Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 1

European QA framework:

history, principles and tools

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 2

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 3

HEIs

The Minister

The QA Agency

Bologna,EHEA

Bologna-reform, some elements:

• Degree structure, 3 + 2 + 3, Bachelor + Master + Ph.D.

• Quality Assurance

– Systematizing internal QA + external QA = Quality Assurance Agencies

• The European Higher Education Area, EHEA (2010)

• European Qualification Framework and Learning Outcome Descriptors

(Norwegian QF 2013)

• ESG 2015: strengthened focus on Student centered learning and Relevance

• ESG 2015 first to bridge recognition and quality assurance

• ECTS (users’ handbook) (2015)

• Growing focus on Internationalization and Joint Programs (2015)

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 4

• First ESG adopted in 2005

• ESG 2015, adoption by the Yerevan

Ministerial Conference in May 2015

• ENQA, ESU, EUA, EURASHE in

cooperation with EI,

BUSINESSEUROPE, EQAR

Part 1: The university’ internal

quality assurance

Part 2: QA Agency’s external

quality assurance

Part 3: Quality assurance of QA

agencies

5Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018

National regulations follows …

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Main areas of development

• ORGANIZATION

– Complex or Homogenous Agency

– Mergers in higher education and QA of institution’s campuses

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 7

Main areas of development

• ORGANIZATION

• PRINCIPLES

– Ministerial and/or QA decision

– Accreditation/control (sanctions) - Enhancement (motivation)

– Program - Institution

– Monopoly QA - Open-market-model

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 8

Quality assurance – a growing business

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 9

Main areas for development …

• ORGANIZATION

• PRINCIPLES

• TOOLS

– Databases, surveys

– Risk-based-model

– Follow-up

– ICT-tools

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 10

Main areas of development …

• ORGANIZATION

• PRINCIPLES

• TOOLS

• ACTORS

– ENQA as a driving force for building competence

– Student involvement

– Representatives from Working life/Society

– International reviewers

– The relationship between reviewer and QA staff

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 11

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 12

Main areas of development …

• ORGANIZATION

• PRINCIPLES

• TOOLS

• ACTORS

• PUBLISHING RESULTS

– Reports (full report)

– Communication strategy (thematic analysis, a variety of platforms/medias

for guidance and information)

– Consultancy incorporated in the agency or as a separate organization

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 13

Trends in European QA

• During these 20 years by far most EHEA countries have now an

independent QA agency

• Possible move to “softer” approaches (fitness-for-purpose), especially in

well-established QA systems: from programme to institutional approaches;

risk-based methods; more flexible methods or methods based more on

institutional priorities

• Going beyond minimum standards and find ways to measure and reward

excellence

• Greater importance given to the quality, usefulness and readability of

reports (competing with international or national rankings as information

source?)

• Wider involvement of stakeholders accepted and required

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 14

Quality and learning outcome

Scope and ConceptsQuality, whilst not easy to define, is

mainly a result of the interaction

between teachers, students and the

institutional learning environment.

Quality should ensure learning

environment in which the content of

the programmes, learning

opportunities and facilities are fit for

purpose. (ESG 2015)

Tove Blytt Holmen, ENQA and NOKUT, Brussels 14 June 2018 15

Togetherness makes a difference

Transparency

Student involvement

European networking

Diversity is acknowledged

What is next to be improved?

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