 is addressed to suppliers, including
language schools and travel agents, as well as the client
itself. It should help to find out the right offer under
thousands of language schools and afford an exclusive
travel and program course that lives up to expectations.
DIN EN 14804 shows a scale of qualities for language
courses abroad and therefore also for all services e.g.
lodging, support and leisure programs. All those
requirements of the norm refer to following aspects:
pieces of information before the conclusion of the
contract, lodging, support of underage, team leader,
syllabus of instruction, class, teaching staff and
management. EN 14804 is going to be one of the most
important identification of quality for organizers of
language travels. |
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FIYTO
Federation of International Youth Travel
Organisations |
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FIYTO is the only union of different suppliers and
organizations specialized on youth travels and youth
tourism. Members of this organization are GWEA (Global
Work Experience Association) and IAPA (International Au
Pair Association). Duty of FIYTO is encouraging youth
mobility and saving the identity of youth travels. FIYTO
stands for democracy, freedom, human rights and
environment protection. Propaganda because of political or
religious reasons is strictly forbidden as well as
discrimination because of a difference of the ethnic
group, race, sex or religion. This federation tries to
encourage educational, cultural and social tourism between
young people. FIYTO is a member of bits. |
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In Deutschland: |
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AG Arbeitsgemeinschaft Junges Land für junge Leute
McPom.com |
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McPom.com (Arbeitsgemeinschaft
Junges Land für Junge Leute - working group young country
for young people) introduced obliging quality standards
for lodgings that offer children and youth overnight
stays. This standards shall act as orientation for the
guest and make choices easier. Each mentioned facility
takes part at the quality management for children and
youth travels in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, visible
because of the QMJ pictogram. All over Germany there is
the possibility for lodgings to apply for a quality seal
and a classification up to 5 stars. Therefore it is
necessary to certificate special courses of instruction
and checks. For passing this quality seal there are strict
quality controls arranged by independent examinants.
McPom.com is one partner of the
BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen e.V. (German Federal
forum of children and youth travels incorporated society). |
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aja Arbeitskreis (gemeinnütziger)
Jugendaustauschorganisationen |
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Each member
of aja (working party of non-profit youth exchange
organizations) has to follow documented guidelines and
standards that have to fulfill special criteria e.g. the
choice is based on written documents and the personal
impression of the applicant that are made by complimentary
staff members of those organizations with the help of
group or one-on-one interviews. Appreciation of importance
of the interest in intercultural exchanges, disposition
and ability to collect new and foreign experiences,
handling of new impressions and experiences, adequate
behavior in a group and personal maturity are very
important for the decision in aid of choice. aja is a
member of
IJAB (Internationaler Jugendaustausch- und
Besucherdienst der Bundesrepublik Deutschland e.V. –
international youth exchange and visitors service of the
Federal Republic of Germany incorporated society). |
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BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen e.V. |
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Before the foundation of the German
Federal Forum for
child- and youth travel the first version of
guide lines
was published with the knowledge of the bmfsfj
bmfsfj Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen
und Jugend (Federal ministry for families, seniors,
women and youth) in dependence of the guide lines for the
acceptance of independent youth aid providers. Furthermore
in November 2003 the association decided
quality criteria
for children and youth travels. Both documents must be
fulfilled by all members and partners of the BundesForum
Kinder- und Jugendreisen e.V. Amongst others BundesForum
is a member of
UNWTO United Nations World Tourism Organization
(Madrid),
bits
bureau international du tourisme social (Brussels) and
the working group youth welfare service
agj
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Jugendhilfe (Berlin). |
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Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung
Jugendaktion GUT DRAUF |
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The
BZgA
Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (Federal
centre for health education) created scientifically
established in cooperation with experts and co-operation
partners the youth campaign GUT DRAUF, an integrated
education concept. Healthy offers for youth travels, that
amuse and integrate a healthy behavior into a teenagers
everyday life, should be made for important spheres like
leisure, school, sports club and travels. GUT DRAUF is
addressed to staff members of youth. The main aim is
qualifying each member of educational work e.g. youth
workers, educators, teachers, chaperones, entertainer,
educators for PE and so on, to realize all GUT DRAUF–offers.
The coordination place for GUT DRAUF is
BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen e.V.
(Federal
forum of children and youth travels incorporated society)
member
transfer e.V. |
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DFH Deutscher Fachverband High School e.V. |
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The DFH (German High School Association) is a federation
of exchange organizations and tour operators of
international high school years with the aim of saving
quality. All members of DFH are committed to compliance of
the strict guide lines during the compliance of their
programs and production of catalogues. Those catalogues
and the activities of all organizations that are members
of DFH are checked regularly by independent association
committees. The
guidebook of DFH contains many pieces of information
about guest school years, pupil exchanges, host families,
partner organizations, application, visa and so on. Each
year a scholarship for a high school year is posted by DFH
to one association member. DFH is a member of
CSIET (Council on Standards for
International Educational Travel). |
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FDSV
Fachverband Deutscher Sprachreise-Veranstalter e.V. |
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The FDSV (German Association of language travels
organizers incorporated society) decided
guide lines that all
members have to fulfill. In addition there was launched a
system of quality controls since more than 20 years.
Offers and catalogues of FDSV members are checked
regularly by the scientific advisory committee of FDSV
itself and the offers are examined locally as well. The
advisory committee is independent and is just committed to
the guide lines of quality of FDSV. The availability of an
independent advisory committee as an critical, quality
saving instance inside of the language travel sector, is
unique all over the world. One of the most efficient
mediums are the quality controls made by external experts
that means a neutral survey of the range of products. FDSV
is a member of the
BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen e.V. (Federal
forum of children and youth travels incorporated society). |
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IJAB Internationaler Jugendaustausch- und Besucherdienst
der
Bundesrepublik Deutschland e.V. |
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The
International Youth Exchange and Visitors' Service of the
Federal Republic of Germany (IJAB) was founded in 1967
with the support of representatives of central youth
organizations and agencies involved in youth work.
Following a resolution passed by the German parliament
Bundestag, it was set up by the former Federal Minister
for Family and Youth (now Federal Minister for Family
Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth). In 1971 it
received the legal status of a registered association.
IJAB is the central specialist agency for international
youth policy, youth work and youth information and acts on
behalf of the
Federal
Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and
Youth, its
member associations and other central bodies
responsible for youth work. Its task is to promote
international youth work, cooperation in the field of
youth policy, mutual understanding between young people
from different countries and cultural backgrounds, the
consolidation of relationships and the overcoming of
prejudice.
In order to
meet these demands, IJAB carries out qualified exchange
programmes for professionals within the framework of the
bi- and multilateral relations of the Federal Republic of
Germany. It also actively provides advice and information
and is involved in further education and vocational
training jointly organized by several bodies and
organizations. Only
special chosen organizations that work since several
years in the field international youth work are mentioned
at the
leaflet International meetings for young people Germany.
The organizations are often
member associations of the IJAB and the
BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen e.V. (Federal
forum for child- and youth travel). |
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Gütegemeinschaft Au-pair e.V. |
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The Gütegemeinschaft Au pair is the German Association
aiming to guarantee the quality of home stays under an au
pair scheme.
All Agencies
with RAL Quality Seal can guarantee: Information material,
counselling and placement are free of charge for incoming
au pairs.
Here you can
download a
flyer about the Gütegemeinschaft in English (342 KB,
pdf). The Association aims to secure a high standard of
provision and care for au pair jobs through inspection and
grading under the recognized RAL Quality Seal procedure.
Compliance with the provisions relating to quality and
inspection is monitored by a board of inspection bound to
neutrality. Gütegemeinschaft guarantees the consumer
clearly definded
Quality Standards in English (47 KB, pdf). Compliance
with these standards is marked with the
RAL Quality Seal (RAL-Gütezeichen Au pair).
The chapter
on
Agencies with the RAL Quality Seal (Agenturen mit
Gütezeichen) shows the addresses of the agencies that
offer transparent and quality assured conditions for
preparation, placement and guidance for both, host
families and au pairs. You can also download the
Flyer with all Addresses of Agencies (236 KB, pdf).
Under
the item
Association aiming to guarantee the quality of home stays
under an au pair scheme (Gütegemeinschaft Au pair) information
about the structure of the Association:
the rules,
the quality standards,
the committee,
the quality committee,
some information about RAL and
the official RAL-Quality Seal. |
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Quifd - Qualität in
Freiwilligendiensten |
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Quifd (Quality
of volunteer services) appraises volunteer
organizations depending on several criteria e.g.
professional instruction, selection procedure,
organization and personal attendance. The aim of this
quality mark is keeping transparency and comparability
between all volunteer organizations. Potential volunteers
shall obtain the safeguard to corporate with a
certificated and quality saved society. Quifd is an
initiative of the Robert Bosch beneficence (Robert Bosch Stiftung)
and of the Development association for youth and social
work (Fördervereins für Jugend und Sozialarbeit)
Berlin. |
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QuiK Qualität in internationalen
Kontexten |
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The project
QuiK (Quality in international contexts) is encouraged by
Federal
Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and
Youth and is settled at the
International Youth Exchange and Visitors' Service of the
Federal Republic of Germany. It shall serve for a
higher importance of the development of quality criteria
and standards and also encourage institutions with their
work. Results are e.g. the
proof of competence and the RAL quality mark Au
Pair.
Flyer,
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TÜV Technischer Überwachungsverein |
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The
certificate TÜV–checked school and youth trips (TÜV means
Technical Control Association) shall make the choice of
providers easier for teachers, parents and pupils. At the
same time safety and quality standards should be given by
the providers during the preparation, the organization and
accomplishment as well as during the stay. Each organizer
and provider have the possibility to gain the certificate
by personnel and technical equipment in case of
fulfillment of the quality criteria. The test procedure is
arranged by PersCert TÜV, sector staff certification of
the TÜV academy limited company. |
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