This methodology defines what information is suitable for the directory, how conflicting sources are handled and what editorial review means for an institution record.
1. Source priority
- the institution’s official website and documents;
- government, municipal and accreditation registers;
- official statistics and open datasets;
- professional organizations and reputable reference sources;
- user submissions that can be verified independently.
2. Collection and normalization
We record values only when their meaning can be established from a source. Units, currencies, education levels and place names are normalized for clarity without changing the source meaning. If a field is not applicable or cannot be confirmed, it should remain empty rather than be filled with an assumption.
3. Review
An editor checks the institution name, type, location and official resource. Material facts such as accreditation, tuition, deadlines, requirements and program availability are checked against primary sources where possible. When sources conflict, the more authoritative and recent source is preferred. Unresolved conflicts are disclosed or the disputed value is omitted.
4. “Verified details” label
The label means the displayed structured fields were checked against available sources at the time of review. It is not accreditation, endorsement, a guarantee that every field is current or approval of the institution.
5. Translations
A translation should preserve the factual meaning of the source. Organization and qualification names are not localized arbitrarily. Machine translation may assist with a draft, but disputed terminology and material conditions require editorial review.
6. Updates
Records are reviewed when we receive a substantiated change notice, discover new official information or conduct a scheduled editorial review. The directory is not updated in real time, so users must confirm decision-critical facts before acting.
7. Corrections
Substantiated corrections are considered regardless of who submits them. See the corrections page for the review process.