Models for External Quality Assurance from a European perspective

19 May 2009

Axel Aerden
International Policy Advisor

Overview
1. Terminology 2. General QA model in Europe 3. European QA infrastructure 4. QA model at national level

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1. Terminology
- Quality?
- An examination of a knife would reveal that its distinctive quality is to cut, and from this we can conclude that a good knife would be a knife that cuts well. Aristotle - Fitness for purpose <> Conformance to requirements

- Quality assurance (QA)

- Quality assessment - Quality audit - Benchmarking - Accreditation

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1. Terminology
- Quality assurance: process establishing stakeholder confidence that provision fulfils expectations
- Quality assessment
Process: evaluation by external body Process: checking procedures in place to assure quality, integrity or standards of provision and outcomes. Process: enables comparison of inputs, processes or outputs Formal decision: meets certain predefined criteria

- Quality audit

- Benchmarking
-

- Accreditation
-

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2. General QA Model in Europe

- National competence
- Important socio-economic sector - Subsidiarity

- Autonomous QA Agencies ( independence)

- External, independent reviews of QAAs
- International expert panels

- Panel composition
- Members: authority, independence and expertise - Academics/peers > professional field > student

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2. General QA Model in Europe

- General model of HE QA
Internal QA External QA QA Agency

- Internal QA (HEI) & external QA (National)

- Self-evaluation report: basis for external QA

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2. General QA Model in Europe

- External assessment
- Predefined criteria - Site visit - Publication of outcome

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3. European Quality Assurance infrastructure

Qualifications Framework for EHEA

Level descriptors Ba., Ma. & Dr.

European Standards & Guidelines for QA

European QA Register

European University Internal (EUA) AssociationQA External QA QA Agency European Student Union (ESU) Peer review of QA Agency European Association of HEIs (EURASHE) European Association for QA in HE (ENQA)
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4. QA Model at national level

Accountability Quality Improvement

Peer

Audit

Professional

External

QA
Theme Programme Institution Government HE Students Labour market

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4. QA Model at national level

Accountability Quality Improvement Assessment / Audit / Accreditation Panel composition Validity of outcomes Publication policy .... Theme Programme Institution

Peer

Audit

Professional

Government HE

Students Labour market

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QA Model at national level

Legal Ministry Agency Self-funded Government Institutions

QA
Agency
Improve Guarantee Recognise Decisions Advices Decisions Published

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QA Model at national level

Legal Ministry Agency Independence criteria Board / Management Competencies: procedures & methodologies .... Improve Guarantee Recognise Self-funded Government Institutions

Decisions Advices Non-binding Published

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QUESTIONS ?

More information:
http://www.nvao.net http://www.qrossroads.eu
a.aerden@nvao.net

Models Models for External Quality Assurance13 for External Quality Assurance |