Quality assurance and joint programmes Axel Aerden

What are we talking about? 2 Quality assurance ? Accreditation? Joint programme? Process establishing stakeholder confidence that provision is fit for purpose or measures up to requirements Formal & independent decision that a programme (or institution) meets certain predefined quality standards A programme offered jointly by different higher education institutions irrespective of the degree (joint/multiple) awarded

A IMS : mutual recognition of accreditation & quality assurance decisions R ESULTS OF THIS COOPERATION : Code of good practice (2004) Principles for the selection of experts (2005) Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes (2007) Bilateral mutual recognition of accreditation agreements (2007) Qrossroads.eu (2008) Principles regarding learning outcomes in accreditation procedures (20010) Multilateral agreement regarding joint programmes (2011) R ESULTS OF THIS COOPERATION : Code of good practice (2004) Principles for the selection of experts (2005) Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes (2007) Bilateral mutual recognition of accreditation agreements (2007) Qrossroads.eu (2008) Principles regarding learning outcomes in accreditation procedures (20010) Multilateral agreement regarding joint programmes (2011)

Joint programmes? 2011 (Institute of International Education & Freie Universität Berlin) 84% of universities offer joint programmes; 33% of institutions award joint degrees all others are developing or planning joint degrees; 2012 (Bologna Process Implementation Report) all but one EHEA country has implemented legislation allowing establishment of joint programmes & joint degrees none of HE institutions participate in joint programmes: Albania, Andorra, Liechtenstein and Montenegro; in addition to countries above, none of HE institutions participate in awarding joint degrees: Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Moldova;

Most common external quality assurance procedures regarding joint programmes National procedure Procedure by: Individual agency Focus of procedure National offer Whole joint programme Result: National (accreditation) National procedure Procedure by: Individual agency Focus of procedure National offer Whole joint programme Result: National (accreditation)

Joint procedure Procedure by: At least 2 agencies Focus of procedure Whole joint programme Result: National (accreditation(s)) in countries involved Joint procedure Procedure by: At least 2 agencies Focus of procedure Whole joint programme Result: National (accreditation(s)) in countries involved Most common external quality assurance procedures regarding joint programmes 6

Challenges overcome Multilateral Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Results regarding Joint Programmes AT – DK – FL - FR – NL – PL – ES -CAT Agreement to set up a Coordination Point for Joint Programmes Assessment Framework for Joint Programmes in Single Accreditation Procedures ECApedia

Single procedure Procedure by: One agency Focus of procedure Whole joint programme Result: National (accreditations) in MRA/MULTRA countries Single procedure Procedure by: One agency Focus of procedure Whole joint programme Result: National (accreditations) in MRA/MULTRA countries Single accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes 8

So many challenges left, and all national (#1) Too many national standards in external quality assurance and accreditation Good practice: assessments of joint programmes can be discharged from using certain national standards if they contradict others. Very long list of examples: Master thesis: max. 30 ECTS credits vs. at least 35% of the total number of credits; The assessment report (expert report) is required to be in the national language; Every programme should be taught by at least 6 doktor habilitowany & 6 PhDs who are all full-time staff of a national institution and have to teach at least 540 hours in the programme per academic year; Very long list of examples: Master thesis: max. 30 ECTS credits vs. at least 35% of the total number of credits; The assessment report (expert report) is required to be in the national language; Every programme should be taught by at least 6 doktor habilitowany & 6 PhDs who are all full-time staff of a national institution and have to teach at least 540 hours in the programme per academic year; Not about quality Not suited for international joint programmes Contradict each other Not about quality Not suited for international joint programmes Contradict each other

So many challenges left, and all national (#2) Many national requirements make cooperation in external quality assurance difficult/impossible Examples: National QA agencies which are not allowed to coordinate an international procedure / undertake a site visit abroad; National QA agencies which cannot accept accreditation requests from a foreign institution (the coordinator of the joint programme); Different periods of accreditation; and some QA agencies cannot accept a joint programmes request for accreditation (years) before the current accreditation status is almost expired; Examples: National QA agencies which are not allowed to coordinate an international procedure / undertake a site visit abroad; National QA agencies which cannot accept accreditation requests from a foreign institution (the coordinator of the joint programme); Different periods of accreditation; and some QA agencies cannot accept a joint programmes request for accreditation (years) before the current accreditation status is almost expired; Very procedural No international perspective Unaware of implications Very procedural No international perspective Unaware of implications