Federation EIL, a worldwide network of the Experiment in International Living is proud to announce the launch of the Intercultural Exchange Certification (IEC).

This certification establishes excellence in five practice areas, imperative to providing the highest quality intercultural learning experiences and exchanges: Responsible Practice, Safety and Security, Program Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Homestays providing a set of standards on an international platform and creating a system of accountability for international education and exchange providers.

With the launch of this Certification, Federation EIL wants to address a growing collective concern about the lack of quality and accountability in the intercultural exchange field by establishing a set of principles and standards to strengthen organizations, build trust among partners, funders and participants and ultimately promote more impactful and high-quality exchanges.

This one-of-a-kind certification provides a ‘seal of approval’ for organizations, identifying areas of best practice, building trust in the industry, and fostering a culture of growth and continuous self-improvement. By participating in this certification process, organizations can demonstrate their ongoing commitment with continuous improvement.

“The certification was a very interesting process as it allowed us to review the systems we have in place from beginning to end and understand the need to improve or add new processes”, stated Carola Flor, Director of Inbound programs at EIL Ecuador.

 This certification will also allow organizations to join an active community of interconnected leaders and professionals on a mission to transform the intercultural education sector.

The Experiment in International Living (EIL), a pioneer in homestay and intercultural exchanges programs, is currently celebrating their 90th anniversary since Donald Watt launched it back in 1932 as a way to promote and improve cross-cultural understanding. Federation EIL is a part of ECOSOC and has been awarded the Peace Messenger Award by the United Nations Secretary General.

 To learn more about the IE certification, please visit our website iecquality.org