Transcript ARMENIA: Quality Assurance (QA) and National

ARMENIA:
Quality Assurance (QA) and
National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
Tbilisi Regional Seminar on Quality Management in the Context of
National Qualifications Framework
Tbilisi, November 4-5, 2010
Countries Participating in the Bologna
Process (three cycles) 2008
Little
progress
Areas
Quality Assurance
Excellent
performance
Bologna Action Lines Stocktaking: Armenia 2009
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Level of
international
participation
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National
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implementat
ion of
Standards
and
Guidelines
for QA in the
EHEA
Level of
student
participation
Stage of
development
of external
quality
assurance
system
Internal Quality Assurance
Policy and procedures address
Approval, monitoring and
periodic review of programs
and awards
Assessment of students
Quality assurance of teaching
staff
Learning resources and student
support
Institutional Practices
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In most of cases there are no specific policies in place.
Legal requirement to have procedures
None of the required mechanisms for monitoring are in
place. The exception is the formal program approval
procedures, (under development), some details exist
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Presence of none of the attributes can be ascertained.
Assessment is high stakes and a most contentious area.
Learning outcomes are not linked to assessment
Development opportunities limited.
Law provides for non-renewal in case of poor performance
but little evidence of implementation.
Some HEIs have HD system which is not efficient
Availability varies hugely between institutions. Need to
ensure that any existing methods of allocating resources
yields equitable results against standard benchmarks.

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Information systems (means to
collect systematic data)
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There is almost no systematic data collection and analysis.
Very limited MIS functions in place.
Public information
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Very limited information available in brochures and on
university websites.
Many universities have started the prep. ECTS info
package
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Source: World Bank, 2008
European Standards
External Quality Assurance
1. Development of external QA processes
 Clear, transparent, and publicized
procedures developed with input from key
stakeholders
1. Criteria for decisions
 Published criteria and standards that are
interpreted consistently
1. Reporting
 Comprehensive, with recommendations
 Accessible to the institution as well as to
those outside
1. Follow-up procedures
 Steps to ensure that recommendations are
followed up
1. Periodic review
1. System-wide analysis
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Institutional Practices
There are no specific internal QA
procedures in place.
There are no processes in place for
external QA.
Appropriate standards and criteria that
reflect current ways of measuring
academic performance (individuals and
institutions) do not exist.
This is one of the objective ANQA
Scope and level of disclosure not yet
defined
Follow-up procedures include rating of
institutions and providing improvement
recommendations.
No specific reference to periodic review
practices.
To be developed by ANQA
Source: World Bank, 2008
European Standards
1. Use of internal QA procedures
European Standards and Guidelines for External QA Agencies
Use external QA procedures for higher education
 Standards defined in external process for higher
education (Table 2) are taken into account.
Official status
 Recognized by public authorities in EHEA
 Established legal basis
 Comply with requirements of national legislative
jurisdictions
Activities
 External QA activities at institutional or program level
on a regular basis
Resources
 Adequate human and financial resources
 Provision to develop own processes and procedures
Mission statement
 Publicly available, clear and explicit goals and
objectives
 Division of labour with relevant stakeholders
 Systematic approach to achieving its main purpose of
external QA
Practices of Existing External
QA Agencies
Currently, none exist that would
satisfy European thresholds.
Satisfactory
Not clear
Satisfactory
Website developed, needs
further work
Source: World Bank, 2008
European Standards
European Standards and Guidelines for External QA Agencies
Independence
External QA criteria
 Pre-defined and publicly available
 Preceded by self-assessment; external expert peer
reviews; site visits; student input
 Publication of report with recommendations
 Follow-up procedures to address recommendations
 Procedures for own accountability
 Provision for appeals procedures
Accountability
 Published policy for the QA of agency/unit itself
 Documentation to support appropriate actions, noconflict of interest mechanisms, oversight for any
documentation developed by third parties,
 Mandatory cyclical review of the agency activities at
least every five years.
Practices of Existing External
QA Agencies
High relative level of
independence
Being developed and consulted
with HEIS
Not clear
Source: World Bank, 2008
European Standards
Country
Armenia
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Source: 2009 National stocktaking reports
TT
Has the self-certification report been
published?
Stage of progress on the selfcertification of compatibility with the
EHEA
Implementation of the national
qualifications framework
Timetable been agreed for
consultations with all stakeholders
NQF been nationally discussed with
all stakeholders
Generic descriptors for each cycle
based on learning outcomes and
competences
ECTS credit ranges for the first and
second cycle
National qualifications framework
been prepared
IMPLEMENTATION OF NQFs
Not yet No
EHEA
National Qualifications Framework
HEI
HEI
HEI
HEI
HEI
ANQA