Transcript European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area Colin Tück 26/27 May 2008, Baku Council of Europe seminar.

European Quality Assurance
Register for Higher Education
Quality Assurance in the European Higher
Education Area
Colin Tück
26/27 May 2008, Baku
Council of Europe seminar
Quality assurance within the
EHEA
 Internal quality assurance
 Taking place within the higher education institution
 Different extents of formality
 Different driving forces
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quality improvement
proving accountability
external forces
…
 Different stages of development
Quality assurance within the
EHEA (2)
 External quality assurance
Chart by
Lee Harvey
Quality assurance in the
Bologna Process
Primary
responsibility of
Collaboration of HEIs for quality;
“agreed set of
HEIs and QA
standards,
agencies “in
Co-operation in
procedures and
establishing a
quality
common framework guidelines”
assurance “with
European Standards and
of reference”
a view to
Guidelines
developing
European
comparable
Register
E4 Group
criteria and
methodologies“
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
Bologna
Prague
Berlin
Bergen
London
European Standards and
Guidelines for QA
 Adopted by Bologna ministers in 2005
 Developed by ENQA, ESU, EUA and EURASHE
 Rationale:
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Standards and guidelines, but no procedures
Common principles that cover the diversity
Reference points rather than detailed standards
Not to be used as a checklist
Underlining the responsibility of HEIs for quality
improvement
European Standards and
Guidelines for QA (2)
 Three sections that are linked:
reference in standard
3.1
Chapter 3:
External
QA agencies
reference in standard
2.1
Chapter 2:
External
QA of HEIs
Chapter 1:
Internal
QA by HEIs
1) Standards and Guidelines for
internal quality assurance
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Policy and procedures for quality assurance
Approval, monitoring and periodic review
Assessment of students
Quality assurance of teaching staff
Learning resources and student support
Information systems
Public information
2) Standards and Guidelines for
external quality assurance
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Use of internal quality assurance procedures (1)
Development of external QA processes
Criteria for decisions
Processes fit for purpose
Reporting
Follow-up procedures
Periodic reviews
System-wide analyses
3) Standards and Guidelines for
external QA agencies
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Use of external quality assurance procedures (2)
Official status
Activities
Resources
Mission statement
Independence
External quality assurance criteria and processes
Accountability procedures
Elements of an internal
quality assurance system
 Student questionnaires
 Courses
 Entire programmes
 Also: alumni, teaching staff
 Approval and review of programmes
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Internal evaluation of study programmes
Review team involving staff and students
Possible external element
Improvement measures and follow-up
Example of internal QA
Establishing an internal
quality assurance system
 Clearly define aims and objectives
 Discuss the establishment of an internal quality
assurance system with all relevant groups
 Academic staff
 Non-academic staff
 Students
 Broad ownership of the internal QA system
 It will take time …
European Quality Assurance
Register
 A web-based list of credible and reliable quality
assurance agencies
 Substantial compliance with the European Standards and
Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG)
 Evidenced through an external review by independent experts
(QA experts, academic staff, students)
 Objectives
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Enhance trust and confidence
Improve recognition and support mobility
Prevent accreditation mills from gaining credibility
Allow HEIs to make better use of the diversity
European Quality Assurance
Register (2)
Appeals
Committee
Register Committee
11 members in their individual
capacity
3 members
5 government observers
Election
Approval
based on
nominations
General Assembly
Founding Members
E4 Group
Social Partners
BE and EI
Executive Board: 4 members (elected
on proposal of the E4)
Governmental Members EHEA
Governments, CoE, CEPES
Secretariat: Director +
Administrative assistant
Different levels of QA
HEI
?
Internal
quality
culture
Contact
Colin Tück
Project Manager
phone: +32 2 2335 413
email: [email protected]