Building a Culture of Quality

A strong culture of quality is the foundation of every high-performing ELT centre. This course guides you through the principles, behaviours, and systems that create sustainable excellence — not just during audits, but every day in every classroom, office, and student interaction.

Whether you’re a teacher, coordinator, professional staff member or manager, this program helps you understand the “why” behind quality and empowers you to contribute meaningfully to your centre’s improvement journey.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain how NEAS defines quality and why “fit for purpose” matters in ELT.
  • Identify key stakeholders and understand how their needs shape quality decisions.
  • Distinguish between basic compliance and a true culture of quality.
  • Describe the three essential ingredients of quality: leadership, systems, and continuous improvement.
  • Analyse how organisational culture develops using Schein’s model.
  • Recognise toxic culture indicators and understand their impact.
  • Apply practical tools to strengthen culture, including leadership behaviours, messaging, peer accountability, and shared ownership.
  • Use NEAS Quality Area D as a guide for improving administration, management, staffing, and professional development.

What’s Covered

This course is structured around the six key lessons from the NEAS webinar Building a Culture of Quality:

  1. Introduction to NEAS & Quality Assurance
    • NEAS mission, history, and stakeholder-driven feedback model
    • The NEAS Quality Assurance Framework
  2. What We Mean by Quality
    • Fit-for-purpose quality
    • Stakeholders and their needs
    • Leadership and “walking the talk”
  3. Systems & Policies
    • Compliance vs quality
    • Continuous improvement
    • Data-informed decision-making
  4. Understanding Organisational Culture
    • Schein’s three-level model
    • Artefacts, values, assumptions
    • Why culture matters
  5. Tools for Building Culture
    • Leadership
    • Messaging
    • Peer involvement
    • Cultural ownership
  6. NEAS Resources & Quality Practices (Area D)
    • Organisational structures
    • Recruitment
    • Communication processes
    • Professional development alignment
  7. Final Quiz & Reflection
    • Pulling everything together
    • Understanding how to apply quality concepts to your own centre

How Long Will It Take?

This course is designed to be concise but meaningful.

  • Total time: ~45–60 minutes
  • 7 stages:
    • Pre-course check
    • 6 short lessons
    • Final quiz
  • Each lesson takes 5–8 minutes to complete.

Perfect for completing in one sitting or spreading across a day.

What You Can Expect

  • Short, focused lessons — no fluff, just what you need.
  • Check-in quizzes to help reinforce your understanding.
  • Clear examples from real ELT environments.
  • Practical, actionable steps you can apply immediately.
  • A final quiz and certificate of completion through the NEAS LMS.

Whether you’re new to NEAS or strengthening your centre’s internal culture, this course gives you the mindset, language, and practical tools needed to help build — and sustain — a culture of quality.

Course Content