| Date post: | 17-Jan-2017 |
| Category: |
Education |
| Upload: | colin-tueck |
| View: | 39 times |
| Download: | 4 times |
European Quality AssuranceRegister for Higher Education
Values and Ethical Practicesin External QA Across Borders
Global Summit on Quality Higher EducationBengaluru, 16 September 2016
Colin Tück
European framework forquality assurance
Standards and Guidelines forQuality Assurance in the EuropeanHigher Education Area (ESG) Initially 2005, revised 2015 Common framework Enable quality assurance and
improvement Support mutual trust, facilitate
recognition and mobility Provide information
European Quality AssuranceRegister (EQAR) Agencies that comply substantially
with the ESG
43 registered QAAs
Governmental memberswithout registered agency
ESG
Developed by stakeholders,adopted by governments
3 parts: addressing internal QA,external QA and QAAs
2015 revision: Changed context: new types of
provision, CBEQA Scope: student experience,
link to recognition andqualifications frameworks(QF-EHEA)
Technical: clarity,redundancies, consistency
Reflects EHEA progress overlast 10 years
Principles: HEIs' primary responsibility Responds to the diversity of
systems, institutions,programmes and students
Support the development of aquality culture
Take into account the needsand expectations of students,all other stakeholders andsociety
Transparency and publicationof QA results
Independence of external QAagencies
European Quality Assurance Registerfor Higher Education (EQAR)
Established by E4 at Ministers'request, jointly governed bystakeholders and governments
Non-profit and independent, acting inthe public interest
Mission: enhancing trust andconfidence in EHEA
Main role: to manage a register ofQAAs that comply substantially withthe ESG
Processes for registration andmonitoring of registered agencies
Stakeholderorganisations
Governments
Observers
Register CommitteeIndependent QA experts,
nominated by stakeholders
approves
The topic of today
Many facets of internationalisation in highereducation
Quality assurance crossing borders is just one Scenarios:
1. HEI turns to QA agency from different country forevaluation, audit, accreditation (cross-border EQA)
2. QA of transnational education (TNE)3. QA of joint programmes and joint degrees
1st scenario, CBEQA, in focus of this presentation
CBEQA by registeredagencies
9
41
1
2
4
36
12
11
6 1 1 1
1
4
63
36 26
15 16 82 6 3 17 3 7 2
26
1
5 110 81 11119 6 136 67
71 112 97 702 271 55 278 739 1097
Total Home Inst CBEQA Prog CBEQA
Opportunities andChallenges
Opportunities Challenges
HigherEducationInstitutions
● International visibility● Valuable feedback● Increased commitment● Different approaches● Suit their own mission
● Identify suitable agency● Workload and costs● Unknown expectations● Language
QualityAssuranceAgencies
● International profile● Experience relevant for
work at home● Diversification
● Unfamiliar context● Adapting standards● Language
Issues arising
Cross-border EQA puts values and ethicalpractices on the agenda
Issues arising include: QAA enter a competition situation Different values, traditions and understandings Risks of lowering standards for business reasons Less attention of national stakeholders and regulators Voluntary accreditation regarded as less critical Borders between quality assurance and consultancy ...
ESG 2015
Standard 3.6: Internal quality assurance and professional conductAgencies should have in place processes for internal quality assurancerelated to defining, assuring and enhancing the quality and integrity of theiractivities.
Guidelines:Agencies need to be accountable to their stakeholders. Therefore, highprofessional standards and integrity in the agency’s work are indispensable.The review and improvement of their activities are on-going so as to ensurethat their services to institutions and society are optimal.Agencies apply an internal quality assurance policy which is available on itswebsite. This policy ensures that all persons involved in its activities are competent and act
professionally and ethically;...
ESG 2015
… includes internal and external feedback mechanisms that lead to a
continuous improvement within the agency; guards against intolerance of any kind or discrimination; outlines the appropriate communication with the relevant authorities of
those jurisdictions where they operate; ensures that any activities carried out and material produced by
subcontractors are in line with the ESG, if some or all of the elements inits quality assurance activities are subcontracted to other parties;
allows the agency to establish the status and recognition of theinstitutions with which it conducts external quality assurance.
EQAR Use and Interpretation of the ESG: Using the ESG and EQAR “labels” only in connection with EQA
procedures that are in compliance with the ESG
EQAR Complaints Policy
Who may complain? Any individual or organisation with substantiatedconcerns about the work of a registered agency
What type of concerns? Related to ESG compliance or integrity of the review process Not: national or international legislation, review individual procedures
How? Web form, anonymous submission possible What consequences can it have?
Unsubstantiated Formal warning to the agency New external review of the agency against the ESG Immediate exclusion
In practice, not often used More informal comments than official complaints
Further monitoring
Registration based on external review of agency
Annual updates on reviews and countries
Substantive change reports
Third-party complaints
Periodic renewal every 5 years
E4/EQAR Guiding Steps
Initiative of E4 Group (institutions, QA agencies, students) andEQAR, following up RIQAA project
Starting point: ESG as common ground in CBEQA Collection of key issues to consider by QAAs and HEIs, e.g.
Rationale for and implications of CBQA Choosing a suitable QA agency Constraints arising from the legal framework Adaptations of the agency's usual practices Site visit and preparation of peer reviewers Recognition of results and follow-up Complaints and appeals
To be presented at European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF)in November 2016, finalised later this year
