The challenge of accreditation in Europe

Peter CullenHead of research and policy analysis

Higher education and training awards council

IRELAND

EFQM Education community of practice

Contents

• Context

• Bologna process

• Quality

• Similarities in accreditation

• Accreditation goals

• European overarching framework

• QA of Quality Assurance Agencies

Context

• Lisbon (2000) objective for Europe to become the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy and society by 2010.

• Internationalisation and trade in higher education. European higher education and research areas: aim to be the world leaders and premier destination for international students and researchers.

List of acronyms

• HE Higher education (&training)• HEI HE institution• QA Quality Assurance• HEQAA HE QA Agency• ECA European Consortium for Accreditation• ENQA E Network of QA Agencies• JQI Joint quality initiative

Bologna process…

• Bologna process; compatibility and convergence towards shared goals but respectful of diversity.

• Bologna (1999)– A system of easily readable and comparable degrees– Two main cycles (now essentially 3)– Establish a system of credits (ECTS)– Promotion of cooperation in QA

• Prague (2001)– Framework of qualifications– Coherent QA and accreditation

… Berlin communiqué …

• On the subject of quality it was stated that by 2005 national quality assurance systems should include: – A definition of the responsibilities of the bodies and

institutions involved.– Evaluation of programmes or institutions, including

internal assessment, external review, participation of students and the publication of results.

– A system of accreditation, certification or comparable procedures.

– International participation, co-operation and networking.

… next recommendations?

• The European Commission is thought likely to propose that the Ministers issue a new recommendation… – 1. There should be shared efforts to foster quality internally

in all higher education institutions. – 2. Building on (1) it is intended that all countries would

foster reference to common sets of standards and criteria (which would be reference points).

– 3. A European register of quality assurance and accreditation agencies would be established.

– 4. HEIs would be enabled to choose among agencies on the Register and select one which met their own needs.

Higher education QA

• Quality assurance: does not admit one definition in Europe (refer to ENQA and ECA surveys)

• Standards: now ranging from tight prescriptions to codes of practice…move towards general reference statement at European level with additional national constraints

• HEQAA role: guardian of standards (pass/fail) ranging to promotor of enhanced quality…move towards accreditation.

Quality: what is that?

• ENQA Quality is a description of the effectiveness of everything that is done to ensure that diligent students can derive maximum benefit from the educational opportunities available to them and also fulfill the requirements for the award for which they are working.

• Quality assurance (procedures): responsibility of HEI

• Quality assurance (accreditation): responsibility of EHQAA

Accreditation

• Ostensibly accreditation admits only two outcomes (pass,fail) but it might be conditional or accompanied by recommendations– "Accreditation refers to a process of quality control and

assurance in higher education, whereby - as a result of inspection or assessment, or both, an institution or its programs is recognised as meeting minimum acceptable standards." [ADELMAN 1992].

European overarching framework

• ECA view (Feb 2004 see website link)– Structure of higher education

– Outcomes for three cycles (perhaps also for sub-degree qualification)

– Credit based on ‘notional effort’

– Access requirements

– Progression

– Regonition conventions & agreements

JQI Dublin descriptors: outcomes

• There is a view that a European overarching framework of qualifications will have the Dublin Descriptors as ‘anchor points’.

• Qualifications that signify completion of the third cycle are awarded to students who:– have demonstrated a systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of the skills and

methods of research associated with that field;– have demonstrated the ability to conceive, design, implement and adapt a substantial process of

research with scholarly integrity;– have made a contribution through original research that extends the frontier of knowledge by

developing a substantial body of work, some of which merits national or international refereed publication;

– are capable of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas;– can communicate with their peers, the larger scholarly community and with society in general

about their areas of expertise;– can be expected to be able to promote, within academic and professional contexts,

technological, social or cultural advancement in a knowledge based society;

Accreditation in Europe

• Principal stakeholders representative groups– ESIB (National Unions of Students in Europe),

– EUA,

– EURASHE (European Association of Institutions in Higher Education),

– ENQA

– ECA (European consortium for accreditation)

Similarities in accreditation

• Most accreditation agencies employ the following steps– Application by HEI

– Self-assessment by HEI

– External assessment by independent experts

– Consideration of report by HEQAA

– Decision and publication of the report

• However there are many differences too.

Current activity

• European framework of qualifications• ENQA: Guidelines for QA systems• ENQA: Peer review system for HEQAAs• ECA: Mutual accreditation agreements• Joint programmes and recognition of joint awards

– Lisbon recognition convention– Joint accreditation using criteria of the relevant quality

assurance organisations involved.– Mutual recognition of decisions of evaluation by one

agency

QA Guidelines?

• Purpose (ENQA working on recommendation)– Enhance educational experience– Help HEIs to reliably manage their quality– Help EQAAs– Promote transparency and sharing of good

practice

Emerging guidelines

• …

HEQAs to take their own medicine

• Credibility of accreditation decisions• In the Berlin Communiqué 19 September 2003

Ministers called upon “ENQA through its members, in cooperation with the EUA, EURASHE, and ESIB to … explore ways of ensuring an adequate peer review system for quality assurance and/or accreditation agencies or bodies, and to report back to the Bologna Follow-Up Group to Ministers in 2005”. (February 2005)

INQAAHE 10 Principles of good practice for HEQAAs (2003)

• Mission statement• Decision making• Resources• Documentation• External committee• Public face• System of appeal• QA (of HEQAA)• Collaboration with other HEQAAs• Relation between HEQAA and HEI

Standards for EQAAs

• ENQA Membership Criteria (published)• ENQA Emerging Standards

ENQA emerging peer review process

• …

Status

• A lot has been done

• There is much more to do

Some questions

• What should be included in a European Framework of Qualifications?

• How can HEIs share good QA practice?• What criteria should be used for European register

of HEQAAs?• What are the pros and cons in allowing HEIs

freedom to choose their HEQAA?• How can acreditation promote enhanced quality

and respect diversity?