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Internal quality development and assurance in HEIs

Internal quality development and assurance in HEIs. Seminar on quality assurance in higher education in Armenia Yerevan, 4 June 2007 Karin Riegler Senior Programme Manager, EUA. INTRODUCTION. European University Association (EUA).

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Internal quality development and assurance in HEIs

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  1. Internal quality development and assurance in HEIs Seminar on quality assurance in higher education in Armenia Yerevan, 4 June 2007 Karin Riegler Senior Programme Manager, EUA

  2. INTRODUCTION European University Association (EUA) • EUA: main representative organisation of universities (c750) and their national Rectors’ Conferences (34) in 46 countries across Europe • Mission: to ensure that universities have the means to fulfil their three-fold mission (research, teaching and services to society) • Policy development and advocacy • Support to members (projects, services & publications) • Particular focus on Bologna process implementation

  3. INTRODUCTION Higher education in Europe: a complex environment • National priorities:great variety of national policies and corresponding requirements on HEIs • Bologna process: a larger Europe looking for convergence through common structures and tools - focussing on teaching and learning • [Lisbon strategy: a smaller Europe with ambitious economic and social goals – focus on research and wider societal transformation process] • Internationalisation/globalisation: increased competition, growing global higher education market, debate on trade in educational services

  4. EUA ACTIVITIES Quality assurance: an essential tool for European HEIs -> EUA activities • Institutional Evaluation Programme (since 1993): 170 higher education institutions in 37 countries • Projects: • Quality Culture (2002-2006): 150 institutions in 30 countries • EMNEM- European Masters New Evaluation Methodology – guidelines for internal QA of joint master programmes (2006) • Creativity in Higher Education (2006-2007): 32 institutions in 20 countries • European Forum for Quality Assurance (2006-) • Policy debates on the European dimension of QA (E4, European Standards and Guidelines, register of QA agencies) • National and international activities

  5. LESSIONS LEARNED Lessions learned from EUA activities • All HEIs have deficits • There are frequently analysed common deficits • There are no “one-fits-all” solutions, but it is possibel to define common principles for internal quality • There is no single definition of quality or excellence -> relative concepts • Quality is not a neutral concept, but closely related to ideology and power (who defines quality in which way, who is accountable to whom etc.) • Direct correlation between autonomy and quality culture • Autonomy and accountability – a fragile balance

  6. RECOMMENDATIONS (1) Recommendations for internal quality • General principles: • ESG as a tool for internal quality, not as a checklist • Institutional mission and goals as primary points of reference for all quality processes (fitness for purpose) • Focus on the global picture, i.e. the institution as a whole • A shared concept of quality among the university community -> quality culture • Continuous improvement, and not “punishment” for non-compliance, as the main purpose of internal quality measures -> future orientation • Mindful of the effects of quality measures on creativity and innovation • Complement internal quality processes with external elements

  7. RECOMMENDATIONS (2) Recommendations (2) • Processes: • Selection of priority areas for internal quality on the basis of institutional self-evaluation • Linking university data collection and analysis with internal quality processes • Balancing transparency with confidentiality • Ensuring effective feedback loops on outcomes of internal quality processes (follow-up) and communication to the university community • Avoiding overly bureaucratic or complicated processes • Avoiding costly procedures -> cost/benefit analysis is essential (include intangible costs such as stress, loss of morale, etc.)

  8. RECOMMENDATIONS (3) Recommendations (3) • Actors: • Broad involvement of the university community (students, academic and administrative staff) in the development of internal quality measure (bottom-up) • University leadership to fully endorse and backup the implementation (top-down) • Cooperation • Information updates on European/international debates • Exchange of experiences and good practices with other HEIs, nationally and internationally • Using opportunities for benchmarking • Active participation in national negotiations about the scope of quality measures

  9. FURTHER INFORMATION Thank you very much for your attention • www.eua.be • karin.riegler@eua.be • Institutional Evaluation programme: http://www.eua.be/index.php?id=58 • Quality Culture: http://www.eua.be/index.php?id=111 • EMNEM – Quality of Joint Masters: http://www.eua.be/index.php?id=110 • Creativity in Higher Education: http://www.eua.be/index.php?id=109 • European Forum for Quality Assurance: http://www.eua.be/index.php?id=108

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