TERMS AND CONDITIONS
ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS
1. Institution data
Trade name: Initalia Academy
Legal name: Garau Luciano
RUC (TAX ID): 1722832654001
Tax Address): Quito, Ecuador
(Activities and lessons take place online via Zoom)
Website: www.initalia.academy
Email: info@initalia.academy
3. Enrollement
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Spot reservation: The interested party must complete the Spot Reservation form (pre-enrollment) sent to their email or WhatsApp. In the same form, the interested party must provide the details required for issuing the invoice. The invoice will be issued under the name of the natural or legal person making the payment.
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Confirmation and Payment: Once the minimum quorum is reached to start the course, the Academy will send the payment details to the student. The student will be considered enrolled only after confirmation of full payment for the course.
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Number of students: Courses open with a minimum of 6 enrolled students. The maximum capacity per course is 10 students.
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Start date: The Academy reserves the right to postpone the scheduled start date for up to a maximum of 15 calendar days in order to consolidate the group and ensure pedagogical quality.
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Cancellation Guarantee: If after the 15-day extension period the course has not started, the student may request a full refund of their payment or keep their balance for a later date.
4. Enrollment of minors
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Legal Representation: Students under 18 years of age must be enrolled by a parent or legal guardian, who will act as their representative before the Academy.
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Consent: By completing the pre-enrollment form and accepting the terms and conditions, the legal representative grants express authorization for the minor to participate in online classes and use the educational platforms.
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Responsibility: The legal representative assumes responsibility for the student's compliance with the conduct regulations, as well as for the financial obligations arising from the enrollment.
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Privacy: The Academy guarantees that the minor's personal data will be processed exclusively for academic and administrative purposes, under the supervision and consent of the legal representative.
5. Schedule and/or format changes
Schedule and/or format changes are accepted provided that there are courses and spots available. Changes may only be requested during the first week of the course.
If no courses and/or spots are available, changes will not be accepted. If the student cannot attend the course, there is no refund of the amount paid.
6. Formas de Pago y Facturación
1. After the pre-enrollment process and once the minimum quorum for starting the course is confirmed, the student will receive the payment details. We accept the following payment methods:
For payments made from Ecuador:
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Bank Transfer
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Credit/Debit Card: via the Payphone payment gateway
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Direct payment using Payphone balance
For payments made from other countries:
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Local cards, payment methods from your own country, credit/debit cards: via the dLocalgo payment gateway
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Credit or Debit Card: via the PayPal payment gateway
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Direct payment using PayPal balance
2. Payment Confirmation and Invoicing Details: Once the payment has been made, the student must send the payment receipt to our email (info@initalia.academy) or WhatsApp (+593 992963887). The spot will be considered reserved only when the funds are successfully credited to the Academy's account.
By submitting said form, the Account Holder assumes legal responsibility for the accuracy of the invoicing details provided and declares awareness that any refund process will be made, without exception, to the original account or payment method. The Academy reserves the right not to process the enrollment if the invoice details do not match the attached transaction receipt.
3. Commissions: The Academy is not responsible for additional fees charged by the User's issuing bank (especially for international transactions or currency outflow taxes, if applicable in this case).
7. Legal Right of Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Right of Withdrawal: In accordance with the current Organic Consumer Protection Law, the User has a period of fifteen (15) calendar days to exercise their Right of Withdrawal regarding the purchase of the online course, counted from the payment date of the service. The User must notify their intent to withdraw via email to info@initalia.academy at least 48 hours prior to the start of the course.
Under current regulations, the right of withdrawal cannot be exercised once the service performance has begun with the user's express consent. To this effect, it is considered that the service execution has commenced, and therefore the user waives their right of withdrawal, in any of the following scenarios:
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Upon logging in with personal credentials to the academy's learning management platform (LMS).
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Upon attending a scheduled live class session.
Once the execution of the service has begun as described, the student forfeits the right to a full refund, and any subsequent departure will be understood as a voluntary withdrawal.
8. Standard Cancellation Policy
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No refund for voluntary withdrawal: Once the course has started, if the student stops attending for personal reasons, there is no refund. Non-attendance at synchronous sessions does not entitle the student to a refund or to make up the class individually.
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Freeze or Deferral: If a student experiences a verified medical or work-related issue, justified by submitting the corresponding certificates, they may request to freeze their spot for 6 months to join the next available group.
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Full refund due to inability to open the course: If the course cannot be opened due to not reaching the minimum number of enrolled students, the student is entitled to a full refund of the amount paid, provided they do not prefer to wait for the course to open.
9. Refund Procedure and Credit Note
In the event that a refund applies, according to the conditions set forth in these regulations, the amount will be refunded solely and without exception to the individual or legal entity that made the original payment, using the same payment method employed in the transaction. The academy will not issue refunds to the student (if they are not the payer), the invoice beneficiary, or third parties not directly linked to the original transaction.
If the refund is processed after the invoice has been issued, the Academy will issue a credit note to void that invoice. The credit note will be issued to the same entity (individual or legal entity) to which the invoice was issued.
10. Placement test
The placement test applies to:
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New students who have prior knowledge of the Italian language.
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Students who interrupt their studies for more than 6 months. The placement test is conducted online, includes a written and an oral section, and is valid for 6 months. It is subject to the same rules that apply to our course exams. The cost of the placement test is $20.00 USD.
11. General Italian Courses: courses, levels, modalities
Our courses are conducted online, with live classes via Zoom. We do not offer in-person courses. General Italian courses consist of 30 class hours per level and are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) criteria. The cost for each level is $125.00 USD.
12. Italian for Specific Purposes Courses
The academy reserves the right to implement Italian for Specific Purposes programs (medical, legal, commercial, among others). The terms of use, costs, delivery methods, and specific academic regulations for these courses will be established independently and formally communicated on our website and in these regulations at the time each program is opened.
13. Individual classes
They are defined as exclusive instruction sessions between an instructor and a single student. To ensure operational feasibility, any cancellation requires at least 24 hours' advance notice; otherwise, the class will be considered taught. Regarding punctuality, the session will start and end strictly at the agreed time; in the event of a delay on the student's part, the class time will not be extended nor will lost minutes be made up. The cost of an individual class is $20.00 per hour.
14. Books
The academy uses original textbooks in digital format. The student must purchase the digital book license through the publisher's official link at a price of $32.40 USD. The license can be acquired exclusively with a debit or credit card and is valid for 14 months. The textbook is used for 2 levels.
15. Discount policy
The Academy may establish temporary discount programs or financial benefits. Their application will be governed by the following conditions:
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Publicity and Validity: Active discounts, their percentages, and application requirements will be published exclusively on the academy's official website. It is the student's responsibility to check active promotions at the time of enrollment.
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Non-Cumulative: Discounts are non-cumulative. In the event that a student qualifies for two or more benefits, only the one representing the greatest savings for the user will apply, unless the promotion indicates otherwise.
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Non-Retroactive Nature: Discounts must be requested or applied at the time of payment; no refunds or adjustments will be made for promotions published after the enrollment date.
16. Technological and Connectivity Requirements
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Connection: A stable internet connection allowing real-time video and audio is required.
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Hardware: Camera, audio, and microphone in perfect working condition. Headphones are recommended for a better acoustic experience and ambient noise reduction.
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Platform: Classes are held via the Zoom platform. It is the student's responsibility to have the latest version installed.
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Physical space: Attend classes in a comfortable, well-lit, and distraction-free environment, ideal for learning and concentration.
17. Participation and Conduct Rules
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Identification and Punctuality: It is necessary to enter the virtual room on time using your real full name to facilitate attendance tracking.
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Active Presence: Keep the camera turned on throughout the entire session. Visual interaction is essential for our communicative methodology.
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Respect and Conduct: Maintain a polite and professional conduct at all times. The use of offensive language, spam, or disruptions that affect the pace of the class or fellow students' learning is not allowed.
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Non-Discrimination: InItalia is a safe and diverse space. Any manifestation of hate, harassment, or discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or any other condition is strictly prohibited. Non-compliance with this rule will be grounds for permanent expulsion without right to a refund.
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Recordings: Class recordings will be conducted exclusively to evaluate teaching quality. These recordings are property of the institution and, to prevent any detriment to users, will not be shared with third parties. Students unable to attend a class must notify the teacher in advance and may request the link to the recorded session.
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Student Commitment: The student undertakes not to record sessions through external means.
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Confidentiality of Recordings: A student who misses a class and receives the link to the recorded session agrees not to share or distribute the video to third parties under any circumstances.
18. Commitment to learning
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Authentic Voice: Avoid using translators or AI in class. We value natural effort and mistakes; they are the only way to learn and gain fluency.
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Linguistic Immersion: In practice rooms (Breakout Rooms) and group activities, the absolute commitment is to communicate exclusively in Italian.
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Path to Success: Follow the sequence of activities and instructions provided by the teacher, respecting the method and established timeframes to guarantee results
19. Assessment and Evaluation
The teacher will explain the evaluation criteria at the beginning of the course. Our evaluation system is based on continuous assessment: class participation, autonomous activities, and a final exam. The minimum passing grade for the course is 70/100. If a student does not take the final exam, they may request the Academy to take it at another time by submitting a justification. The make-up exam is administered outside normal class hours under teacher supervision and carries an additional fee of $20.00 USD
20. Examinations
To ensure you make the most of your learning process and to measure your real progress in the language, the final exam is governed by the following guidelines:
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Format and Modality: The exam will take place online through our virtual platform on the established date and time. Detailed instructions regarding structure and duration will be available in your virtual classroom in advance so that you can prepare.
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Integrity and Purpose of the Exam: Our exams are designed to evaluate your real mastery of Italian and to help you identify areas for improvement. We encourage academic honesty as the foundation of your growth: we ask that you complete the evaluation individually, relying on your own knowledge.
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Technical Flexibility: The evaluation is compatible with standard computers and mobile devices. Simply ensure you have a stable internet connection and a quiet space for the duration of the test.
21. Tardiness
To make the most of each session and maintain a smooth learning environment, we suggest that students log in to the online Zoom class on time. In the event of a delay, the instructor will proceed with the planned agenda so as not to affect the group's pace; therefore, it will be each student's responsibility to catch up on the topics covered during their absence.
22. Absences
It is a requirement to complete all scheduled hours for each period. Frequent absences undermine the learning process and evaluation system. To pass the course, an attendance rate of 70% is required. For organizational reasons, missed classes cannot be made up in schedules or modalities other than the one enrolled in. In case of absence, the student may catch up independently with the teacher's guidance throughout this process.
23. Complementary Services
Translation and Consulting Services. In addition to the academic offerings, the Academy makes professional certified translation and consulting services available to its students for university enrollment processes in Italy. The specific conditions, costs, responsibilities, and delivery times of these services are not governed by these regulations, but will be detailed and accepted through an independent document or contract at the time of hiring said services.
24. Privacy Policies
By accepting these regulations, the student or their legal representative, as applicable, freely, specifically, and knowledgeably authorizes InItalia to collect, store, and process their personal data. The data will be used for academic management, billing, communication via WhatsApp/Email, and access to digital platforms. The student or their legal representative consents to synchronous classes being recorded for strictly pedagogical purposes, specifically to evaluate teaching performance. The recordings are property of the institution and, to prevent any detriment to users, will not be made available to third parties. Data transfer to teachers and technological service providers is authorized for the proper execution of the service.
25. Non-Storage of Financial Data Clause
Payment Security: The Academy uses certified payment gateways (Payphone, PayPal) to process all transactions. At no point does the Academy have access to, collect, or store sensitive credit or debit card data from the User. The processing of such information is the exclusive responsibility of the payment processor entity, under PCI-DSS international security standards.
26. Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Protection Clause
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Ownership: All content provided in the courses, including but not limited to: study guides, videos, class recordings, exercises, audio files, logos, and the "InItalia" teaching methodology, are the exclusive property of the Academy and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.
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License of Use: Payment for the course grants the student a personal, private, non-transferable, and non-exclusive license of use. The reproduction, distribution, public communication, transformation, or any other form of exploitation of the content without express written authorization from the owner is strictly prohibited.
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Prohibition of Recording and Distribution: The student agrees not to record sessions by external means.
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Confidentiality of "Know-How": The Student acknowledges that the shared teaching methods and processes are confidential information of the Academy. The use of this information to create competing educational services will be considered a violation of trade secrets and will give rise to corresponding civil and criminal legal actions.
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Sanctions: Non-compliance with this provision may result in corresponding disciplinary sanctions and, if necessary, relevant legal actions to protect the Academy's intellectual property.
27. Jurisdiction and Applicable Law
For all legal purposes of this document, the terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Ecuador. Any dispute arising from this document shall be submitted to the resolution of the competent courts in the city of Quito.
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Document code: REG-001
Version: 1.0
Publication date: April 20, 2026
Quito-Ecuador