What are the attributes I have to look out for when choosing my language school?
Piccola Università Italiana is a quality language school and has been certified by leading national and international institutions and associations.
In times of the internet, it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between a quality product and other products. The most important point is that the Italian language school in Italy is state-approved, for this is the only official quality control for Italian language schools in Italy, as this approval is not purchasable. During the selection for approval, the focus is only on the quality of the Italian language school and its language courses. After all, this attribute is of the utmost importance when choosing your language school.
Also the recognition by American Universities in the framework of “academic credits” is a clear sign that the school is a serious, certified institute.
Our Italian language schools have been approved nationally and internationally by the following institutes.
This is a seal of quality for our students, who wish to study Italian with us.
RECOGNIZED BY THE ITALIAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research made a point of appointing the best Italian language schools, in order to support the circulation of Italian culture and the Italian language.
presa d’atto prot 23860/P from 30.11.2004
The accreditation by the Ministry is the only Italian recognition obtainable that does not require purchase. The state-approved Italian language Schools were inspected carefully. The fullfillment of these strict requirements, guidelines and standards is still checked on a regular basis.
The specified standards given by the Ministry for Education, University and Research cover following points:
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Quality of the teachers and professors at the language schools
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Quality of material/equipment at the language schools
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Quality of the method of learning at the language schools
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Quality of the didactic lesson concept in the language courses
Our Italian language School was founded in 1993 in Tropea as “Caffe Culturale” under the name of Caffe Italiano Club. In 2004, 11 years after being founded, Caffe Italiano Club was state-approved by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research and became officially recognised as an Italian language school. To emphasize the school’s professional character, the school was renamed in 2004 and became the Piccola Universita Italiana.
National
PATRONIZED BY THE ITALIAN CULTURAL MINISTRY
Piccola Università Italiana is the only Italian language school in Italy patronized by the Cultural Ministry for great achievements in the promotion of the Italian language and Italian culture and for the creation of the web portal www.italianculture.net.
Patronized
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LANGUAGE CENTRES
Piccola Università Italiana is full member of IALC (International Association of Language Centres), a quality organisation, which unites leading language schools worldwide.
It is an internationally recognised quality seal for professional language institutions, which are regularly inspected and annually audited and meet the Quality Scheme as well as the IALC Code of Ethics.
Here are some of the basic bullet points, which need to be fulfilled in order to be part of this elite club of language schools:
- Prime inspection by independent inspectors before admission
- Quality assurance by on-site inspections of existing members
- Legal constitution of the institute
- High standards in academic teaching and school’s facilities
- Assessment of students before course start
- Monitoring and supervision of student’s progress
- Carefully selected accommodation
- Educational field trips to ensure cultural aspects of the programs offered
- Outstanding in-house student support and emergency support
Quality seal
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE USA
In the past transcripts from Piccola Università Italiana have been accepted for academic credits by the following US-universities:
- Minnesota State University
- Southeastern Louisiana University
- Colorado State University
- Alliant International University San Diego
- George Fox University
Please visit our dedicated website for more information on Study Abroad Programs in Italy.
Academic Credits
EUROPEAN UNION | EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Our Italian language schools are PIC-registered by the EU, therefore all Italian language course programs are eligible for funding under the ERASMUS+ programme.
Furthermore, we also offer a special training program for Italian language teachers LS (non-mother-tongue-speakers) which is recognized by the European Union for funding.
Besides, the European Commission has been sending their interpreters and translators to our school for specific language training since 1999.
ERASMUS+
EDUITALIA
Eduitalia’s mission is to identify and to promote professional Italian language institutes abroad.
Membership is granted to accredited educational institutes located in Italy, which fulfil a catalogue of important requirements. Further information on their requirements is to be found on the following link.
Eduitalia is strongly cooperating with Italian embassies, Italian consulates, Italian Cultural Institutes worldwide. Furthermore, Eduitalia is attending the annual NAFSA since many years.
Full member
BILDUNGSURLAUB
Our Italian language courses have been recognized by several German Federal States for Bildungsurlaub. It provides employees with the chance to further their education on 5 calendar days a year.
Our Italian language courses are recognized in the following Bundesländer:
- Berlin
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Niedersachsen
- Rheinland-Pfalz
- Schleßwig-Holstein
- Hamburg
- Hessen (durch Rheinland-Pfalz)
Germany
LÅNEKASSEN LOAN FUND
Lånekassen is the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund. Students from Norway with Norwegian citizenship are entitled to receive financial aid from Lånekassen for their language study abroad.
Norway
ACCADEMIA ITALIANA DI LINGUA
Our institute in Tropea is an authorized exam centre for this Italian Language Exam, which is a qualification of Italian language offered by the Accademia Italiana di Lingua (AIL) in various ability levels in written and in spoken Italian. The exams are held twice a year.
Authorized exam centre
UNIVERSITÀ CA’ FOSCARI DI VENEZIA
UNIVERSITÀ ROMA 3 – TOR VERGATA
Our institutes in Trieste and Tropea are authorised centres for training courses for teachers of Italian for foreigners – L2.
PEGASO UNIVERSITÀ TELEMATICA
Our institute in Trieste is an authorized exam center for the prestigious Pegaso Online University.
Founded in 2006 the university was chosen by over 90,000 students.
Its academic paths are handy, flexible, and suitable for all: young, adults, workers, and disabled.
Thanks to Pegaso Online University you can study wherever and whenever you want and take your exams directly in our institute in Trieste.
Online University
International Studies College SSML TRIESTE-SCUOLA SUPERIORE PER MEDIATORI LINGUISTICI
Our School for Language Mediators is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research and and awards the bachelor’s degree in Linguistic Mediation (L-12 class).
In addition to the pure linguistic field of studies, among the courses offered there are the professionalizing ones that combine language skills with the fields of tourism, economy, and communication.