The Federation of Education and Language Consultant Association

FELCA’s members are National Associations of Education and Language Consultant. Members of the National Associations are professional accredited agencies around the world whose role is to provide advice and guidance to students wishing to go abroad to study a language, or attend a high school or a university.

FELCA is a forum for discussion to promote international student education and cultural exchange and collaborates with GAELA, the Global Alliance of Education and Language Association, which represent accredited schools in over 40 countries, to offer a high-quality service and the best study abroad experience.

    17 National Associations

    Felca National Association Directory.

    Join FELCA

    01

    Online application for national associations, with requirements, objectives and the Accreditation Code.

    FELCA-GAELA Guidelines

    02

    Fourteen shared guidelines that put schools and agents on the same page for the benefit of students.

    FELCA Accredited Certificate

    03

    What the agency certificate means — and how to check that a certificate number is valid.

    FELCA Podcast

    04

    Agents and Schools Talk — agencies and schools on the Language Travel industry and their profession.

    Objectives & Philosophy

    Seven commitments the federation works by.

    These elements constitute the minimum standard for FELCA agencies. However, each National Association of agents should also publish on its website the additional quality assurances it offers.

    01

    To strengthen and make permanent the links between existing national language and education consultant associations by providing a forum for discussion.

    02

    To encourage and assist in the establishment of new national language and education consultant associations.

    03

    To promote the image and credibility of language and education consultants with government departments and education bodies worldwide via lobbying, meetings and correspondence.

    04

    To enhance cross-cultural understanding by promoting the importance of international travel for language and educational study.

    05

    To discourage unfair and illegal cross-border practices in the language and education travel industry.

    06

    To create an Accreditation Code to establish guidelines for language and education consultants and school associations worldwide and hence facilitate harmonious and successful business relations.

    07

    To assist the language and education consultant associations in ensuring that the interests of their student consumers are protected.

    Objectives & Philosophy

    A single code, every member.

    FELCA’s member National Associations ensure that this Accreditation Code of Practice requires member agencies to:

    01

    Comply with all applicable national laws and regulations.

    02

    Comply with all applicable national laws and regulations.

    03

    Comply with all applicable national laws and regulations.

    04

    Comply with all applicable national laws and regulations.

    05

    Comply with all applicable national laws and regulations.

    06

    Comply with all applicable national laws and regulations.

    Requirements

    Before an agency becomes a member.

    FELCA asks National Associations to adhere to the following requirements before accepting an agency as a member:

    01

    Ensure that the agency has been in operation for at least 2 years in order to get full membership; however, new agencies may join as junior associate members.

    02

    The applicant agency must provide 2 references from agents who are currently members of the association and 2 references from schools with which it collaborates.

    03

    75% of the associations’ members must approve the admission of the new member.

    04

    Carry out an on-site inspection at the agency’s premises.

    05

    Check that the agency’s financial situation is in order and up-to-date.

    06

    Examine the agency’s brochures and websites to ensure they comply with the FELCA Accreditation Code.

    FELCA-GAELA

    The Guidelines.

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    The Board of FELCA

    Elected by the member associations.

    President

    Paolo Barilari

    IALCA, Italy

    Vice-President, Latam

    Maura de Araújo Leão

    BELTA, Brazil

    Vice-President, Asia

    Tatsu Hoshino

    JAOS, Japan

    Vice-President, Europe

    Pascal Carré

    ABELIO, Belgium

    Treasurer

    Juan Manuel Elizalde

    ASEPROCE, Spain

    Board Member

    Gabriela Ardito

    ARSAA, Argentina

    Board Member

    Julia Richter

    FDSV, Germany

    Board Member

    Oscar Porras

    ASEPROCE, Spain

    Board Member

    Annop Kaithatham

    TIECA, Thailand

    Advisory Committee

    Nozaru Yamada

    JAOS, Japan

    Advisory Committee

    Eren Goker

    UED, Turkey

    Coordinator

    Scott Wade

    Our History

    Built by associations, one meeting at a time.

    FELCA was established in 2000, growing out of discussions held in the mid-1990s among national associations from Brazil, France, Germany, Spain and Japan. By the late 1990s its member associations spanned Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, with founding members in Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan and Thailand.

    Since then the Federation has grown internationally, welcoming associations from countries such as Russia and continuing to bring national language and education consultant associations together as a forum for discussion, shared quality standards and cooperation across the study-abroad sector.

    FELCA Past Presidents

    Twenty-seven years of leadership.

    1999–2002 | 2003–2007 | 2008–2011

    Nozaru Yamada

    JAOS, Japan

    2012–2015

    Juan Manuel Elizalde

    ASEPROCE, Spain

    2016–2019

    Maura de Araújo Leão

    BELTA, Brazil

    In charge

    2020–2023 | 2024–2027

    Paolo Barilari

    IALCA, Italy

    From the federation

    Latest news.

    2ND FELCA PODCAST – NOW ONLINE

    OUR SECTOR TROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS In the second Felca podcast schools and agents…

    THE FELCA GAELA GUIDELINES

    SCHOOLS AND AGENTS TOGETHER FOR BENEFITS OF STUDENTS FELCA the Federation of Education and…

    Daniela Socci new president of IALCA

    February 11 new president and board for the Italian association On February 11, 2025,…

    Emilio Bordona new President of ASEPROCE

    27 February, ASEPROCE 50° AGM new President and new Board On 27 February, ASEPROCE…

    GAELA Schools Associations

    Cooperation over competition.

    GAELA brings together language school associations from the world’s leading study travel destinations. Representatives meet annually at the ST Alphe UK Conference to share insights and strengthen global collaboration. Working alongside FELCA, GAELA plays a key role in shaping industry standards. The schools it represents uphold the highest levels of quality, ensuring students enjoy a rewarding and reliable study experience.

    Formed in 2000, GAELA began when Scott Wade (Study Travel and Alphe) and Tony Millns, then Chief Executive of English UK, convened the first meeting of national language school associations. Despite representing competing members, GAELA thrives as a model of cooperation over competition.

    FELCA Podcast

    Agents and Schools Talk — The FELCA Podcast.

    Agencies and schools share their perspectives on the Language Travel industry and their profession.

    2026

    Comming soon

    Academy & Videos.

    Here you will find videos produced by FELCA. Interviews, tutorials, webinars and recordings of some FELCA meetings.

    Contact us

    Write to Felca.

    Phone:

    +55 (11) 99323-4794

    E-mail

    felca@felca.org

    Web

    felca.org