1. From Quality Control to Quality Development
Dr Maiki Udam
Dec 2016

2. Estonia – some figures Population: 1,3 million 45 000 sq km
Average monthly salary 1118 EUR
Unemployment rate 7,5 %
GDP USD per capita
11th in Math and Reading – PISA ‘16
Skype, Transferwise, e-residency, …

3. ESTONIAN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Master’s programmes
ECTS credits
(1 to 2 years)
Integrated Bachelor’s and
ECTS or
(5 to 6 years)
Bachelor’s programmes
ECTS credits
(3 to 4 years)
Professional higher education programmes
ECTS credits
(3 to 4.5 years)
Doctoral programmes
Secondary education (12 years)

6. Higher Education Quality Assessment System in Estonia
Accreditation of study programmes
STATE RECOGNITION
Quality assessment of a study programme group (SPG)
at least once every 7 years
Institutional accreditation (voluntary)
Institutional accreditation
at least once every 7 years
TRANSITIONAL EVALUATION
Registration of study programmes by the Ministry of Education and Research
Initial assessment of SPG
STATE RECOGNITION = right to conduct studies in a SPG

7. Study programme groups in Estonia
1. Teacher training and educational science 2. Humanities (excluding theology) 3. Languages and cultures 4. Arts (fine arts, graphic and audiovisual arts, design, craft skills) 5. Performing arts 6. Theology 7. Journalism and information 8. Psychology 9. Social science (excluding psychology) 10. Law 11. Business and administration 12. Social services 13. Personal services 14. National defence
15. Public security 16. Life sciences 17. Environmental protection 18. Physical sciences 19. Informatics and information technology 20. Mathematics and statistics 21. Architecture and building 22. Engineering, manufacturing and technology 23. Agriculture, forestry and fishery 24. Veterinary 25. Medicine (including dental services) 26. Health care  27. Sports 28. Transport services

8. Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education -EKKA
Main activities
Development of principles and procedures of external evaluation
Assessment of the quality of a study program group (SPG) in HE
Institutional accreditation (IA) in HE
Accreditation of study program groups in VET
Training and counseling
Publications
International cooperation

9. EKKA’s mission EKKA’s mission is, in cooperation with its partners,
to promote quality in the field of education
and thereby increase the competitiveness
of the Estonian society.

10. Shared responsibilities for QA
The Government or MoE
Institutions
EKKA
Granting the right to conduct studies in study programme groups (SPG), based on the results of the initial assessment of SPGs
Financing partly based on quality assessment results
Main responsibility for the quality and continuous improvement of the education
Strategic management (including quality management)
Regular internal evaluation and benchmarking
Promoting quality in cooperation with HE and VET institutions through external assessments
Institutional accreditation (IA)
Quality assessment of study programme groups (SPG)
Initial assessment of SPGs in HE - checking whether the minimum standards are met

11. From quantity to quality – 1997-2008
At least 50% of credit points in a BA study programme should be taught by academic staff holding doctoral degrees.
At least 51% of teaching staff should be permanent (full-time) staff members.

12. From quantity to quality – 2009 - …
The level and extent of research and development by the teaching and research staffs involved are adequate to teach in the corresponding academic cycle of higher education and to supervise student research.
The number of members of ordinary teaching and research staffs involved – based on their responsibilities, workload and the number of supervised students – is adequate for achieving the objectives and learning outcomes of the study programme(s) in a given study programme group.

13. Purpose and assessment areas of IA
The purpose of IA is to support the development of strategic management and culture of quality in HEIs, inform stakeholders of the outcomes of the main activities thereof, and enhance the reliability and competitiveness of Estonian higher education.
Areas of assessment:
organisational management and performance
teaching and learning
research, development and/or other creative activity
service to society.

14. Component assessment by experts
Component assessment according to the assessment areas
Decision based on conformity analysis by sub-areas:
1) Conforms to requirements
2) Partially conforms to requirements
3) Does not conform to requirements

15. Decisions 1
conforms

16. Conforms/ Partially conforms
Decisions 2
partially conforms
conforms
Conforms/ Partially conforms

17. Decisions 3
Partially conforms
conforms

18. Decisions 4
Does not conform
conforms
Partially conforms

19. Partially conforms/ Does not conform
Decisions 5
Does not conform
Partially conforms
conforms
Partially conforms/ Does not conform

20. Decisions 6
Does not conform
conforms

21. ‘Worthy of recognition’
Activities that exceed minimum requirements, e.g.:
International activities
Support to students with special needs
Risk assessment

22. Accreditation decision by EKKA Board
To be accredited for 7 years
(with a secondary condition)
To be accredited for 3 years
Accreditation denied

23. Quality assessment of SPG
Quality assessment of SPGs focuses on study programmes, the content and organisation of studies and on instruction-related development activities within a study programme group. These aspects are not evaluated in the course of institutional accreditation.
Assessment areas:
study programme and study programme development
resources
teaching and learning
teaching staff
students

24. Main purpose of the QA of SPG
Quality assessment of a SPG involves the assessment of the conformity of study programmes and the studies and development activities that take place on their basis to legislation, national and international standards and developmental directions with the purpose of supporting the self-development of HEI and providing recommendations to improve the quality of studies.
QA of SPG is not followed by sanctions – experts give only recommendations for further development.

25. Evaluation model
Training offered by EKKA
Self-evaluation process and the report
Site visit by the expert panel
Preliminary assessment report + feedback from the HEI
Final report, areas for improvement
Expert panel: 4+ members, incl at least 1 student, 1 employer
Supported by the assessment coordinator

26. Summary
RESPONSIBILITY
QUALITY
TRUST