Transcript CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH WORK ON THE ALBANIAN MASTER PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 22-23 March 2006 HIGHER EDUCATION FOR QUALITY – QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION Stephen.

CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH WORK ON THE ALBANIAN
MASTER PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
22-23 March 2006
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR QUALITY –
QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Stephen Adam, University of Westminster
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR QUALITY QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION
FOCUS ON:
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What is quality (terminology)?
What does quality in Higher Education mean?
Quality evaluation in Europe
What are the purposes of European quality assurance?
The purposes of quality assurance in the UK
Different dimensions to quality:
7.
The Bologna Process and quality - recent European developments
8.
9.
The Albanian Master Plan – Challenges
Final thoughts…
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Local/Institutional (bottom-up v top-down)
National (QA agencies)
International (good practice guidelines)
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Bergen Communiqué
Implications for institutions
The European quality assurance dimension
European quality assurance: the longer term
1. What is quality (terminology)?
QUALITY:
‘The level of excellence’
QUALITY ASSURANCE:
‘The means (internal and external) and processes by
which the quality of academic provision is maintained
and confirmed’
STANDARDS:
‘Accepted measurement on which to base a
judgement’
QUALITY ENHANCEMENT:
‘Improving quality’’
2. What does quality in Higher Education mean?
RELATES TO:
 Education as a ‘public good’ + ‘public responsibility’
 Educational transparency + choice + diversity
 Equality of opportunity – access and social inclusion
 Excellent programmes of study
 The student experience
 Efficient use of resources
 Good governance (all levels)
 Clear articulation of values: corruption + freedom to research, etc.
 Standards: integrity, professionalism, accountability, openness
 Robust: review, monitoring and validation of courses/institutions
 Academic autonomy with responsibility
3. Quality evaluation in Europe
 Since the 1990s most countries have a national agency (or
agencies) responsible for external quality evaluation.
 All countries have some kind of quality assurance mechanism in
place but they differ significantly in terms of purpose, focus
and organisation. Some are:
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Outcomes-based (focus on evidence + qualitative aspects)
Input-based (focus on resources + quantitative aspects)
Programme-based system
Subject-based approaches (benchmarking)
Institution-based (Audit) approaches
Mixtures of the above
 The role, function and ownership of central/national agencies
varies according to autonomy and responsibilities of institutions
 Most follow a similar process but with very different
outcomes and emphasis in terms of:
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Self-evaluation
Visit by external body representatives
Report
Consequences
 Accreditation agencies are another approach, they act as
external bodies to ‘authorise’ new programmes and/or
institutions. Some institutions seek accreditation from
overseas agencies/institutions/professional bodies
4.
What are the purposes of European
quality assurance?
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Accountability?
Academic standards?
Enhancement?
Information?
Control?
Standardisation?
5. The purposes of quality assurance in the UK:
 Security of academic standards of qualifications
 Enhancement of students’ learning opportunities
and experience
 Accountability
 Information
www.qaa.ac.uk
6.
Different dimensions to quality:
 Local/Institutional (bottom-up v top-down)
 National (Quality Assurance Agencies)
 International (good practice guidelines, EUA, etc.)
7.
The Bologna Process and quality
- recent European developments
The 2005 Bergen Communiqué inter alia:
 Sought more progress in European QA, particularly student
involvement + international cooperation
 Urged Higher Education Institutions to introduce internal QA
mechanisms linked to external QA
 Adopted the ENQA ‘Standards and Guidelines’’
 Required a report for the London Ministerial meeting 2007
 Agreed the proposed peer review model of QA agencies
 Welcomed the European register of QA agencies
 Adopted the overarching framework for qualifications
 Committed countries to elaborating compatible national frameworks
These decisions have unstated implications for
institutions:
 Require a high measure of institutional autonomy and
responsibility
 Imply a different relationship between HEIs and state/ministry
 Put in place outcome/output based systems and reference points
 Engender an internal/external reform in approaches to QA
 Need to facilitate institutional transparency, diversity and
responsibility
European quality assurance requirements
(Peter Williams - Chair of ENQA)
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Must acknowledge the importance of the public interest
Must have clear aims and objectives
Must be realistic
Must be achievable
Must start with national, regional and institutional autonomy
and diversity
Must offer both reliable public information and opportunities
for institutional development and improvement
Must be fit for purpose
Must be properly resourced
Must not be rushed
European quality assurance: the longer term
(Peter Williams - Chair of ENQA)
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Common concepts
Common language
Shared understandings and values
A European HE quality culture?
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Qualifications recognition
Comparable academic standards
Useful information for stakeholders
Improved academic professionalism
Better higher education
8.
The Albanian Master Plan – Challenges:
(The same challenges face us all!)
 Develop a multi-dimensional strategy at the local/institutional,
national and international levels (realistic targets + build on existing
good practice).
 Identify and consult all stakeholders to build a consensus (including
students, employers, external experts, etc)
 Create a new style qualifications framework – external reference
points/standards
 Adopt effective ways to monitor, review, validate (quality assure
and quality enhance + possibly, codes of practice)
 Promote good governance within higher education institutions
 Move from external prescription to internal rigour + move from
assertion to verifiable information
 Develop an appropriate academic infrastructure and academic
culture to underpins it (staff development)
9. Final thought!
THIS IS NOT
QUALTY
ASSURANCE
QUALITY
ASSURANCE IS
NOT
SOMETHING
DONE TO YOU!
References:
 Bologna website and Secretariat: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bologna
 Europe Unit (UK): www.europeunit.ac.uk
 European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education
(ENQA): www.enqa.net
 European Commission:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/education_culture/index_en.htm
 European Universities Association (EUA): www.eua.be
 EUA Developing a quality culture Project
http://www.eua.be/eua/en/projects_quality.jspx
 Lisbon Recognition Convention: http://conventions.coe.int
 National Union of Students in Europe (ESIB): www.esib.org
 UK Quality Assurance Agency: http://www.qaa.ac.uk