Enhancing accountability and procedures through transparency and comparability

Axel Aerden

19 May 2011

Degree and accreditation mills by region

2Source: Cohen, E.B., Winch, R. , Diploma and Accreditation Mills: New Trends in Credential Abuse, March 2011

The position of QA / accreditation agency

3

‘Higher education’

‘Government’ ‘Society’

Enhancement

Accountability Information

QA/A Agency

Recognition

FundingSupport

Appreciatio

n

Value for €

Proof of useQuality

Access

(Consumer) protection

Support

Transparency at national level

• General clarity in NVAO’s system• Providers need to be recognised as HE institutions• HE provision needs to be accredited

• (Initial) accreditation decision• Identifies level, discipline and orientation

“The programme is in line with what is (inter)nationally accepted for a programme of this level and in this subject/discipline”

• “They practice what they preach”

• National register of recognised higher education

4

European Association of HEIs (EURASHE)

European Student Union (ESU)

European University Association (EUA)

“Master”2nd cycle

90-120 ECTS

Bachelor

1st cycle

180-240 ECTSAssociate

Degree+/- 120 ECTS

“Ph.D.”

3rd cycle

European HE Quality Assurance Landscape

Qualifications Framework for EHEA

European Standards & Guidelines for QA

European QA Register

Level descriptors AD, Ba., Ma. & Dr.

Peer review of QA Agency

European Association for QA in HE (ENQA)

5

European Credit Transfer System

Learning outcomes- …- …- …

Diploma Supplement

Qualification

Master of Science in Engineering

UNI. XYZ

International level

External QA

ENQA EQAR ECA

QA/A Agency

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PARTICIPANTS:Partners

Observers

AIMS:• Mutual recognition of accreditation &

quality assurance decisions• Dissemination of experiences with

accreditation(-like) practices• Provision of transparent information on

quality • Facilitation of internationalisation of

institutions and students

RESULTS:• Code of good practice (2004)• Principles for the selection of experts (2005)• Principles for accreditation procedures

regarding joint programmes (2007)• Mutual recognition agreements (2007)• Qrossroads.eu (2008)• Principles regarding learning outcomes in

accreditation procedures (2009)• Multilateral agreement regarding joint

programmes (2010)

Mutual recognition accreditation decisionsSigned agreements Letters of

Intent

Joint declaration regarding the automatic recognition of qualifications Aim: if preconditions are met, degrees awarded by accredited

institutions and/or accredited programmes should be automatically accepted in the countries concerned

7

The Qrossroads Network

8

ANECAdb

QROSSROADSdatabase

Securesync

XMLXML

parser

Public website

InternetInternet

FHRdb

AACdb

CTIdb

HRK/ARdb

PKAdb

OAQdb

NVAOdb

NOKUTdb

EVAdb

SLACdb

HACdb

ACEdb

1

2

3

HSVdb

AZVOdb

9www.qrossroads.eu

a.aerden@nvao.net

www.nvao.net | www.qrossroads.eu

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION