simonas razminas (ruptela) „informatikos studijų kokybės užtikrinimo tinklas eqanie“

EQANIE

and

Euro-Inf Accreditation

Simonas Razminas

EQANIE Accreditation Committee

Simonas Razminas EQANIE & Euro-Inf Accreditation

What is EQANIE?

EQANIE is the

European Quality Assurance Networkfor Informatics Education

It awards the Euro-inf Quality Labelto degree programmes at Bachelors and

Masters level that comply with the

Euro-Inf Framework Standards andAccreditation Criteria


Talk Outline

I The Euro-Inf Framework

I EQANIE: purposes, history, membership, organisation

I Direct and indirect accreditation

I The direct accreditation procedure

I Benefits of Euro-Inf accreditation

AcknowledgementsI Iring Wasser, Managing Director of ASIIN & former

Vice-President of EQANIE for some of the slides

I Frauke Muth, former Secretary General of EQANIE


The Euro-Inf Framework

I The Euro-Inf Framework is a set of Standards andAccreditation Criteria for Bachelors and Masters degreeprogrammes in informatics

I The Framework is intended toI provide information on study programmes across EuropeI facilitate mutual transnational recognition of qualificationsI enhance quality and transparency of educational programmes

in informatics and encourage the spread of good practiceI increase the mobility of students

I The Standards and Criteria represent a quality threshold - allgraduates of a Euro-Inf accredited degree are expected tohave undertaken a defined set of learning activities and tohave achieved a defined set of learning outcomes.


EQANIE Purposes & Activities

I Development of criteria and procedures for QA in informaticshigher education

I Development and maintenance of a system for the award of aEuropean quality seal for informatics degree programmes

I Maintenance of contacts and relations with other Europeanand non-European organisations in related fields

I Promotion of the development of regional, national andinternational accreditation bodies

I Organisation of events, seminars, workshops and conferencesin the field of its activities


European/International Context

EQANIE is one of a number of Field-specific Quality AssuranceNetworks in Europe:

I ECTNA - European Chemistry Thematic Network Association

I ENAEE - European Network for Accreditation of EngineeringEducation (awards the Eur-Ace label)

I Euro-Ages - European Accredited Geological StudyProgrammes

EQANIE is a member of

I EASPA - European Alliance for Subject-Specific andProfessional Accreditation and Quality Assurance

I INQAAHE - International Network for Quality AssuranceAgencies in Higher Education.


European/International Context


European Subject Agencies


History of EQANIE


Membership


Membership

I AKKORK - Russian Agency for HE QA & Career Development

I ANECA - Spanish National Accreditation Agency

I ARACIS - Romanian Agency for QA in HE

I ASIIN - German Accreditation Agency for Degrees in S & E

I BCS - British Computer Society

I CEPIS - Council of European Prof. Informatics Societies

I CODDI - Spanish National Conference of Informatics Deans

I FBTI - German Ass’n of Applied Science Inf. Faculties

I FTI - German Association of Faculties of Informatics

I GI - German Informatics Society

I GRIN - Italian Association of Teachers in Informatics in HE

I HEQEC - Latvian Higher Education Quality Evaluation Center

I Informatics Europe


Organisation

Audit Teams

elects, nominates, appoints

proposes

supports

Accreditation Committee

Expert Pool

Board of Appeals

General Assembly

Executive Board7 members

Secretariat(at least 7 members)

(at least 3 members)

Supports all committees


Operational Models


Approach to Assessment

(From: ”Procedural Principles for the Accreditation and Reaccreditation

of Bachelors and Masters Degree Programmes in Informatics”


Direct & Indirect Accreditation

I Direct AccreditationI Institution applies to EQANIE and submits a self-assessment

report and supporting documentationI Institution pays fee (e6500) to EQANIEI An EQANIE audit team visits the institution (1 1

2 - 2 days)I If appropriate, EQANIE awards the Euro-Inf label(s)

I Indirect AccreditationI Authorised Agency carries out its normal accreditation processI If appropriate and if requested, Agency awards Euro-Inf label(s)I Institution pays small fee (e300) to EQANIE for each label

I AgenciesI Authorisation process is similar to degree accreditationI may include conditions and recommendationsI ANECA, ASIIN and BCS are EQANIE Authorised Agencies


Direct Accreditation

1. Making an application

I The Institution submits an application to the EQANIESecretariat containing relevant preliminary information

I The Secretariat and Accreditation Committee evaluate theapplication to determine the number of auditors required

I The Secretariat compiles a proposal for the visit (time frame,costs) and requests written acceptance from the Institution

I The Institution formalises the application by accepting theproposal



2. The assessment processI The Institution compiles a self-assessment report (in English)

in accordance with the Euro-Inf guidelines

I The EQANIE Secretariat and Accreditation Committee selectan audit team, with one member as convenor

I The audit team studies the report and visits the Institution toconduct an audit of the applicant department (1 1

2 - 2 days)

I The audit team prepares its draft report which EQANIEforwards to the Institution to be checked for factual accuracy

I The Institution returns the (corrected) report to EQANIE



The Audit TeamI The audit team for a single accreditation usually comprises

I 2 - 3 professors (academic faculty members)I 1 industry representative + (sometimes) 1 student

I Academic auditors are expected to haveI proven specialist expertiseI proven activity in one of the disciplines of informaticsI (desirably) accreditation or evaluation experience, international

experience, experience of HE administration

I Industry auditors are expected to haveI proven specialist expertiseI experience of employing graduates of informatics degreesI (desirably) accreditation or evaluation experience, international

experience, experience of HE administration

I Audit team members must have no conflicts of interest withthe Institution being audited



Visit Schedule (typical 1.5 day visit)

17.00 Preliminary meeting of the audit team08.30 Opening meeting with programme coordinators

and institution administrators09.15 Break, internal discussion09.30 Meeting with programme coordinators11.00 Break, internal discussion11.15 Meeting with students12.15 Lunch, internal discussion13.00 Perusal of exam papers, project work, final theses13.45 Meeting with degree programme teaching staff14.45 Tour of teaching facilities15.45 Final internal discussions16.30 Closing meeting with programme coordinators17.00 Close



The Self-assessment Report

The self-assessment report should include:

I Formal Data: degree name, period of study, etc

I Educational objectives and demand for the graduates

I Educational process: entry requirements, course of study

I Resources: staff, equipment, etc

I Attainment of objectives: evaluations of success

I Quality assurance measures

I Mapping of degree programme learning outcomes to Euro-Infexpected learning outcomes



Assessment CriteriaEach degree programme is assessed in terms of (inter alia):

1. Inputs: are the resources invested by the Institution toimplement the degree programme (academic and supportstaff, teaching and learning facilities, etc.) adequate?

2. Outcome assessment / quality control: are there effectivefeedback mechanisms within the Institution’s internal qualityassurance process and do they contribution to the ongoingimprovement of the degree programme?

3. Prior qualifications: are the students accepted on to theprogramme adequately prepared?

4. Learning outcomes: to what extent do the learningoutcomes of the degree match the Euro-Inf LearningOutcomes?



Euro-Inf Learning OutcomesI Euro-Inf expected Learning Outcomes fall into 4 categories:

I Underlying Conceptual Basis for InformaticsI Analysis, Design and ImplementationI Technological and Methodological SkillsI Other Professional Competences

I Programme outcomes will vary in extent and intensitybetween First and Second Cycle degrees

I Institutions are expected to show how the learning outcomesof their degree(s) fulfil Euro-Inf requirements by completing aEuro-Inf mapping matrix

I ANECA, ASIIN & BCS: expected LOs mapped to Euro-InfLOs



Part of the Euro-Inf LO mapping matrix



Example mapping to Euro-Inf LOs



3. The decision process

I The auditors submit their final assessment and recommendeddecision to the Accreditation Committee

I The Accreditation Committee makes its decision regarding theaccreditation

I The Institution is informed of the decisionI The final version of the accreditation report is sent to the

InstitutionI (A list of accredited degrees is maintained on the Internet)



Possible outcomesI Unconditional accreditation

I for the full accreditation periodI perhaps with recommendations

I Conditional accreditationI if specific conditions are met by a set deadline (normally 3

months) full accreditation will be grantedI e.g. It must be ensured that all graduates of the degree

programme have demonstrated that they are able toconsider the economic, social, ethical and legal conditionsexpected in informatics practice.

I perhaps with recommendations as well

I The procedure is suspendedI major requirements are not being fulfilled but are likely to be

within 6 - 18 months

I Unconditional refusal


Example Recommendations

1. The curriculum should support graduates awareness of realworld problems outside the field of computing and theapplication fields where they occur.

2. The modules imported from other departments should betailored to the objectives of the degree.

3. The electives offered should better reflect the desired graduateprofile, e.g. by including project management.

4. The module handbook should be revised and completed:4.1 module descriptions should be improved so they reflect the

intended learning outcomes of the particular modules;4.2 credit points assigned to each module should reflect the real

workload invested by students;4.3 information should be provided on teaching methods

5. The curriculum should be reviewed at regular intervals;feedback mechanisms to student surveys should beestablished, in order to ensure the evaluations have an impact.


Indirect Accreditation

An Agency can use its own criteria if approved by EQANIE(e.g. BCS) or can use Euro-Inf criteria directly

Example of mapping of BCS LOs to Euro-Inf LOs


Benefits of the Euro-Inf label

Benefits for HEIsI Certificate of quality

I Degree benchmarked against other European programmes

I Marketing tool: incentive for students to choose programme

I Provides reliable information about graduates from elsewhereapplying for master’s programmes

Benefits for StudentsI Assurance that programme meets high international standards

I International recognition of degree

I Easier access to Master’s programmes

I Quality label recognized by employers Europe-wide


Benefits of the Euro-Inf label

Benefits for EmployersI Reliable information about quality of degree programme

I Degree checked for academic standard and professionalrelevance

I Assurance that applicants’ knowledge and competences meetinternational standards

I Complement to Diploma Supplement


Accreditations completed

I Direct accreditations:I University of Milan (1)I Riga Technical University (2)I University of Latvia (2)I Open University of Catalonia (6)I Polytechnic University of Valencia (1)

I Indirect accreditations (by ASIIN):I Armenia (2), Australia (1), Croatia (2), Finland (2), Germany

(109), Kazakhstan (6), North Cyprus (1)

I Indirect accreditations (by BCS):I UK (34)

www.eqanie.eu/pages/quality-label/accredited-programmes.php


Euro-Inf Documents

Documents relating to the Euro-Inf Quality Label:

I Euro-Inf Framework Standards and Accreditation Criteria

I EQANIE Procedural Principles for the Accreditation of DegreeProgrammes

I Model Euro-Inf Learning Outcomes Matrix

I Form for requesting the Euro-Inf Quality Label

can be found on the EQANIE website at

I http://www.eqanie.eu/pages/quality-label.php
