CONTENT:

• General Terms and Conditions of BCNLIP IDIOMAS S.L.U.
• Conditions related to specific courses
• BCNLIP Group Coexistence Rules
• Protocol Against Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Harassment

General Terms and Conditions of BCNLIP IDIOMAS S.L.U.

Registered office: BCNLIP IDIOMAS, S.L.U. – Plaza del Duque de Medinaceli, 6, Local – 08002 Barcelona. NIF: B44974046. Phone number: +34 933186591, Fax +34 933014696, e-mail info@bcnlip.com, website www.bcnlip.com.

I.- ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR AND CLASS SCHEDULE

II.- TERMS OF ENROLMENT AND STUDIES.

Preliminary. Acceptance of these Contracting Conditions.

By signing the registration form and/or making a reservation payment or any other payment for any course or program, the student, as someone enrolling in a course or program, automatically accepts the following terms and conditions:

1. The general terms and conditions subject to what was published on the website of the School at the time of contracting and commencing the course. The relevant information can be found in the section titled General Conditions of Registration and Studies on the School’s website.
2. Regarding specific conditions – the terms and conditions (Specific Conditions) are discussed individually with the student prior to the commencement of the course.

1. The price of course/program includes:

The inscription fee, the first textbook of the course, course material – consisting of information about the course/program, some cultural and social activities, Wi-Fi and Internet access at the school, access to the library within the school, general advice regarding the stay and studies, complimentary use of the “snack bar/cafe area” within the school, tutoring with teachers, certificate of attendance and level achieved (our courses do not involve obtaining a formal teaching qualification). Apart from the first book (manual) specified by the course, any other textbooks and/or materials of the following courses/levels are not included in the initial course fee.

In case you don´t pay the enrollment fee or in case of a renewal, the book is not included.

2. The course/program does not include:

Residence and/or accommodation and subsistence costs (we may suggest our student’s alternatives and give general advice regarding these topics), commuting to/from the airport, travel insurance during their stay and some activities of the cultural program. Any materials, services or expenses that are not included may be found in point II.1 (please see above).

III. Booking and Payment.

3.1 Registration Form and Reservation.

In cases where the student requires a permit or visa to remain in Spain, the courses/programs must be paid in complete before the course commences. In other cases, the student should consult the school regarding the conditions and payment for the course. To proceed to the pre-registration the student must send a properly completed registration form (which can be found on the school’s website), by email to info@bcnlip.com , along with:

a) The receipt of the corresponding payment into the specified bank account. The amount should be confirmed by reception of the school. Payments may also be made in person at the school in cash (up to €2.500 in total according to rules of cash payments, which are subject
to review by the relevant regulations). Alternatively, the fees may be paid by credit/debit card – please note that any resulting bank fees will be covered by the student.

You may find bank details for making the transfer of the deposit on the school’s website, otherwise they may be sent to individual students/candidates via email. The school’s website may provide different account details for the payments to be made – if in any doubt please contact the school’s reception.

b) Copy of Passport / Registration Card / Residence permit / NIE / ID, all valid and within their expiry date.

3.2 Confirmation and Registration.

The school requires that the reservation fee or full payment of fees for the course/program be paid to the school’s bank account along with the Registration Form (in the case of students requiring an entry visa to Spain to study, the fees must be paid in full along with the Registration Form). Afterwards, the school will review the registration form, check the deposit/booking/partial payment/full payment and confirm the course/reservation and pre- registration with the student.

Once pre-registration is confirmed by the school, such registration or pre-registration will be effective enrollment, provided that the student pays the full amount of the course/program within a specified time. The school reserves the right to cancel the student’s enrollment, if the school does not receive the full payment for the course/program within the specified time, without further agreement. The potential students must understand that in cases where students require an entry visa to Spain in order to study, pre-registration does not guarantee a place until their request is accompanied by a consecutive full payment, for which they must provide a receipt as proof.

3.3 Other payment terms. Group Programs.

Any questions or queries regarding payment in any other cases for particular programs or group classes may be clarified at the school.

4. Reimbursement of payments. Future course attendance.

4.1 – The School does not refund amounts received for deposit, reservation, and/or as partial or total payment of a course/program under any circumstance, except if the course/program is not conducted due solely to a fault on the part of the School, or the School does not accept the pre-registration; in the latter case, the reservation amount will be refunded.

Notwithstanding the above, in the event that the student is unable to attend the course due to a visa denial without justified cause, and the student has completed all the necessary procedures and submitted all the required documentation in a timely and proper manner for the processing of the visa application, in such case, the School will reimburse the amount received from the student for the course/program, deducting the registration fee and the administrative/financial expenses incurred, which will be retained by the School: €350. The refund will be processed between 30 and 90 natural days once the requested forms are completed and the confirmation email with the processing date is received.

4.2 In the case of cancellation of the course or program for some reason beyond the school’s control, the school may offer student a space in a class in the future.

4.3 The school will not make refunds in cases where the student begins, but does not complete the course. The school will not exchange group classes for private/individual classes and will not return any amount paid in case of a reduction in the duration of the classes, nor in the cases further provided for in paragraph 7. *Please see below.

4.4.‐ The School only refunds the payment for the course under three circumstances: if the School cancels the course due to lack of students (a minimum of 6), due to lack of attendance (less than 30% of the total number of students) or organizational problems only directly attributable to the school. In instances where a group merges with another or undergoes a change in teachers, such scenarios are not considered cancellations; in both cases, the course continues.

4.5.- Students have a maximum period of two years from the date of enrollment to obtain their visa and start their classes. Once this period has passed, they will no longer be able to request a refund for the course fee.

5. Attendance of courses/programs. Minimum age. Cooperation. No liability regarding non-attendance – initially or during the course.

5.2. The minimum age for students is 16 years, except in our special junior programs. Students under 18 must present an authorization signed by their parents. The school is not responsible for the custody of underage students, or providing any assistance during their stay in Spain.
5.3. Our school does not tolerate verbal or physical violence or disrespect towards other students, faculty or staff inside or outside the school. Personal choices and freedoms including ideology, religion, gender or sexual orientation must be respected at all times. If any student fails to follow these principles the school retains the right to expel the student. If any student is expelled for the above reason, the
school is not obliged to issue a refund for any course/program the student hasn’t completed.
5.4.‐ Conflicts of a personal, private or extra-school nature are not within the School’s jurisdiction. The school does not respond to these requirements nor does it accept the sending of chats, emails or phone calls that contain sensitive and personal information, which may commit the Student or the School.
5.5.- The student’s failure to attend classes regularly entitles the School not to issue a certificate of achievement at the end of the course/program, resulting in the forfeiture of the amounts paid by the student, without further obligation on the part of the School. To be eligible for the certificate of achievement assessments, a minimum of 80% in-person attendance is required, along with proof of proficiency
in the language studied; unattended classes will not be accounted for in the event of study renewal.
5.6.- If the Student is absent and does not attend classes for any reason beyond the control of the School, said classes cannot be recovered. In particular, students who come to the School with a visa to stay in Spain cannot obtain any discount for unattended classes.
5.7. In-person attendance and school operating system. Students who have obtained an administrative permit to stay in Spain based on a study visa, whether requested at origin or requested in Spain, are subject to the school schedules and availability, since the main reason why they are in Spain is to take an in-person course at school.
The School will always take into account the needs of each Student, but cannot guarantee 100% the times and dates desired by each student. The School organizes the operating regime at its discretion based on professional criteria and in interest of all students.
5.8. In-person and online school places. Certificates of in-person attendance and changes from online to in-person courses. Please remember that our online classes are mostly hybrid as they appear on the website. The hybrid modality consists of a method in which both face-to-face and online students participate in the class simultaneously and equally.
a) Students without a visa / administrative permit to stay in Spain.
If the Student has been enrolled in a face-to-face course where there is a high demand for places and the Student only attends 20% of the course for one month, the School may change the place to the online system at its discretion and apply the corresponding discount that will be valid for the month following notification.
b) Students with a visa/administrative permit to stay in Spain.
The students who have arrived in Spain with a visa or who obtain administrative permission to stay in Spain can only take the courses in person, since the reason for a visa to be granted is the need for the Student’s presence and attendance at the School during the course. In the event of general confinement of the population, documented illness of the Student or necessary displacement and justified to another
city during the course, classes will be taught online. If the Student attends 20% of the course during a month, the School will request sufficient proof at the School’s discretion and, if there is a high demand for face-to-face classes, the School may transfer the place in the face-to-face course to another student who is on the waiting list to attend the face-to-face course.
c) Certificates of in-person attendance, especially for visa renewal.
Due to legal administrative requirement at the end of the course, the school can only issue a certificate of in-person attendance to those Students who attend the School regularly (80%) in person throughout the course.
d) Change from online course to in-person course
If the Student has been enrolled in an online course and wishes to change to a face-to-face course, they can request it from the School and the School at might accept or deny said request based on the reservations and places available.

6. Course/School program cancellation due to insufficient number of students.

The number of students per class will range from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 20, depending on the classroom and type of course. On occasion, the number of students may exceed 20, but the School commits to reducing the number within a span of one month. If the minimum number of students in a group is not met, either before the start of the course or during its progression, the School will offer a
spot in a smaller group or individual classes. Only in this case may the duration of the classes be reduced, as the School’s policy is not to exchange group classes for private ones.
Merging the groups of the same level or changing the teacher is not considered cancellation of the course as in both cases the course continues.
6.1. Cancellation policy:
In courses that are contracted without requiring a prior visa, cancellations or any modification must always be made before starting the course. A final date will be calculated taking into account cancellations previously agreed with the School. Unless specifically agreed with the School, cancellations or modifications of attendance dates will generally not be accepted. The end date of the course can never vary.
In the case of other languages, if the class is canceled by the entire group, there is the possibility of recovering it at another time and day subject to rooms availability.
6.2. Change of schedules and group in the same course. Students may request a change of group in the same course for reasons justified and as long as there are places available in the new group requested and it does not affect the number of students required for the class to be open to other students. The Student who wants to change group in accordance with the above must request it at least one month in advance and the school will evaluate and decide on that request.
6.3. Change to lower level. The Student may be changed to a lower level if the student a) misses 8 consecutive classes, due to it being 15% of the level; b) failed a level test; or c) attended less than 40% of classes. The teacher has the right to evaluate the level of the Student during class at any stage of the course without exam. If the level is evaluated as insufficient, the Student will be assigned to a lower level group.

7. Visas & certificate of registration at the school for visa application.

Students who are EU nationals or residents in the Schengen zone of the EU (European Union) do not need any visa to attend the courses.
Non-EU nationals or residents of countries outside the Schengen zone must obtain information regarding the necessary visa to study in Spain. This information is available at the Spanish embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
If the student should require a letter of confirmation from the school to apply for their visa this may be done with the following conditions.
First and foremost, payment in full for both the course/program and accommodation is required before the school can provide the requested documentation. Payment to the school may be executed through a bank transfer, credit card payment or any other form which can be validated and received by the school in due time.
7.1 Start of course and change of dates for Students with a visa or who obtain administrative permission to stay in Spain.
a) In the case of having processed the visa in the country of origin:

1. There is the possibility of changing dates as many times (before starting the course) as the Student needs if the Student requires only digital copies of the documents.
2. If the Student needs to change the date of the course and receive the original reservation and contracting documents again (always before starting the course), the Student will have to pay for the shipping cost that usually ranges around €150.
3. Once a course has started, dates and times cannot be modified without prior approval from the school.
4. Regardless of the outcome of the visa application, the student must notify at least two weeks in advance about the resolution and inform about their situation and the expected date of arrival in Barcelona.

If no written information is received with sufficient notice of at least two full weeks, the School does not guarantee an in-person attendance spot on their arrival date, and the student will have to wait until the start of the next course. In any case, they can always start the course online while waiting for the next month.

2. All beginner courses start at the beginning of the month. After two weeks, it’s better to wait until the next month to start a course from scratch. These two weeks will not be deducted at the end of the course.
   b) In the event of having processed the visa directly in Spain: The start date of the course cannot deviate from the date indicated on the registration form. If the student is still awaiting the administrative decision regarding the residence permit in Spain, there are three options:
3. Start the course online. If the student residence permit is not ultimately granted and as a result, you leave the country, 75% of the completed classes will be deducted.
4. Start the course in-person. If the student residence permit is not ultimately granted and as a result, you leave the country, 100% of the completed classes will be deducted.
5. Do not start the course and wait. If the student residence permit is not ultimately obtained and as a result, you leave the country, the course fees will be refunded. However, if it is granted, the waiting time will not be deducted from the registration and the end date.

7.2. For security reasons and to control the entry of foreign nationals, and in accordance with current regulations, the student agrees to confirm their attendance to the course and notify the school of their student visa status before the course begins.

If this confirmation or notification is not provided, it will be understood that the student has started the course as per their reservation. In this case, the school will proceed to inform the General Directorate of Migration (Extranjería) about the student’s non-attendance, in accordance with Article 39 of Royal Decree 557/2011, of April 20, which approves the Regulations of Law 4/2000 on the rights and freedoms of foreign nationals in Spain and their social integration.

Furthermore, the student acknowledges and accepts that if they do not attend classes without having provided the required confirmation or notification, they will not be able to request a date change or a refund for the course fee, as the course will be considered to have started according to the reservation.

8. Renewal Policy and Obtaining BCNLIP’s Certificate of Achievement (Course Completion Certificate).

Upon completion of the course, the student can request the Certificate of Achievement. To do so, it is necessary to make an appointment in advance by informing the school’s administration via the following email: info@bcnlip.com. Please note that our certificates are not confirming the Student´s proficiency. For this purpose, we recommend obtaining a DELE or SIELE diploma.
The Certificate of Achievement is only granted if the student has passed the level tests during the course and has attended the classes. The certificate is issued based on the assessments taken during the course and attendance. If the student has not been able to take the level test during their course, they must schedule an appointment to take the exam and wait a week to receive the certificate. The school will retain
the certificate for a month; after this period, the student will be required to pay a fee of 20€ for a copy of the original.
a. The school will assess attendance and tests taken through a credit system. Each subject or activity corresponds to a number of credits, based on the number of hours needed to complete it. The teacher must award credits based on attendance (80%) and the student’s academic performance (pass). Certificates and assessments will be issued with a final rating of “pass/fail”, and there’s an opportunity to
receive an honorary mention if the student has earned more credits than required to obtain the specific certificate.
The credit system is detailed in the student handbook and on the website. However, in case of doubt, it is essential to contact the school for clarification.
If a student hasn’t earned enough credits to obtain the full course completion certificate, the school will issue a certificate detailing the competencies acquired within the enrolled program.
b. Commercial Spanish: upon completion of the course, the school can issue a Certificate of Achievement in commercial Spanish for the renewal/extension of the student residence administrative permit (TIE), or the academic certificate of competencies which is academically sufficient for the validation of an advanced level course. The B2 level Spanish language course equates to 8 credits and the commercial
Spanish requires 12 credits.
c. For the acquisition of a certificate of achievement in commercial Spanish for the purpose of renewal/extension of the TIE (Student Residency Card in Spain):
To obtain the Certificate of Achievement in commercial Spanish for the purposes of renewing/extending the TIE (Student Residence Card in Spain), it is an administrative requirement of the Immigration Department that, in addition to passing the contracted course level, the student has attended in person at least 80% of the classes.

d. Notwithstanding the above, in cases of non-attendance due to force majeure – which arises after the start of the in-person course – and/or if for a valid and justified reason there’s an extraordinary absence, the school, to issue a certificate of achievement and attendance, will conduct a preliminary assessment of the student’s personal circumstances and academic performance.

9. Insurance

All students are covered by a policy of liability insurance whilst on the school premises. School is not responsible for accidents that take place outside school’s premises e.g. at the student’s accommodation, while on excursions and elsewhere. The school is not accountable for theft or loss of personal property, within school’s facilities as well as outside the premises. The school does not take responsibility for risk of contaminating diseases, both inside and outside the school. All we may suggest is washing your hands and keeping them clean at all times. We recommend that our students take out an insurance policy that covers accidents and health care in country of their origin, valid for the entire duration of the student’s stay in Spain.

10. General.

10.1. Claim forms. The school has an official model of claim forms available to students or their legal representatives.
10.2. Personal data. The processing and storage of personal data of our students by the school is in compliance with current regulations & legislation regarding the Data Protection Act. Protection of personal data is insured through a file of confidential personal data, in compliance with the ’15/199 Protection of Personal Data and Regulations’ law. By the act of signing this document the student authorizes
and empowers school to do the following:
a) Keep your personal information on file in the school’s register for administrative and academic management purposes. The school needs the following information for organization and development of the activities of the school. Transferring any data to third parties may only happen in situations regarding the school’s management, administration, commercial, financial and tax training. Please note that the student
hereby authorizes the transfer and communication of their data to public and private organizations cooperating with the school.
b) Publish catalogues of the school & advertising/video/intranet/social networking sites/internet/different graphic and audiovisual material, showing school activities in which the student may appear. The images will not be used for purposes other than those expressed above, images or content will not be shared with third parties, unless authorized by the school.

c) Students may exercise their legal rights, rights of access, rectification and cancellation, by sending a letter to the school’s Academic Secretary addressing the letter as following: For the Attention Of: Academic Secretary, Calle Avinyó 50, 08002 Barcelona, Spain, or via e-mail to info@bcnlip.com
10.3. Applicable law. Jurisdiction.
All relations between the student and the school, as well as between any service contractors and the school, are governed by Spanish law. For any disputes arising from such relations or from the interpretation, execution, and compliance of this agreement, all parties expressly waive any other jurisdiction and submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts of Barcelona.
10.4. Validity and scope of these general terms and conditions.
These General Terms and Conditions, along with the Specific Conditions set out in the program/course provided to the student, together constitute the Teaching Contract that governs the relationship between the school and the student.
These terms shall apply to any course the student enrolls in from the date of their publication on the school’s website, unless they are modified and such modification is published on the school’s website. This is irrespective of any Specific Conditions for each course or any agreement made between the school and the student on a case-by-case basis.
Should these General Terms and Conditions undergo any changes, they will be updated and published on the school’s website, with the effective date of any such changes being the date of their publication on the school’s website.

10.5. On the school’s website, www.bcnlip.com, students can access informational brochures about courses and programs, as well as other academic and administrative information related to them. In any event, making a reservation payment or any other payment towards a course/program inherently signifies the student’s acceptance of these General Conditions and the Teaching Contract.
10.6. These General Conditions and their subsequent updates are regularly filed away at the Commercial Registry (Registro Mercantil), which is kept at the registered office of the School.

Last updated in Barcelona in January 2025.

BCNLIP Group Coexistence Rules

The BCNLIP Group’s coexistence rules aim to foster respectful dialogue in a diverse and multicultural environment. They establish the framework for relationships within the educational institution while setting clear and necessary limits for its proper functioning. Rules that improve the school community’s life serve as a point of reference and clarification in cases of doubt, confusion, or conflicts that may arise in any heterogeneous human group. The school is no exception. Understanding the coexistence rules, implementing them in the classroom, and sharing their importance with students is a responsibility shared by all and sustains our daily work.

Course Profile and Organization

Respect for cultural, sexual, gender, social, and economic diversity. Both the teaching-learning process and all school activities are framed within mutual respect among all members of the BCNLIP Group (BCNLIP Language School, BCNLIP Foundation, and IBP Vocational Training). Our differences—an expression of diversity and multiculturalism—define the school’s profile, and the recognition of dignity and integration of others underpins our educational principles and values.

No conduct, verbal expressions, or gestures that violate the dignity of any individual—be they students, teachers, administrative staff, or other institution members—will be allowed or accepted.

Physical violence inside the school premises, at the entrance, or in surrounding areas will not be tolerated. Any student who engages in such acts, whether individually or in a group, spontaneously or premeditatedly, will be sanctioned and, depending on the severity of the case, may be immediately expelled from the institution at the discretion of the Administration following an evaluation of the case.

Requests for a change of teacher will not be accepted. The school organizes courses, assigns teachers, and merges groups according to its pedagogical criteria and institutional needs.

Only in exceptional and serious cases will the administration evaluate and decide on the need for a course or teacher change.

Punctuality

Students must enter the classroom at the scheduled time. In case of delays or exceptional circumstances, the corresponding teacher must be notified in advance. Entry into the classroom will not be permitted between 15 and 30 minutes after the start of the class.

Use of Mobile Phones

Mobile phones may not be used in class unless required by the teacher for a didactic activity with exclusively pedagogical purposes. Recording classmates or teachers during or outside the class within school premises without their consent is also prohibited.

WhatsApp groups serve strictly pedagogical and didactic functions. Their use is regulated under current regulations. Using them to extract personal information (phone numbers, profiles, personal data) or contacting teachers outside of working hours will not be allowed.

The classroom and all school facilities are private spaces. Any student who violates these rules will be immediately sanctioned according to the criteria established by the institution, applying provisions from Article 197 of the Penal Code and Data Protection and Digital Rights Guarantee laws.

Use of Zoom Camera

Students attending class remotely via Zoom must keep their cameras on and remain visible to the teacher and classmates throughout the class or workshop. A turned-off camera or absence from the screen will be marked as “absent.”

If technical issues prevent proper connection, the student must notify the teacher immediately. If the issue originates from the educational institution’s system, the necessary steps will be taken to resolve it.

Zoom classes may be recorded for educational purposes within the school by authorized personnel, with prior notice and consent from students.

Attendance at Courses

To obtain a final Certificate of Achievement for a course, students must take into account the following:

• Certificates will be issued based on attendance, classroom participation, and the final exam, all of which will be evaluated using a credit system.
• Course attendance records may be consulted by the Immigration Department and the Police for administrative, penal, or background check purposes. It is assumed that students must attend at least 80% of their classes.
• Special attendance flexibility will be considered for students with newborns or young children under their care. They may attend classes remotely via Zoom when necessary.
• Bringing children into classrooms or school facilities during class hours is not permitted. The school will not be responsible for unaccompanied minors under any circumstances.
• Any identity fraud related to school attendance, exams, or academic documentation falsification will result in immediate expulsion.

Language of Use

During courses and workshops, the language of instruction will be used. The school’s methodology, based on communication, task-oriented learning, and immersion, must be respected. The goal is to support students’ adaptation and integration into the Catalan community and culture.

Continuous Assessment and Final Exams

• Self-assessment and weekly skill evaluations will help both students and teachers track progress.
• Final exams are mandatory, conducted in person, and administered via a technological platform.
• The teacher’s evaluation and grading are final and non-negotiable.
• The use of translation tools or technological support for plagiarism or automated text generation will not be allowed. Any detected attempt at cheating will result in immediate exam cancellation.

Eating in Class

Eating during regular class sessions or workshops is prohibited, except in activities explicitly planned and organized by the school and teaching staff.

Respect and Care for Educational Spaces

Students must take care of the school’s facilities, furniture, and educational materials. Any intentional damage or theft will be sanctioned immediately.

Bringing pets is only allowed if the group and teacher consent. Since different people may have various reactions to animals, new classmates must also be consulted before bringing a pet into the classroom.

Bringing dangerous objects or substances that could harm the school community is strictly prohibited.

Environmental Awareness

BCNLIP is committed to promoting respect for the environment and responsible consumption. The school’s immediate environmental objectives include:

• Implementing energy efficiency and savings measures.
• Raising awareness about responsible water consumption within school facilities.
• Encouraging responsible consumption of goods and services within the school and its surroundings, including cafeteria use, plant and tree care, and smoking away from the school entrance.
• Implementing a waste management system based on minimization, reuse, and recycling.
• Identifying and minimizing other significant environmental impacts related to educational activities.

Violations and Sanctions

Sanctions will be educational and restorative in nature, ensuring respect for students and their rights while seeking mutual understanding whenever possible. Their fundamental goal is to repair the damage caused and teach students about the consequences of their actions, providing opportunities for learning and growth.

The BCNLIP Group Administration will apply sanctions according to various factors to ensure a fair and proportional response.

Minor Violations

• Repeated and unjustified tardiness or absences.
• Behaviors that disrupt normal class activities.
• Consistent refusal to participate in academic activities.
• Disrespectful treatment of members of the educational community.
• Minor damage to facilities, furniture, educational materials, or personal belongings of others.

Applicable Sanctions for Minor Violations:

• Oral or written warning.
• Meeting with the Academic Director; if necessary, referral to a Mediator.
• Assigned tasks to contribute to improving school activities or repairing damage caused.
• Suspension from extracurricular or complementary school activities.

Serious Violations

• Acts of indiscipline, insults, or serious offenses against members of the educational community.
• Repeated behaviors that violate school coexistence rules within the same academic year.
• Physical, emotional, or moral aggression towards community members or third parties.
• Discriminatory actions based on race, culture, gender, appearance, disability, political views, or religion.
• Identity fraud in school matters or falsification/theft of academic documents.
• Deliberate misuse of electronic devices to disrupt the academic environment.
• Unauthorized recording, sharing, or dissemination of humiliating or aggressive content related to students or staff.
• Use or possession of hazardous objects or substances.

Applicable Sanctions for Serious Violations:

• Assigned tasks to improve school activities or repair damages.
• Suspension from extracurricular activities for up to three months.
• Transfer to a different group or school location.
• Expulsion from certain classes for two weeks to one month.
• Suspension from school for up to one month.
• Permanent expulsion without reimbursement.

Protocol Against Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Harassment

1- Introduction and Rationale on the Issue of Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Harassment. Importance of Protocol Implementation

Sexual harassment and/or gender-based harassment in academic settings are forms of violence that violate fundamental rights and have a devastating impact on the physical, psychological, and moral integrity of individuals, particularly women.

The prevention and management of sexual and gender-based harassment clearly and emphatically reflect the BCNLIP Group’s (BCNLIP Language School, BCNLIP Foundation, and IBP Vocational Training) commitment to eradicating such violence. This commitment applies to both the educational community’s staff—across all sectors and roles—and students. It raises awareness among staff and students and reinforces preventive measures against harassment while ensuring a confidential and swift internal investigation, clarification of facts, protection of the victim, resolution, sanctions, and the elimination of such behaviors.

The BCNLIP Group upholds a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct constituting harassment or intimidation. In situations where inappropriate treatment between members of the educational community occurs, activating this protocol allows for a clear evaluation of the facts and evidence to determine whether harassment has taken place and apply the necessary corrective measures. Failing to take action could result in more severe situations.

This protocol is the most effective tool to provide protection against harassment by enabling both prevention and remediation of harm suffered by victims. Informing and training the entire educational community helps prevent behaviors that constitute harassment, ensures their proper handling, and facilitates their eradication, guaranteeing compliance with current regulations.

Objectives

• Promote a preventive culture against sexual and gender-based harassment.
• Demonstrate the BCNLIP Group’s zero-tolerance stance toward detected cases of harassment.
• Facilitate the identification of behaviors that constitute harassment.
• Establish a simple, fast, and accessible confidential complaint and reporting procedure.
• Conduct swift, thorough, and confidential internal investigations of complaints.
• Apply sanctions against individuals found guilty of sexual and/or gender-based harassment.
• Support victims of harassment, preventing secondary victimization or re-victimization, and, if necessary, facilitate access to psychological and social support services.

The Protocol Will Be Governed by the Following Principles

a. Prevention and Awareness of sexual and gender-based harassment, including information and accessibility to procedures and measures.
b. Confidentiality and Respect for the privacy and dignity of affected individuals.
c. Presumption of Innocence must be respected.
d. Protection Against Retaliation for victims or individuals supporting the complaint.
e. Diligence, Speed, Security, Coordination, and Collaboration throughout the procedure.
f. Guarantee of Labor Rights and Social Protection for victims.
g. Thorough Investigation based on principles of confidentiality, contradiction, and oral testimony.
h. Ensuring Proper Action by adopting necessary measures.
i. Gender and Human Rights Perspective throughout the procedure.

2- Definition of Sexual Harassment

According to Article 7.1 of Organic Law 3/2007, March 22, on effective equality between women and men, and without prejudice to what is established in the Penal Code, sexual harassment is defined, for the purposes of this protocol, as any verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature that aims to or results in an attack on the dignity of a person, particularly when it creates an intimidating, degrading, or offensive environment.

Behaviors Constituting Sexual Harassment

Verbal Conduct

Examples of verbal sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:

• Sexual innuendos, propositions, or pressure for sexual activity.
• Offensive flirting or suggestive comments.
• Obscene jokes, indirect remarks, or derogatory sexual comments.
• Unwanted phone calls or social media contact with inappropriate private content.
• Remarks or jokes about someone’s sexual appearance.

Non-Verbal Conduct

• Displaying sexually suggestive or pornographic images, objects, or writings.
• Lewd looks, gestures, or offensive written messages via emails or social media.

Physical Conduct

• Unwanted deliberate physical contact, such as touching, hugging, or kissing.
• Excessive and unnecessary physical closeness.

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment (Sexual Blackmail)

This type of sexual harassment involves coercing a victim to choose between complying with sexual demands or facing negative consequences such as:

• Losing access to professional training.
• Losing employment continuity or promotion opportunities.
• Facing salary reductions or other adverse workplace decisions.

Since it constitutes an abuse of authority, the perpetrator is typically someone with the power to grant or withdraw professional benefits.

Environmental Sexual Harassment

This type of harassment occurs when a perpetrator creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for the victim due to unwanted sexual behaviors.

• It can be perpetrated by anyone within the organization, regardless of position or status.
• It may also be committed by external third parties interacting with the workplace environment.

2.1- Gender-Based Harassment

According to Article 7.2 of Organic Law 3/2007, gender-based harassment refers to any behavior directed at a person due to their gender with the intent or effect of attacking their dignity and creating an intimidating, degrading, or offensive environment.

All gender-based harassment is considered discriminatory and includes the following common elements:

• Harassment, defined as intimidating, degrading, humiliating, or offensive conduct perceived as such by the victim.
• Objective attack on the victim’s dignity, acknowledged both objectively and subjectively.
• Multiple rights violations, as gender-based harassment may infringe upon other fundamental rights.
• A pattern of behavior, meaning it is not an isolated incident.

Gender-based harassment primarily targets women, as social discrimination has historically assigned them reproductive and caregiving roles. However, men can also be victims when they engage in tasks traditionally attributed to women.

While isolated incidents may not constitute gender-based harassment, the school must take swift action to prevent recurring hostile behaviors.

5- Preventive, Proactive/Procedural, and Reactive/Corrective Measures

The BCNLIP Group is committed to implementing the following measures:

• Preventive measures, including a statement of principles, definitions of sexual harassment and gender-based harassment, and identification of behaviors that may constitute such harassment.
• Proactive or procedural measures to address harassment, facilitating the handling of complaints and reports, as well as implementing precautionary and/or corrective actions.
• Reactive measures, including disciplinary actions where necessary.

Through this protocol, BCNLIP Group declares its zero tolerance for any form of sexual or gender-based harassment within the organization.

By adopting this protocol, BCNLIP Group reaffirms its commitment to the prevention and response to harassment in all its forms. It ensures that all personnel—whether employees, external service providers, trainees, interns, or volunteers—are informed about and subject to this protocol.

Scope of Application

The protocol applies to cases of sexual or gender-based harassment that occur during work, in relation to work, or as a result of work, including:

• a. BCNLIP educational community and foundation staff, including management, teachers, administrative staff, commercial personnel, external service providers, transport, maintenance, and cleaning staff.
• b. Students, families, and/or host tutors.
• c. All premises of the BCNLIP Group, including break areas, dining spaces, and restrooms.
• d. Public and private spaces that constitute an extension of the workplace, including surrounding areas.
• e. Travel, events, or social, cultural, and educational activities related to work or the institution.
• f. Communication channels related to work, including electronic communications and online interactions (virtual or cyber harassment).
• g. Student accommodation, student housing, or host family residences owned or managed by BCNLIP Group.
• h. Commuting between home and the workplace.

Proactive Approach

The BCNLIP Group will take a proactive approach by:

• Raising awareness and informing about unacceptable behaviors.
• Promoting best practices.
• Implementing appropriate measures to handle and resolve complaints and reports.

This protocol complies with the requirements set forth in Spanish labor and equality laws, including:

• Articles 46.2 and 48 of Organic Law 3/2007 (March 22, 2007) on effective equality between women and men.
• Royal Decree 901/2020 (October 13, 2020) on equality plans and their registration.
• Royal Decree 713/2010 (May 28, 2010) on the registration and deposit of collective agreements.
• Article 14 of Law 31/1995 (November 8, 1995) on occupational risk prevention.