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External Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area: Challenges and Trends Rolf Heusser, Switzerland TechnoTN Forum, Brussels, 4 May 2007
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External Quality Assurance in the EHEA Presentation: 1.International dimension of Quality Assurance (QA) 2.External QA in Europe: challenges and trends 3.Future work of QA Agencies
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 International dimension of quality assurance Quality Assurance Accreditation International recognition of qualifications Cross-border education Common HE-area Bologna process Access to labour market
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Role of quality assurance in the Bologna process Berlin communiqué 2003: Quality (...) has proven to be at the heart of the EHEA Implementation of national quality assurance systems until 2005 Including a system of accreditation or comparable procedures International cooperation and networking
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 National Agencies for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Europe, 2007 Evaluations / Audits Accreditations
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 European Quality labels Label initiatives supported by EU commission: EUR-ACE: engineering Eurobachelor and Euromaster in chemistry European accreditation of informatics programmes Accreditation in European professional music training Accreditation of MA in life sciences/rural environment EFMD initiatives: EPAS, Q3E, Queste, UNIQUe
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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Challenges for external QA in Europe Implementation of European Standards and Guidelines Removal of barriers in the process of recognition of foreign qualifications Shift of QA focus: from inputs to learning outcomes Debate about institutional vs programme approach
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 European Standards and Guidelines for QAAs ESG for internal and external QA adopted by ministers in Bergen 2005 A view of what should be done; statements of good practices Contribution to a common frame of reference in EHEA; prerequisite for entry into planned European register Peer review of all QA-agencies in next five years
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Recognition of qualifications - current state Ratification of Lisbon recognition convention does not solve all recognition problems Still case to case decisions for acceptance of foreign qualifications Doubts on the quality is a reason on the grounds of which recognition might be denied Mutual recognition agreements between accreditation agencies should lead to the trust needed to “automatically” recognise accredited foreign study programmes/institutions
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Political Basis for mutual recognition initiatives in Europe Bologna Ministers Conference, Bergen 2005: „We underline the importance of cooperation between nationally recognised agencies with a view to enhancing the mutual recognition of accreditation or quality assurance decisions“. European Parliament, 2005: “Hereby recommend that member states... promote cooperation between agencies in order to build up mutual trust and the recognition of QA/accreditation assessments, thus contributing to the recognition of qualifications for the purpose of study or work in another country“.
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 ECA – Foundation and Aim Consortium of national accreditation organisations Established in November 2003 15 member organisations from 10 European countries: AT, BE, CH, DE, ES, FR, IE, NL, NO, PL Aim: mutual recognition of accreditation decisions among participating countries until 2007
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 ECA approach towards Mutual Recognition Government/Recognition bodies
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Learning outcome orientation in external QA Overarching Qualification Framework (QF) adopted by ministers in Bergen 2005, to be implemented on national level until 2010 (NQF) QFs are based on learning outcomes, competences and skills There is a link between NQF and national QA system New challenge for QAAs: develop learning outcome oriented QA/accreditation systems
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Example of learning outcome oriented accreditation system ABET – programme accreditation checks: whether study programmes formulate explicit learning outcomes whether curricula fit to stated learning outcomes how students can demonstrate competences if HEI uses assessment results for further improvement of study programmes
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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Institutional Assessments – Strengths Enhancement of institutional quality mechanisms and facilitation of the development of a quality culture Sustainable effects at the level of institutional management Assures flexibility and autonomy of HEIs at programme level Resource saving method
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Programme Assessments – Strengths Focus on „educational quality“ Useful information for students/employers Link to national recognition practices Direct international comparison of qualifications possible
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Future scenarios for universities and HE OECD Report 2004: Internationalisation of education will continue Increased private activities/private funding of HEIs New providers and new emerging institutions Increased activities in LLL and in use of ICT Important role in transfer of knowledge and innovation to society Increasing autonomy of HEIs
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Future scenarios in HE – Open questions for QAAs How to assure internationalisation of agencies? Diversification of activities or staying focused? What new methodologies are needed to cope with new trends? How to increase flexibility of the external QA-system? What is the adequate balance between internal and external quality assurance?
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Requirements for future work of QA-agencies QA-agencies should have the following characteristics: They are living systems They need capacity for dynamic change They need to have self-regulatory power and means to maintain their organisation They have to exchange with environment They may produce some heat
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007 Conclusions Quality assurance and accreditation are key elements in the international higher education area Fair recognition of qualifications is dependent on transparent information about quality Some progress has been made towards an EHEA, but important challenges for external QA-systems are ahead HE is moving in Europe and QAAs have to move with it Independence, capacities for adoptation, mutual trust building with national and international partners are essential elements for future work of agencies
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Heusser/OAQ/May 2007
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