Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area Tibor Szanto Vice-President, ENQA Ljubljana, 20 October 2009 Overview I. Bologna and after II. The ESG III. EQAR IV. Co-operation of agencies , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 2 I. The Bologna Declaration Bologna, 19 June signatory countries ( Bologna process, EHEA, 46 countries 2007 on) Six objectives: system of easily readable and comparable degrees two main cycles system of credits promotion of mobility European co-operation in quality assurance with a view to developing comparable criteria and methodologies European dimensions in higher education , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 3 After Bologna 1 Developments as to Quality Assurance QA as one of the six objectives (1999) QA as an intermediate priority (2003) European Standards and Guidelines (May 2005)* Recommendation of the European Parliament and Council (February 2006)** European Register (agencies), EQAR (est. 4 March 2008) *(Standards and Guidelines for QA in the EHEA)www.enqa.net ** , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 4 After Bologna 2 Berlin Communiqu (2003) QA: one of the three intermediate priorities The quality of higher education has proven to be at the heart of the setting up of a European Higher Education Area. Ministers commit themselves to supporting further development of quality assurance at institutional, national and European level. They stress the need to develop mutually shared criteria and methodologies on quality assurance. , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 5 Bologna Berlin Bologna (1999) : comparable criteria and methodologies Berlin (2003): mutually shared criteria and methodologies , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 6 After Bologna 3 Berlin Communiqu contd. Ministers call upon ENQA through its members, in co-operation with the EUA, EURASHE and ESIB, to develop an agreed set of standards, procedures and guidelines on quality assurance, to explore ways of ensuring an adequate peer review system for quality assurance and/or accreditation agencies or bodies ESG , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 7 II. The ESG A possible route for confidence building , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 8 How was the ESG prepared? Berlin ministerial meeting ( 2003): ENQA (+ E4) mandate Implementation: Two ENQA working groups ENQA Board, Presidency, General Assembly E4 partners: EUA, EURASHE, ESIB Joint document Adopted: Bergen, May , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 9 Principles of ESG Generic standards and guidelines (What?) Actual procedures (How?): national, institutional implementation Central values diversity, subsidiarity, autonomy First step Implementation: No royal way , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 10 Structure of ESG 1. Internal QA of HEIs 2. External QA 3. Operation of QA agencies Standards and guidelines no procedures! , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 11 1. Standards for internal QA at HEIs 1.1 QA policy, strategy, procedures 1.2 Programme approval, monitoring, and review 1.3 Assessment of students (consistency!) 1.4 QA of teaching staff (internal mechanisms!) 1.5 Learning resources and student support 1.6 Internal information system 1.7 Public information on programmes and awards , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 12 2.1 Use of internal QA procedures 2.2 Development of external procedures aims, objectives, involvement, publication 2.3 Criteria for decisions (published, consistency) 2.4 Processes fit for purpose experts: selection, training, internat. experts participation of students 2.5 Reporting 2.6 Follow-up procedures (accred.) 2.7 Periodic reviews 2.8 System-wide analyses 2. Standards for external QA , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 13 3.1 Use of external QA procedures 3.2 Official status, legal background 3.3 Regular QA activities 3.4 Resources 3.5 Mission statement 3.6 Independence from HEIs and gov. 3.7 Published criteria and processes 3.8 Accountability (internal QA of agency) 3. Standards for agencies , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 14 Constant focus on quality (central issue in the EHEA) More attention is needed: ESG part 1 (implementation by HEIs!) Learning outcomes International reference points Teaching quality of study programmes Transnational education (TNE) Leuven / Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqu, sect. 14, 17ts/Leuven_Louvain-la-Neuve_Communiqu_April_2009.pdf Implementation of ESG as of , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 15 III. EQAR European Quality Assurance Register for HE Founded: Brussels, 4 March 2008 White list of trustworthy QA agencies (substantial compliance with ESG) Organisation: Register Committee decides on list Appeals Committee considers appeals Administrative bodies operation of the Assoc , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 16 EQAR structure , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 17 Application by QA agency (2 deadlines / year) Two-step decision making of the RC a) formal examination of application b) consideration of compliance with ESG Full ENQA membership = satisfactory evidence (no automatic admission) Acceptance ( list) / Rejection / Withdrawal Procedures for Application and Guide for Applicants and Report by the RC are available on EQAR website EQAR listing procedure , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 18 In the CEE region: CEE Network In Europe: ENQA + other regional and project based co-op. Worldwide: INQAAHE IV. Co-operation of agencies , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 19 CEE Network Central and Eastern European Network of QA Agencies in HE (2001) 21 member agencies from 16 countries Activities: annual workshops (Vilnius, 30 May 2009) surveys biannual General Assembly (2010: Bulgaria) participation at ENQA, INQAAHE events more info at , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 20 ENQA European Association for QA in HE (2000, 2004) 43 full + 5 candidate member agencies from 25 countries, international organisation Activities: workshops, seminars projects, surveys publications annual General Assembly (2009 Barcelona) E4 co-operation policy making role more info at , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 21 For Leuven / Louvain-la-Neuve Aim: to define principles and values priorities Basis for work programme ENQA Position Paper , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 22 ENQA Principles 1 1. Diversity (HE, QA) 2. Harmonisation and convergence of QA 3. ESG as an overarching framework 4. External evaluation of QA agencies 5. Roles of internal - external QA 6. Education and research 7. Balance of internal and external QA , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 23 ENQA Principles 2 8. National legislations diverse approaches 9. Fitness for purpose (purpose process) 10. Co-operation of QA agencies 11. Increasing need for information 12. Explicit goals and methodologies 13. Clear distribution of roles and respons. 14. Dialogue , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 24 ENQA Priorities 1. ESG, implementation, clarification 2. Co-operation of agencies, E4 3. QF, LO, RPL QA 4. QA of TNE, joint programmes 5. QA of LLL 6. Information on quality of HE 7. Staff development at agencies 8. QA awareness, expectations , Ljubljana Tibor Szanto 25 Thank you for your attention!