Education GOES International

No.

Apart from the academic requirements, the institution must also comply with consumer protection requirements of the Belgian Code of Economic Law in the case of paid training courses.

For Brazilian institutions, in addition to obtaining authorization from MEC, they must adhere to several criteria to offer online education programs. These requirements ensure alignment with national academic and quality standards and are subject to periodic evaluation for institutional accreditation. Institutions must provide high-quality course materials that align with course objectives and intended learning outcomes. A structured pedagogical design tailored for distance education is required to ensure effective student learning. Institutions must also implement transparent assessment and evaluation systems to track student progress and academic performance.

Faculty qualifications are another critical factor. Instructors must have appropriate academic credentials and relevant experience, with stricto sensu postgraduate programs requiring faculty members to hold advanced degrees (Master’s or PhD) as mandated by MEC and CAPES. Institutions must also maintain adequate technological infrastructure, including reliable internet connectivity and digital platforms that support effective online education delivery. Furthermore, comprehensive student support services, such as academic advising, counselling, and technical assistance, must be available to enhance the learning experience and promote student retention.

For non-Brazilian institutions, Brazilian law currently does not regulate online programs provided by foreign education institutions. However, degrees issued by these institutions are not automatically recognized in Brazil. Graduates seeking degree recognition must undergo a revalidation or recognition process conducted by a Brazilian higher education institution that offers a similar or equivalent course. This process involves evaluating whether the foreign degree meets Brazilian academic standards and is necessary for professional or academic purposes within the country.

Recently, the Brazilian government has been discussing stricter regulations for distance-learning programs, including higher minimum accreditation scores and restrictions on online delivery for specific professional fields requiring hands-on training and laboratory work. These fields include teaching, law, nursing, dentistry, psychology, biomedicine, religious studies, physical education (Bachelor’s degree), pharmacy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, geology/geological engineering, medicine, nutrition, oceanography, public health, and occupational therapy. These proposed measures aim to ensure the quality and credibility of distance education programs in Brazil.

In summary, while non-Brazilian institutions are not currently subject to Brazilian regulatory oversight for offering online education programs, their degrees require formal validation in Brazil. Meanwhile, Brazilian institutions must meet specific MEC and CAPES requirements to offer and maintain online education programs, ensuring compliance with national accreditation and quality assurance standards.

Ontario

No.

Québec

No (except if the Private Education Act applies to the U.S. Institution).

No.

The relation between the student/trainee and the institution will be construed as an online services contract.  Therefore, it should comply with EU law in respect to information society services (e.g., e-commerce directive 2000/31/EC and to some extent the incoming Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act).  Indeed, online programs qualify as “information society services”, i.e., services provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of the recipient, within the meaning of Directive 2000/31/EC..  In addition,

French consumer protection law also applies where the student resides in France and contracts directly with a professional entity (even foreign) that targets commercial activities toward France. In such cases, the consumer cannot be deprived of the protection granted under their national law of residence.

Therefore, Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights and its transposition into the French Consumer Code (notably via Law n°2014-344, known as the “Loi Hamon”) apply to distant contracts. In addition, Order No. 2021-1247 governing contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services is also applicable.

These provisions are codified under Articles L.221-1 et seq. of the French Consumer Code. The contract and precontractual information must be clear and comprehensible. Language requirements also apply (i.e. contract and any information provided to student must be provided in French).

If the institution meets the criteria of the DLPA, this is all that is required. However, meeting DLPA requirements does not mean that a degree obtained by a student through the institution’s online education program is automatically recognized in Germany (see #8 below for more details).

No.

Yes for HEI. No for FEI.

No criteria are applicable to non-Indonesian institutions providing online education.

No criteria for offering the Program.

No; see responses to #1–#4 above.

Under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (Act No. 47 of 1993, as amended) and the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations (Act No. 134 of 1962, as amended), a non-Japanese institution providing only non-Japanese degrees must not lead candidates to believe that they can acquire Japanese credits/degrees through the programs.

In addition, certain types of statements in advertisements, websites, etc. may be restricted by these Acts when a non-Japanese institution provides online courses related to professional skills that confer no right to obtain professional qualification on graduates.

We are not aware of any other known criteria that a non-Kenyan institution must meet to offer online programs in Kenya.

There are no other known criteria that a foreign institution must meet in order to offer online programmes into Luxembourg as long as the degree is not intended to be an officially-recognised degree in Luxembourg.

There are no other known criteria that a non-Mexican institution must meet in order to offer online programs into Mexico as long as the degree is not intended to be an officially-recognized Mexican degree.

No.

Except in the case of the ODL model, where offshore universities will be required to comply with the ICT- Enabled Supported Blended Learning (IESBL) model in order to provide online programs, there is no other known criteria for an institution to offer online education programs. The IESBL model is the current acceptable model in Nigeria. It emphasizes the importance of high-quality interactive course materials produced in mixed-media format, deployment of appropriate technologies and provision of a robust learner support mechanism, minimum learner-tutor contact in face-to-face environment, and periodic pen-on-paper examinations.

The NELC has a specific set of standards for the provision of electronic education. The extent to which an institution is found in compliance with such standards is measured by the practices implemented by the institutions.

Note that the NELC’s standards are divided into two categories: mandatory and optional, based on their importance and the need for ongoing measurement over time. Accordingly, licenses are granted to educational institutions wishing to offer electronic learning programs upon meeting such standards.

The NELC periodically updates these standards and regulations in cooperation with relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia. The NELC leverages international best practices and grants licenses that ensure the continued achievement of standards for all types and forms of electronic education. The NELC’s electronic programs’ standards may be accessed through NELC’s website: NELC Electronic Education Standards.

Note that Article 7 of the Regulation requires institutions offering electronic education programs to integrate technically with the National e-Learning Platform (i.e., FutureX which is one of NELC's initiatives to achieve integration in the ecosystem through local and global partnerships).

In addition, internet censorship and surveillance is conducted by the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (“CST”) pursuant to Article 27(d) of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Law; any reports of fraudulent programs may be blocked through their proxies.

In order for a PEI to remain registered with SkillsFuture, the PEI must meet the following requirements:

1. the registration requirements set out above as stipulated in the PEA and corresponding regulations; and
2. the terms and conditions of registration that may be imposed by SkillsFuture under its governing legislation.

Managers of the PEI must ensure that certain specified records are kept by the PEI for at least 5 years, including particulars of the PEI's teachers, details on the courses offered, and student details amongst other records and particulars.

A PEI is only allowed to develop, deliver, and award a certificate in its own name for a certificate- or diploma-level course (including advanced and post-graduate).

To prevent non-Singaporean institutions from running "diploma mills" in Singapore, SkillsFuture will only permit non-Singaporean institutions of higher learning to award or confer certificates and diplomas in Singapore if these non-Singaporean institutions are accredited by the relevant authorities in their home countries.

Additional regulations and restrictions apply with respect to online marketing, the form and name of the awarding institution, and various other matters.

A copy of the Private Education Regulations 2009 which sets out the "Enhanced Registration Framework" (ERF) for PEIs, including the above information in further detail, is available at Private Education Regulations 2009 - Singapore Statutes Online (agc.gov.sg). SkillsFuture has published a guide to the ERF, and it is available at information-notes-on-erf-(updated-october-2024).pdf.

No.

No. See #1 above.

No.

The E-Learning Standards – which set out a number of criteria applicable to online programs – apply to institutions located in the UAE which have been licensed by the CAA and provide online programs in the UAE and/or internationally. If the non-UAE institution is not physically located in the UAE, those standards are not applicable.

No; but please see #1 – Part B: Other Laws.

Non-Vietnamese institutions providing online joint programs in collaboration with Vietnamese institutions must be accredited in their home country and recognized by the relevant Vietnamese authorities. These joint programs must be within the disciplines and levels allowed by the Vietnamese authorities and accredited in the home country of the non-Vietnamese institution. Moreover, online joint programs must also meet technical requirements relating to facilities, equipment, systems and materials.