Legal Policies
Effective date 01 April 2025
Last Updated 15 September 2026
1. Identity and legal information - Education Quality Standards Consortium, known as EQSC, is a business brand. EQSC Global is the public brand presentation used on eqscglobal.com. The brand is owned and operated by HERA LLC in the USA, and operated through Ivy InnovatEd in England and Wales, and HERA India in India. EQSC is not a separate incorporated legal person merely because it is described as a consortium.
In a service agreement, we, us and our mean the legal entity named as the supplier in that agreement. The client means the person or institution named as the purchaser. The supplier is responsible for its own contractual obligations. The other operating entity is not automatically a party, guarantor or jointly liable supplier unless the agreement expressly states otherwise.
Correspondence address: EQSC, 500 8th Avenue FRNT 3 #1826, Manhattan, NY 10018, United States.
Website: eqscglobal.com. Legal enquiries: legal@eqscglobal.com. General enquiries: enquiries@eqscglobal.com.
2 . Scope of these terms - These terms apply when incorporated into an EQSC membership agreement, Recognition Pathway Agreement, assessment engagement, report licence, research commission, consultancy contract or institutional project agreement. They do not create a paid service contract simply because a person visits the website or sends an enquiry. The Terms of Use govern website access. The Privacy Policy explains personal data processing.
The Cookie Policy explains device storage and access technologies. Recognition also follows the agreed framework version, pathway rules and mark licence. A privacy notice is not a substitute for an information processing agreement where one is required. Where documents conflict, mandatory law prevails. Next, expressly agreed special conditions and the signed scope of work prevail over these general service terms. Recognition decisions remain subject to the applicable published recognition rules; commercial special conditions cannot guarantee a positive decision or waive essential eligibility requirements.
3. Forming an agreement - A contract is formed when the supplier issues a written acceptance of the agreed proposal, order or signed agreement. A quotation or acknowledgement of an enquiry is not, by itself, acceptance. Before acceptance, the client receives the supplier's legal identity, service description, fees, applicable taxes, payment stages and relevant cancellation information. The client representative confirms that they have authority to bind the institution. Changes to scope, dates, outputs or fees require written agreement by authorised representatives. Emails may evidence agreement where the parties clearly identify the terms accepted and the people accepting them.
4. Service standards and responsibilities - We provide the agreed services with reasonable care and skill, using appropriately qualified people. Deliverables, methods, access requirements and exclusions are recorded in the agreement. Advice supports the client's decisions; the client remains responsible for implementing recommendations and meeting its legal obligations. The client provides accurate, complete and lawfully obtained information, access to the agreed records and people, and a designated contact. It identifies material limitations, regulatory action and changes to the scope. The client must not falsify evidence, coach respondents to give prescribed answers or retaliate against participants who speak honestly. If information is incomplete or access is delayed, we explain the effect on the work and agree a revised timetable or scope where possible. We may pause work that cannot reasonably be performed without essential evidence. A pause does not turn missing evidence into a positive finding.
5. Recognition services - EQSC accreditation and certification are voluntary private recognitions under the Nine Dimension Framework. They do not award degrees, approve qualifications or replace statutory permission, affiliation or regulatory accreditation in any country. Membership is required to enter the Recognition Pathway but does not confer accreditation, certification, priority or a favourable grade. Fees pay for the stage undertaken and remain outcome neutral. Consultancy, sponsorship or a confidential assessment cannot purchase a recognition result. The agreement names the assessed scope, locations, qualification level, delivery mode, framework version and route. Recognition applies only to the scope in the final decision and public register. A panel recommendation or draft report is not an award. A mark may be used only after a successful decision is recorded and the licence is issued. The institution accepts Accuracy Check, annual assurance, material change reporting, renewal and proportionate suspension or withdrawal arrangements. Recognition does not automatically transfer to a changed owner, campus, delivery mode or programme. The supplier cannot contractually override an independent committee to provide a desired outcome.
6. Fees and payment - Fees and currency are specified in the agreement or published schedule accepted with it. Applicable taxes, travel, accommodation and additional expenses are identified before commitment. The pathway fee (as agreed during the course of contract/agreement) applies to members pursuing the same route and scope category. Stage fees become payable as the agreed stage begins. Unstarted later stages are not automatically payable. A negative recognition decision does not, by itself, entitle the client to a refund because the contracted review work has been performed. This does not remove rights for an undelivered service, breach of contract or a remedy required by law. Payments may be disputed in good faith with reasons and supporting information. The parties seek to resolve the dispute promptly; undisputed sums remain payable. Service suspension for non payment follows reasonable notice unless the agreement or mandatory law requires another process.
7. Cancellation and rescheduling - A client may cancel by written notice. For a business engagement, any amount retained must reflect work completed and reasonable, evidenced commitments that cannot be recovered, subject to the agreed cancellation schedule and applicable law. We take reasonable steps to reduce avoidable costs. Refundable prepaid amounts for unperformed work are returned after the account is reconciled. If we cancel a stage and cannot offer an acceptable replacement arrangement, we refund the prepaid fee for the unperformed portion. Rescheduling, travel costs and any agreed additional work are documented rather than treated as an automatic penalty. Stage specific cancellation and rescheduling, subscription cancellation fee applies and eligible for partial refund if agreed during signing of the contract/agreement. However, there applies a partial nonrefundable fee. Where a purchaser is legally a consumer, applicable cancellation rights and service remedies remain in force. For a qualifying UK/US/India distance service contract, the usual statutory cancellation period is 14 days from contract formation, subject to the applicable rules. Starting work during that period requires the consumer's express request; proportionate charges or loss of the cancellation right apply only where the legal conditions and required acknowledgements are satisfied. Digital content requires its own compliant supply consent and acknowledgement where relevant.
8. Membership and licences - Membership runs for the period in the accepted offer. Benefits, eligible users, campuses and renewal arrangements are specified there. Automatic renewal or recurring payment requires express agreement. Subscription access, a directory listing and the membership mark do not constitute a finding about educational quality.
Report and resource licences identify permitted users and uses. Unless expressly agreed, a licence does not permit commercial redistribution, resale, sublicensing or publication of the full material. The Intellectual Property and Copyright Policy applies, together with mandatory copyright exceptions.
9. Consultancy and commissioned research - Each project identifies its questions, methods, deliverables, milestones, fees and intended use. Recommendations depend on the data and conditions described in the output. No improvement, funding, admission, placement or regulatory result is guaranteed unless a specific lawful obligation is expressly agreed. The commissioner may verify factual descriptions. EQSC retains methodological and analytical independence for work presented as independent research. A commissioner cannot require a misleading conclusion or selective publication that distorts the result. Published funded outputs identify the funder. Confidential projects are not published without the agreed permission or a legal requirement. Deliverable acceptance criteria and a review period are agreed in the statement of work. A reasoned objection identifies the unmet criterion. Reasonable corrections within the original scope are addressed; additional work requires agreement. Silence does not waive a mandatory legal right.
10. Confidential information - Each party protects information marked confidential or reasonably understood to be confidential, uses it only for the agreed purpose and shares it only with people who need it and are bound by suitable obligations. This duty does not prevent disclosure of information already lawfully public, independently developed or lawfully received without restriction. Legally required disclosures are limited to what is necessary; the other party is notified where permitted. Approved public register entries, funding disclosures and agreed public outputs are not confidential merely because the engagement concerns an institution. Confidentiality continues after an agreement ends while the information remains confidential. Personal data is handled under applicable law and the agreed roles. Neither party may treat a confidentiality clause as permission to obstruct a regulator or prevent a protected disclosure.
11. Personal data and research participants - Each party identifies whether it acts as controller, processor or another legally recognised role for the relevant activity. A separate data processing agreement is completed where required. An institution's permission to share records does not automatically supply the legal basis for every use of an individual's data. Only information needed for the purpose is shared. Student work and personal records should be anonymised or redacted wherever the review allows. Participant information and any required consent are provided before collection. Public reports do not identify respondents without a specific lawful basis and the permissions promised to them.
12. Intellectual property - The client retains rights in its pre existing records and data. EQSC and its licensors retain rights in their background framework expression, tools, methods, software and publications, to the extent protected by law. Sharing evidence gives the supplier only the rights needed to perform the engagement and retain the necessary service record. Ownership and permitted use of commissioned outputs are stated in the agreement. A consultancy fee does not automatically transfer all background intellectual property. No party may use the other's name or logo to imply a broader endorsement. EQSC, as referred to herein, is wholly owned by HERA LLC, Miami, Florida, USA.
13. Public status and use of marks - The Member Directory and Recognition Register are separate authoritative records. Recognition wording must identify the exact scope and refer to the current register entry. Member and recognition marks must remain distinct. Applicants may not advertise candidate, applied, under review or similar pathway status before a published decision. Marks may not be altered, combined, placed on qualification documents or used to imply government or statutory recognition. When status ends, new use stops immediately. Digital uses are removed within 30 days; suspension requires immediate cessation. Misleading uses must be corrected promptly and normally within 14 days of notice, with urgent action where harm warrants it. Suspension or withdrawal is decided under the published process, with reasons and appeal rights. A directory or register correction may be made to prevent an inaccurate status remaining public. The historical record is not erased to conceal a previous status.
14. Liability - Nothing excludes or limits liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or another liability that the law does not allow to be excluded or limited. Statutory consumer rights and data protection rights remain unaffected. For business contracts, any agreed exclusion of indirect or consequential loss applies only to the extent lawful and reasonable. A liability cap must be expressly stated in the agreement and must not be assumed from the price of the service. Each claim is assessed under the applicable law and agreed allocation of responsibility. EQSC does not guarantee the accuracy of information supplied by others beyond the verification work expressly contracted. This statement does not excuse negligent performance of that work or knowingly misleading publication.
15. Events outside reasonable control - A party affected by an event beyond its reasonable control promptly explains the effect, takes reasonable steps to reduce disruption and keeps the other party informed. The parties agree revised delivery where possible. An event does not excuse payment for completed work or remove a refund right for a service that cannot be supplied. Prolonged disruption may be ended under the agreed termination arrangements.
16. Ending the agreement - Either party may end an agreement for a material breach that is not corrected within the reasonable period stated in its written notice. Serious unlawful conduct, evidence falsification or an immediate safety or integrity risk may justify suspension or termination without a correction period, subject to appropriate fact finding and the applicable recognition rules. On termination, the parties settle fees for work properly performed, cease unlicensed use of materials and deal with confidential records under the agreed retention obligations. Recognition status is determined through its own published process. Termination does not erase accrued rights, confidentiality duties or an outstanding appeal.
17. Complaints and appeals - Service complaints go to complaints@eqscglobal.com. We acknowledge them within five working days and normally respond within 20 working days, explaining any extension. A review may be requested within 20 working days and is handled by someone not previously involved. Recognition appeals go to appeals@eqscglobal.com within 30 calendar days of the decision letter. Eligible grounds are a material process failure, bias, an unsupported decision or relevant earlier evidence that could not reasonably have been provided. Three independent committee members normally decide within 40 working days of acknowledgement. No appeal fee is charged. The original status stands while the appeal is considered, with an Under appeal notation for an appealed suspension or withdrawal. Data protection complaints follow the Privacy Policy, including any statutory acknowledgement deadline. Internal procedures do not restrict a person's right to a court, regulator or other lawful remedy.
18. Governing law and general provisions - Unless a signed agreement expressly states otherwise, these service terms use the Miami, Florida and its courts for business disputes. Mandatory rights that apply in another jurisdiction remain protected. A consumer may have rights to bring a claim in their home jurisdiction where the law provides them.
An assignment or subcontracting arrangement does not reduce the supplier's existing obligations. A change of legal supplier requires the required agreement or lawful transfer process and clear notice. If a clause is unenforceable, the remaining terms continue so far as lawful. A failure to enforce a clause immediately is not a permanent waiver.
The accepted agreement contains the agreed commercial terms, without excluding liability for fraud or a non excludable representation or statutory obligation. Changes apply prospectively with an identified version and effective date. Material changes to a live agreement require the notice or consent required by the agreement and law.