Quality assurance in higher education at the sport sector : Portuguese polytechnics case. José Rodrigues President of the External Assessment Team, for the Polytechnics Sport Education Sector, of the Portuguese Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education - A3ES - 1

Rationale - Quality Quality has always been a concern of the HEI. Public concern about the quality. Difficult to define good indicators of educational quality. Emergence of the market in higher education is associated with the attribution of autonomy to institutions. Criteria of social and cultural relevance of higher education are increasingly seen as outdated and inefficient and are replaced by criteria of economic rationality. Concern for quality has always been present in the universities, but what's new is that this concern is no longer internal and became public. Quality issues are now a reality that can not be ignored. 2

Rationale – Q.A. Objectives Improving the quality of university activities. Accountability, consumer protection and piloting the behavior of institutions. Outside intervention will be an institutional audit to verify the existence of appropriate mechanisms of "quality care". Defense of public interest and consumer protection. System of licensing and periodic accreditation. International nature of higher education and the need to ensure the independence of the judgments of value requires that the system have a dominant international component. 3

A3ES - Model The Agency (A3ES) is a private law foundation, established for an indeterminate period of time, with legal status and recognized as being of public utility. The Agency is independent in its decisions which must take into account the guidelines prescribed by the government. The mission of A3ES is to contribute to improving the quality of Portuguese higher education, through the assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions and their study programs, and to ensure the integration of Portugal in the European quality assurance system of higher education. 4

Organisational structure 5

Commissions - Bodies Assessment teams - by area of knowledge or profession. Assessment teams are independent of HEI and always has foreign elements. A member of A3ES ensures the operational link in the AT. Prior accreditation of new study programs. Regular cycle of accreditation for study programs in operation. Certification of internal quality assurance systems. Student participation in accreditation. Participation of professional associations in accreditation. Internal quality assurance at A3ES. 6

Main criteria - Accreditation The educative, scientific and cultural project where the study program to be accredited is integrated; Characterization of the study program to be accredited; The scientific area of the study program to be accredited; The number of ECTS credits necessary for a degree; The normal duration of the study program; The curricular structure and syllabus; Options, branches or other organizational forms of alternative routes in the study program; The academic staff members, and their curricula, allocated to the study program; The facilities where the study program operates; Other material and human resources indispensable for the study program to be accredited; Analysis of weaknesses and strengths, opportunities and threats of the study program to be accredited; For a study program leading to a masters degree, evidence that there are high level training or research or development activities in the scientific areas that integrate the study programs specialty; 7

Process Evaluation Preliminary appreciation. Relation between accreditation and assessment (external). Preliminary hearing. Effects of the favourable decisions. Re-appreciation of a conditional accreditation decision. Re-appreciation of the accreditation. Repeal of accreditation. Validity of the accreditation period. End of accreditation effects. 8

Accreditation Results A favorable accreditation decision implies the authorization to initiate the operation of the accredited study program in a higher education institution and the recognition of the degree it leads to. A conditional accreditation decision produces the effects mentioned on the report (conditions to be solved in a time frame). The effects of accreditation may end by: a) Expiration due to the passing of its validity period; b) Transformation of a conditional accreditation decision into an unfavorable decision; c) Repeal. 9

Discussion - Difficulties Difficulties Report about the program information is written; Coordination inside of the teams; Relations with the HEI that are in evaluation; Strengths External evaluation with international experts; Diverse opportunities to apply with new or more clarified information; Participation of staff from A3ES that is independent from the government and the HEI; 10

Discussion – Solutions - Sport Main results Most of the programs were conditional accredited (evolutional perspective). Some HEI have few teachers with PhD qualification. Most HEI have low scientific production. Sport have a good ratio on employability. Issues to be solved by the institutions Time frame problems on planning reports. HEI must recruit qualified teachers. Increase scientific research and publication. Internationalization in some HEI. 11

Recommendations Improve the quality assurance process A control system to the reports and the assessment teams; Increase internationalization; Better communication with government; Improve quality in the sport programs Increase research in sport field; Recruit qualified teachers; Increase evidence for the private institutions; 12

Summary This presentation is only a summary of the enormous job that was done. Lot of working hours and travelling during several weeks/months to appreciate the reports and to meet with all people involved. For more information : 13

Quality assurance in higher education at the sport sector : Portuguese polytechnics case. José Rodrigues President of the External Assessment Team, for the Polytechnics Sport Education Sector, of the Portuguese Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education - A3ES - 14