external quality assurance in the european higher education area: challenges and trends rolf...
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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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
National Agencies for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Europe, 2007
Evaluations / Audits Accreditations
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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“.
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
Programme Assessments – Strengths
Focus on „educational quality“
Useful information for students/employers
Link to national recognition practices
Direct international comparison of qualifications possible
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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?
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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
Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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