regional networks for capacity building in quality assurance THE CASE OF EUROPE Stefanie Hofmann ENQA Vice-President ACQUIN

The European situation The Bologna Process ( ) (now) 45 European countries In order to build up a European Higher Education Area (EHEA), –with comparable/compatible degree structures –with a transparency tools (ECTS, Diploma Supplement) –and a European approach to quality…

The European situation Clear interest in quality and quality assurance Based on fundamental principles: –Institutional responsibility for quality assurance –Rich cultural and systemic heterogeneity needs to be protected (no one-size-fits-all-solutions) –Encouraging innovation and creativity –AND: principle of subsidiarity

The European situation The Bologna Process as challenge and catalyst: for higher education and quality assurance of higher education, for all stakeholders All-embracing readiness and willingness to change (?) Need for orientation Need for coordination between different levels: Europe – national system – and individual HEI Need for cooperation

Networks and Cooperations in Europe ENQA, 1999 (42 memb. 22 countr.) CEEN, 2001(20 memb. 16 countr.) Nordic Network, 2003 (formally) ECA, 2003 (15 memb. 10 countr.) Overlaps in membership

ENQA and its partners ENQA: European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education established in 1999 more than 40 member agencies in 22 countries aims to share knowledge and best practice has an increasing political role: aims to proactively contribute to the creation of the EHEA. E4 partners: EUA - The European University Association; EURASHE - The European Association of Institutions in Higher Education; ESIB - The National Unions of Students in Europe

Major initiatives of ENQA/E4 Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area –European standards for internal and external quality assurance, and for external quality assurance agencies –fully endorsed by ENQA members and E4 partners –adopted in May 2005, Bergen/Norway, by 45 countries The basic premises : –This is the beginning of a process, not the end. –One size does not fit all.

Major initiatives of ENQA/E4 European Register –To support the identification of professional and credible quality assurance agencies European Quality/Consultative Forum (Munich, November 2006) –Exchange of experiences and expectations –Between all relevant stakeholders Establishment of ENQA – as an Association (2004) ENQA as a learning/working platform: various projects (e.g., Quality Convergence Study, TEEP 2), workshops etc.

Main challenges The Bologna Process as challenge and catalyst: staying proactive and responsive Achieving the all-embracing readiness and willingness to change (implementation of ESG, e.g.) Offering an effective orientation for all Maintaining the principle of subsidiarity while following a European vision Integration of different expectations and interests Assuring the quality of all instruments developed for the benefit of quality assurance (i.e. the European Register)

Conclusions Towards a European Higher Education Area of quality assurance (agencies and institutions): –Continued need for coordination (e.g., external reviews on national basis) –Mastering the phase of transition –Safeguarding standards and expectations versus broad involvement and inclusiveness of different agencies in Europe –Continued need for cooperations: with new partners (?); in new forms: affiliations with other networks, in Europe and worldwide; continuing to be a learning QA community

Further information –Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (2005) –Quality Convergence Study (2005) –Mapping quality assurance in Central and Eastern Europe (2006)