NUC Workshop Concept of Institutional Accreditation Abuja, 21st April 2009

1. Dñ. Carolina Madeleine, University of Alicante NUC WorkshopConcept of Institutional Accreditation Abuja, 21st April 2009

2. Concept of Institutional Accreditation Agenda • International and European framework on QA and Accreditation • Concept for Institutional Accreditation • The Spanish QA System: towards institutional accreditation

3. I- International and European framework on external quality assurance and accreditation

4. International context for QA in higher education • Increasing demand of higher education coupled with an increased concern about quality and effectiveness of educational offer • Increasing number of new providers (multiplication of on-line and for-profite institutions) • Increasing autonomy of HE institutions • Call for transparency and accountability • Lead to the development of QA Models: • UNESCO-OECD, INQAHHE, ESG, EUA, National Models

5. European context for QA in HE • «Quality (...) has proven to be at the heart of the EHEA» • Berlin 2003 • Implementation of national quality assurance systems • Evaluation of programmes and institutions • London Conference 2007 • Consolidation and implementation of European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) • Register of quality assurance agencies

6. National Agencies for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Europe, 2008 Evaluations / Audits Accreditations General trend: from systematic programme accreditation to institutional accreditation

7. II-INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION CONCEPTS

8. Institutional Accreditation Concept • Accreditation is the establishment of or re-statement of the status, legitimacy or appropriateness of an institution, programme or module of study (Prof. Lee Harvey) • Based on an evaluation of whether an institution meets specified minimum standards such as staff qualification, research activities, student learning programme and resources... uses a mixed system based on institutional accreditation and programme accreditation • Undertaken by governments departments or National QA and Accreditation Agencies that make a formal judgement on recognition

9. Institutional Accreditation characteristics • To certify that a set of defined standards of quality in a HE institution are met • The standards can be minimal one or one of excellence • Standards can be used as benchmark • Review by a competent body • Traditionally is a binary decision: yes-no • Time limited

10. Institutional Accreditation Objectives • To improve the quality of education • To provide public information • To ensure that a certain level of quality is met • To examine if the requirements of a university are fulfilled • Part of a National Quality Assurance system • International recognition

11. Institutional Programmes

12. Programme Accreditation – Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths • Focus on "educational quality” • Useful information for students/employers • High involvement of academic • National recognition practices • Direct international comparison of qualifications possible Weaknesses • Very demanding in resources • Sensitive to programme changes • Restricting autonomy of HEIs at programme level • Limited impact on institutional quality processes

13. Institutional Accreditation – Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths • Enhancement of institutional quality mechanisms and facilitation of the development of a quality culture • Sustainable effects at the level of institutional management • Focus on Strategic Priorities • Respect of the autonomy of HEIs • Nationally recognise institution • Resources saving • Weaknesses • Limited information about educational provisions • No direct international comparison of qualifications possible

14. III- THE SPANISH QA MODEL

15. Spanish Higher Education System Universities 73 universities all over Spain (50 public – 23 private) Public universities – 1.326.734 Private universities – 134.743 Total number of students enrolled 1.461.477

16. European Higher Education Area New programmes for internal QA • ANECA- Spanish QAA • Universities are responsible for the quality of their offers • A quality culture must be stimulated inside universities as well as some processes should be developed so that they can show their compromise DOCENTIA AUDIT

17. ACREDITATION VERIFICATION Implementation ACADEMIC ASPECTS Guidelines 1-8 EVALUATION ACCOUNTABILITY Guidelines 1-9 QUALITY ASSURANCE ASPECTS Guideline 9 INTERNAL MONITORING UNIVERSITY Guideline 6 DOCENTIA TRAINING ACREDITA VERIFICA AUDIT The New Legal Framework

18. AUDIT Quality assurance mechanisms already in place in universities European Quality Assurance standards and guidelines Spanish Science and Education Ministry Guidelines AUDIT Programme Internal Quality Assurance Systems (IQAS)

19. AUDIT: Goals • Providing orientation for the design of Internal Quality Assurance Systems in higher education schools and faculties • Verification of the Quality Assurance Systems • design in university education • Certification of implemented systems

20. STAGES PRIOR TO THE DEFINING AND DOCUMENTING OF INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS • The design of systems by the universities will involve: • Determining the needs and expectations of students and other interest groups, in relation to the programmes offered by HEIs. • Establishing the aims and scope of the internal quality assurance system. • Determining the standards for quality assurance.

22. AUDIT: Guidelines • How the HEI defines its quality policy and goals (AUDIT) • (Policy and procedures for quality assurance-ESG) • How the HEI ensures the quality of its programmes • (Approval, monitoring and periodic review) • How the HEI orientates its programmes towards the students • (Assessment of students)

23. AUDIT: Guidelines • How the HEI assures and enhances the quality of its academic staff (Quality assurance of teaching staff) • How the HEI manages and improves its physical resources and services (Learning resources and student support) • How the HEI analyses and takes into consideration the outcomes. (Information systems and Public information)

24. Tools/Diagnosis • 1.-Flow diagrams of the different elements covered by the scope the system. • 2.-Questionnaires to check the different elements covered by the scope the system

29. THE IMPACT OF THE QA AT THE UA

30. The impact of the QA at the UA Creation of an office of Vice President for Quality Standards & European Harmonization Competences • Quality Assurance • Strategic Planning • European Harmonization • Permanent teachers training • Secretariat of Strategic Planning • Secretariat of Quality Standards • Quality Assurance Unit • Education Sciences Institute Secretariat

32. Office of Vice President for Quality Standards & European Harmonization • Design AUDIT programme • Assessment of study programmes • Assessment of academic staff • Assessment of services • Update databases for quality assessment • Improvement actions • Implement the UA strategic plan • Advice in the drafting of the Sectorial Strategic Plans • Follow up activities for the SP • Collecting of relevant data for the SP • Promote and disseminate the SP to UA centres and departments Secretariat of Quality Standards: Competences Secretariat of Strategic Planning: Competences

33. QU - Organisation Chart • Q. Unit Director • Statistics technician • Quality specialist • Administrative TECHNICAL QUALITY UNIT ADMINISTRATION 5 managers • Sociologist specialist • Administrative

34. What can be learned from the Spanish experience? • Successful integration of programme assessment within the institutional assessment • Implication of all the university stakeholders in the design of the QA system • Internal QA systems verified and accredited by National Agency • ANECA -Agency accredited by ENQA. • Flexibility of the methodology: Autonomy and accountability

35. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION¡MUCHAS GRACIAS!