Some first observations & lessons learnedby Klaus Hüfner, Audit Coordinator of the IREG Ranking Audit

and Carla van Cauwenberghe,Dutch Inspectorate of Education/Auditor of IREG Ranking Audit

Warsaw, May 17 2013

Time table & actions taken by Audit Team

• January 16 2013: First email contact Coordinator to Audit Team with Self Evaluation Report from ranking organisation concerned;

• From January17 2013 till March 14: email contacts between Audit Team; • Several activities within the Audit Team:

– IREG Ranking Audit Manual;– Working method developed and endorsed (ranking form);– First feedback round based on individual and team comments;– Audit Team (online) meetings/deliberations;– Team comments led to clarification questions to the ranking agency;– Clarification questions answered;

• Draft report by chair with feedback round and comments from members;• Audit Report sent to IREG Audit Coordinator: 14-3-2013;• Coordinator sends Report to IREG Executitive Commitee;• Audit Report reviewed and endorsed by the IREG Executive Committee.

Some Feedbackfrom the Audit Team

1.  Need to revise some of the items in the Manual and to have clearer definitions.2.  Need to interview stakeholders and users of the ranking being audited.3.  Preferably, opportunity to visit the ranking team and have a live conversation with them.  If a real visit is not possible, a videoconferencing/skype meeting should be envisaged.

And last but not least:4. For all of us it was a great experience, a very interesting and valuable process! Thank you.