eqar - what it is, how it works, and what it does
TRANSCRIPT
European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education
EQAR – what is is,how it works, and what it does
ENQA Seminar – Quality Assurance in the European ContextBrussels, 3 November 2016
Colin Tück
Contents
1) EQAR mission, objectives and organisation
2) What does it mean in practice for agencies?
3) Overview of EQAR’s Work Plan
4) Cross-border quality assurance
Mission & Objectives
A European register of credible quality assurance agencies, operating in line with the ESG
Initial idea part of ESG 2005
European ministers requested E4 to establish EQAR (2007)
Founded 2008 by E4
Governed jointly by European governments and stakeholder organisations
Non-profit and independent, acting in the public interest
Not directly in EQAR's power
Within EQAR's own remit
Further development of the EHEA
Promote mobility and recognition
Enhance confidence in quality of HE
Mutual acceptance of QA decisions/results
Enhance trust amongst HEI/QAA
Reduce opportunities for accreditation mills
Increase transparency of quality assurance
Provide clear and reliable info on registered QAAs
Manage a register of QAAs
Coherent quality assurance framework for the EHEA
Organisational structure
Stakeholder organisations
Governments
ObserversRegister Committee
Independent QA experts,nominated by stakeholders
(ENQA, ESU, EUA, EURASHE, EI, BE)
Executive Boardmembers from E4
Appeals Committeeresponsible for appeals
General Assembly
Secretariat(currently 2.6 FTE)
EQAR-registered agencies and governmental members
43 registered QAAs
Governmental members without registered agency
EQAR in practice
Registration based on external review of agency
Annual updates on reviews and countries
Substantive change reports
Third-party complaints
Periodic renewal every 5 years
Application/renewal process
Expiry of registration or Review submission deadline (15 March / 15 September)
Comments on factual accuracy
-2 months
Draft external review report
-3 months
Site visit by the Panel
-4 months
Self-evaluation report
-8 months
Application to EQAR: Verification of eligibilty
-11 months
Agreement with review coordinator & draft ToR
- 12 months
Submission of review documents
0-2 months
Confirmation of eligibility-10 months
Review coordinator, e.g. ENQA
EQAR
Decision-making
Conclusions for each standard Overall judgement
Review panel
Substantially compliant
Not substantially compliant
either ...
… or
Register Committee decision
Full compliance
Substantial compliance
Partial compliance
Non-compliance
Compliance (full or substantial)
Partial compliance
Non-compliance
All standards
One or more
One or more → holistic judgement
Clarification requests to panel chair if needed If conclusion differs from panel, explained in public decision
Publication
Application – important documents
General
Policy on Use and Interpretation of the ESGfor the European Register To be read in conjunction with the full text of the ESG New element: “Reports should at least demonstrate”
Guide for Applicants and Registered Agencies
https://eqar.eu/register/application-process.html
Your agency
Eligibility confirmation letter For renewals: previous decision, Substantive Change Reports,
Complaints (if any)
Annual update
Substantive Change Reports
Why Become aware if agency's current practice differs
substantially from when it was reviewed Not intended to discourage change and innovation
When When changes are sufficiently clearly defined E.g. when new procedure or manual is launched
How Online reporting form
http://eqar.eu/register/reporting-and-renewal/substantive-change-report.html
EQAR will normally take note, other action only if there are serious concerns
EQAR Work Plan 2016/17
Strategic Goal 1: International Trust and Recognition Implementation of the ESG 2015
Developments in Cross-Border QA
European Approach for QA of Joint Programmes
Strategic Goal 2: Enhanced Transparency and Information Provision Information on the Work of Registered Agencies
Database of Quality-Assured Programmes or HEIs
Extended Publication of Decisions
Quality assurance crossing borders
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
CBQA: opportunities & challenges
Opportunities Challenges
Higher Education Institutions
● International visibility● Valuable feedback● Increased commitment● Different approaches● Suit their own mission
● Identify suitable agency● Workload and costs● Unknown expectations● Language
Quality Assurance Agencies
● International profile● Experience relevant for
work at home● Diversification
● Unfamiliar context● Adapting standards● Language
CBQA: national legal frameworks lag behind
Despite the robust European framework in place … Cross-border
accreditation/ evaluation not fully recognised
In addition/parallel to obligatory national external QA
Duplication of efforts for institutions Recognising EQAR-registered agencies as part of the national
requirements for external QA
Recognising foreign agencies with own/specific framework
Discussions ongoing
Countries not recognising external QA by foreign agency
EQAR – system information
E4/EQAR Key Considerations for CBQA
E4 Group and EQAR ad-hoc group, following up recommendation from RIQAA project (2012)
Reaffirm ESG as the basis for CB QA
Key issues that should be taken into consideration by HEIs and QAAs
A. Engaging in cross-border QA
Rationale, suitable agency, legal framework, internal and external stakeholders
B. Carrying out cross-border QA
Procedures, preparation, expert selection/training, practical specificities
C. Addressing the results of cross-border QA
Recognition, complaints, appeals, follow-up
