external quality assurance in the european higher education area: challenges and trends rolf...

External Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area: Challenges and Trends

Rolf Heusser, Switzerland TechnoTN Forum, Brussels, 4 May 2007

External Quality Assurance in the EHEA

Presentation:

1. International dimension of Quality Assurance (QA)

2. External QA in Europe: challenges and trends

3. Future work of QA Agencies

Heusser/OAQ/May 2007

International dimension of quality assurance

Quality AssuranceAccreditation

Internationalrecognition of qualifications

Cross-bordereducation

Common HE-areaBologna process

Access to labour market


Role of quality assurance in the Bologna process

Berlin communiqué 2003:

Quality (...) has proven to be at the heart of the EHEA

Implementation of national quality assurance systems until 2005

Including a system of accreditation or comparable procedures

International cooperation and networking


National Agencies for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Europe, 2007

Evaluations / Audits Accreditations


European Quality labels

Label initiatives supported by EU commission:

EUR-ACE: engineering

Eurobachelor and Euromaster in chemistry

European accreditation of informatics programmes

Accreditation in European professional music training

Accreditation of MA in life sciences/rural environment

EFMD initiatives: EPAS, Q3E, Queste, UNIQUe


Challenges for external QA in Europe

Implementation of European Standards and Guidelines

Removal of barriers in the process of recognition of foreign qualifications

Shift of QA focus: from inputs to learning outcomes

Debate about institutional vs programme approach


European Standards and Guidelines for QAAs

ESG for internal and external QA adopted by ministers in Bergen 2005

A view of what should be done; statements of good practices

Contribution to a common frame of reference in EHEA; prerequisite for entry into planned European register

Peer review of all QA-agencies in next five years


Recognition of qualifications - current state

Ratification of Lisbon recognition convention does not solve all recognition problems

Still case to case decisions for acceptance of foreign qualifications

Doubts on the quality is a reason on the grounds of which recognition might be denied

Mutual recognition agreements between accreditation agencies should lead to the trust needed to “automatically” recognise accredited foreign study programmes/institutions


Political Basis for mutual recognition initiatives in Europe

Bologna Ministers Conference, Bergen 2005:

„We underline the importance of cooperation between nationally recognised agencies with a view to enhancing the mutual recognition of accreditation or quality assurance decisions“.

European Parliament, 2005:

“Hereby recommend that member states... promote cooperation between agencies in order to build up mutual trust and the recognition of QA/accreditation assessments, thus contributing to the recognition of qualifications for the purpose of study or work in another country“.


ECA – Foundation and Aim

Consortium of national accreditation organisations

Established in November 2003

15 member organisations from 10 European countries: AT, BE, CH, DE, ES, FR, IE, NL, NO, PL

Aim: mutual recognition of accreditation decisions among participating countries until 2007


ECA approach towards Mutual Recognition

Government/Recognition bodies


Learning outcome orientation in external QA

Overarching Qualification Framework (QF) adopted by ministers in Bergen 2005, to be implemented on national level until 2010 (NQF)

QFs are based on learning outcomes, competences and skills

There is a link between NQF and national QA system

New challenge for QAAs: develop learning outcome oriented QA/accreditation systems


Example of learning outcome oriented accreditation system

ABET – programme accreditation checks:

whether study programmes formulate explicit learning outcomes

whether curricula fit to stated learning outcomes

how students can demonstrate competences

if HEI uses assessment results for further improvement of study programmes


Institutional Assessments – Strengths

Enhancement of institutional quality mechanisms and facilitation of the development of a quality culture

Sustainable effects at the level of institutional management

Assures flexibility and autonomy of HEIs at programme level

Resource saving method


Programme Assessments – Strengths

Focus on „educational quality“

Useful information for students/employers

Link to national recognition practices

Direct international comparison of qualifications possible


Future scenarios for universities and HE

OECD Report 2004:

Internationalisation of education will continue

Increased private activities/private funding of HEIs

New providers and new emerging institutions

Increased activities in LLL and in use of ICT

Important role in transfer of knowledge and innovation to society

Increasing autonomy of HEIs


Future scenarios in HE – Open questions for QAAs

How to assure internationalisation of agencies?

Diversification of activities or staying focused?

What new methodologies are needed to cope with new trends?

How to increase flexibility of the external QA-system?

What is the adequate balance between internal and external quality assurance?


Requirements for future work of QA-agencies

QA-agencies should have the following characteristics:

They are living systems

They need capacity for dynamic change

They need to have self-regulatory power and means to maintain their organisation

They have to exchange with environment

They may produce some heat


Conclusions

Quality assurance and accreditation are key elements in the international higher education area

Fair recognition of qualifications is dependent on transparent information about quality

Some progress has been made towards an EHEA, but important challenges for external QA-systems are ahead

HE is moving in Europe and QAAs have to move with it

Independence, capacities for adoptation, mutual trust building with national and international partners are essential elements for future work of agencies

external quality assurance in the european higher education area: challenges and trends rolf...

Documents

external quality assurance

quality assurance decisions

role of quality assurance

accreditation agencies

process of recognition

networking slide

unique slide

mutual recognition initiatives