towards mutual recognition of accreditation decisions in europe

http://www.ecaconsortium.net

Towards Towards Mutual Recognition Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Decisions in Europe of Accreditation Decisions in Europe

Rolf Heusser, Chairman of ECA

Warsaw, 18 April 2008

Titel van de presentatie | H.J. de Tuinman | 30 maart 2003Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 2

Presentation Rolf HeusserPresentation Rolf Heusser

1. Rationale for Mutual Recognition2. The ECA project: methods and results3. „Qrossroads“ - a new information tool4. Lessons learned and future perspectives


MR of accreditation decisions – RationaleMR of accreditation decisions – Rationale

Ratification of Lisbon recognition convention did not solve all recognition problems

Mutually validated information about quality might facilitate recognition work

MR agreements will simplify accreditation/ recognition of joint programmes

Mutual Recognition initiatives enhance visibility of accredited HEIs and study programmes in Europe


MR of accreditation decisions - PurposeMR of accreditation decisions - Purpose

Reduce existing barriers in recognition of foreign qualifications

Enhance academic and professional mobility Increase transparency in higher education Opportunity for QA-bodies to learn from

experiences and good practices of other agencies


Political basis for MR initiatives in EuropePolitical basis for MR 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“.


ECA – Foundation and AimECA – Foundation and Aim

Established in November 2003 Consortium of national accreditation organisations 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 members until end of 2007


Mutual recognition agreements – ElementsMutual recognition agreements – Elements

Trust building process needed Built upon mutual understanding Built upon commonly agreed principles/tools Built upon cooperations in practice Built upon external reviews of agencies


ECA Road map to mutual recognitionECA Road map to mutual recognition

Activities/Tools Date

Inventory of accreditation systems 2004Mutual observations 2005

Code of good practice 2004Principles: selection of experts 2005Principles: accreditation of joint programmes 2006Common publication format/databank 2007

Mutual cooperation projects 2006Joint declaration ECA – ENIC/NARIC 2006External review of ECA members 2007Formal agreements of mutual recognition 2007

Mutual understanding of

accreditationorganisations

Mutual Recognition ofaccreditationprocedures

MutualRecognition ofaccreditation

results/decisions


ECA – Inventory of accreditation systemsECA – Inventory of accreditation systems

Accreditation profiles of ECA member organisations Description of accreditation process and procedures Information about national HE-system Legal background, role and status of accreditation

body Databank expanded Information tool established

(website driven databank, support: EU Commission)


ECA – Code of good practiceECA – Code of good practice

Guarantees comparability of accreditation procedures

17 standards - signed by all ECA member organisations in Zurich 2004

Compatibility to European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) assured

External reviews of ECA members to check fulfillment of Code


External reviews of ECA members External reviews of ECA members

Most reviews took place in 2007 3 step procedures (SE-report, on site visit by

independent experts, publication of report) ECA member organisations showed a high degree

of compliance with the ECA Code/ESG Improvement areas are: independence, publication

of reports, appeal systems, student participation


ECA – Mutual cooperation projectsECA – Mutual cooperation projects

Exchange of experts/staff exchange Observation of other members‘ accreditation

procedures In depth comparisons of accreditation procedures

and standards Joint accreditation procedures


ECA – Joint declaration with ENIC/NARICsECA – Joint declaration with ENIC/NARICs

Partnership ECA members – ENIC/NARICs (recognition bodies)

• Now 6 countries: A, CH, FL, NL, NO, PL

Aspiration• Automatic recognition of HE qualifications from

institutions and/or programmes, accredited by ECA members, at their proper level in the overarching framework


ECA – Trust building processECA – Trust building process

Bilateral Mutual Recognition Agreements

Information exchange

Cooperation projects; external reviews

Common tools/instruments


Agreement on MR of accreditation decisionsAgreement on MR of accreditation decisions

“The signing accreditation organisations agree to

regard their accreditation procedures, standards and

results as free of significant differences and confirm

that within their competences they accept the

results/decisions of the procedures of the other

signing accreditation organisation”

MR agreement, ECA 2007


Mutual recognition agreementsMutual recognition agreements

• Now 12 mutual recognition agreements• Involving 8 ECA member countries • On 9 agreements the Joint declaration

concerning the „automatic“ recognition of qualifications applies

• Other agencies may sign later


ECA project – ConclusionsECA project – Conclusions

ECA has successfully tested a new methodology to come to MR agreements.

ECA‘s approach is based on systematic trustbuilding between agencies (step by step process involving co-operations on all levels).

Methods and tools of ECA might also be useful for other accreditation and quality assurance agencies.


ECA Work – Lessons learnedECA Work – Lessons learned

MR is not a destiny, it is a journey which has resulted in innovative side products.

The combination of formal agreements and practical co-operation projects has been particularly useful.

It was important to acknowledge and accept the existence of different legal prerequisites for accreditation.

Trust building process has increased mutual understanding among ECA members and was perceived to be a valuable learning experience.


ECA - Future prospectsECA - Future prospects

Continuation of ECA work for second project period Provide platform for cooperation and mutual learning Further develop ECA methodology for MR Focus on needs of HEI stakeholders and recognition

authorities

towards mutual recognition of accreditation decisions in europe

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