The National Centre for Public Accreditation (NCPA) operates actively at the international level. It is officially registered in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) and Asia-Pacific Quality Register (APQR). NCPA is a full member of the Central and Eastern European Networking Association (CEE Network), the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN), the International Ranking Expert Group (IREG), the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
- EQAR
- APQR
- ENQA
- INQAAHE
- APQN
- CEENQA
- IREG
- EQEA
- FIBAA
- HEEACT
- AACCUP
- SQAA
- EVALAG
- HCERES
- ACQUIN
- NAC
- ASHE
- HEA B&H
- HEQEC
- YODAK
- SKVC
- EKKA
- ACCR
- IAAR
- ANQA
- NAAC
- SEEI
- ARACIS
- MusiQuE
- Bilim-Standard
- ECAQA
- AAEPO
- THEQC
The European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR)
The European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) is a register of quality assurance agencies operating in Europe that substantially comply with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG).
EQAR’s mission is to further the development of the European Higher Education Area by increasing the transparency of quality assurance, and thus enhancing trust and confidence in European higher education.
Objectives
The Register has been established to:
• promote student mobility by providing a basis for the increase of trust among higher education institutions;
• reduce opportunities for “accreditation mills” to gain credibility;
• provide a basis for governments to authorise higher education institutions to choose any agency from the Register, if that is compatible with national arrangements;
• provide a means for higher education institutions to choose between different agencies, if that is compatible with national arrangements;
• serve as an instrument to improve the quality of agencies and to promote mutual trust among them.
Website: eqar.eu
The Asia-Pacific Quality Register (APQR)
The Asia-Pacific Quality Register (APQR) is a register of external quality assurance agencies (QAAs) that demonstrated certain thresholds of maturity. The Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) has endorsed a proposal for the establishment of the Register as part of its Decennial agenda in 2012. An independent external review by peers is the backbone of the APQR.
Purpose of APQR
• Provide an inspirational target and serve as a quality hallmark and qualification to accredit HEIs/programs;
• Provide a basis for mutual recognition of cross‐border operations of QAAs and HEIs;
• Offer a reference to global stakeholders on trustworthy external QAAs in in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The QAAs who have been registered and accepted onto APQR by the on-site review panel can accredit international HEIs/programs in guidance/cooperation along with APQN.
Website: apqr.co
The European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education was established in 2000 to promote European co-operation in the field of quality assurance. In November 2004 the General Assembly transformed the Network into the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). The idea for the association originates from the European Pilot Project for Evaluating Quality in Higher Education (1994-95) which demonstrated the value of sharing and developing experience in the area of quality assurance. Subsequently, the idea was given momentum by the Recommendation of the Council (98/561/EC of 24 September 1998) on European co-operation in quality assurance in higher education and by the Bologna Declaration of 1999. The European Commission has, through grant support, financed the activities of ENQA since the very beginning.
ENQA Mission
ENQA has been established to promote European co-operation in the field of quality
assurance in higher education.
ENQA Objectives
- • to encourage and develop the exchange of information and experience relating to
- • the quality assurance of higher education, in particular on methodological
developments and examples of good practice; - • to function as a policy forum, developing and proposing standards, procedures
and guidelines for quality assurance; - • to fulfil requests for expertise and advice from European Ministers of Education,
national and regional public authorities and other bodies associated with the
European Higher Education Area (EHEA); - • to facilitate quality assurance activities in the area of transnational higher
education; - • to promote the development and implementation of effective systems for quality
assurance and accreditation agencies; - to co-ordinate the management of reviews of quality assurance and accreditation
agencies; - • to maintain and develop co-operation with other appropriate European
stakeholder organisations; - • to contribute to the establishment of the EHEA;
- • to conduct dialogues with other networks and regions.
ENQA Membership
Today the total ENQA membership includeы 41 full members and 49 Affiliates.
The complete list of ENQA members with the organisations’ names specified can be found on the ENQA website http://enqa.eu/
The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE)
The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) was established in 1991 with only 8 members. Today the total membership exceeds 200 members. INQAAHE is a world-wide highly recognizable association active in the theory and practice of quality assurance in higher education.
INQAAHE’s Mission
INQAAHE has been established to enable quality assurance agencies to share information and experiences; lead the theoretical and practical foundations of the profession; develop and promote standards of professional practice in QA; and encourage and assist continuous improvement in member agencies, including professional development and capacity-building for the benefit of HE institutions, their students and their societies.
INQAAHE’s Objectives
- • promote good practices in the maintenance and improvement of quality in higher education;
- • facilitate research into the practice of quality management in higher education and its effectiveness;
- • be able to provide advice and expertise to assist the development of new quality assurance agencies; facilitate links between accrediting bodies especially insofar as they operate across national borders;
- • assist members in determining the standards of institutions operating across national borders;
- • permit better-informed international recognition of qualifications;
- • be able to assist in the development and use of credit transfer schemes in order to enhance the mobility of students between institutions within and across national borders;
- • and enable members to be alert to dubious accrediting practices and organisations.
INQAAHE Membership
The INQAAHE Network has two categories of membership, Full and Associate. Full Members are organisations responsible for assuring the academic quality of post-secondary institutions or education programmes other than their own, such as:
- • accrediting agencies
- • universities that accredit other institutions
- • evaluation agencies and similar organisations
- • those bodies responsible for the external quality assurance of such agencies
Associate Members are organisations with a major interest in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education, but without the responsibility for assuring quality of institutions or education programmes. Persons with a major interest in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education may affiliate to the Network.
Members of all categories may participate in the Administration of the Network, in the General Assembly and other governing bodies of the Network, but full members only have the right to vote.
Today the total INQAAHE membership includes 265 members: 165 full members, 63 associate members and 37 affiliates.
The complete list of INQAAHE members with the organisations’ names, websites, and other contact information specified can be found on the INQAAHE website http://www.inqaahe.org
The Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN) was established in 2003 with the purpose of serving the needs of quality assurance agencies in higher education in a region that contains over half the world’s population. APQN is a regional network operating in association with the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education Incorporated (INQAAHE). World Bank and UNESCO are among the organizations that have contributed largely to the development of the APQN Network.
APQN’s Mission Statement
To enhance the quality of higher education in Asia and the Pacific region through strengthening the work of quality assurance agencies and extending the cooperation between them.’
APQN’s Objectives
- promote good practice in the maintenance and improvement of quality in higher education in the Asia-Pacific region
- facilitate research in the region into the practice of quality management in higher education and its effectiveness in improving the quality of higher education in the region
- provide advice and expertise to assist the development of new quality assurance agencies in the region
- facilitate links between quality assurance agencies and acceptance of each others' decisions and judgements
- assist members of APQN to determine standards of institutions operating across national borders
- permit better-informed international recognition of qualifications throughout the region
- assist in the development and use of credit transfer schemes to enhance the mobility of students between institutions both within and across national borders
- enable members of APQN to be alert to dubious accrediting practices and organisations
- where appropriate, represent the region and promote the interests of the region, e.g. vis-a-vis other networks and international organisations
APQN Membership
APQN has four levels of membership: Full Member, Intermediate Member, Associate Member and Institutional Member. APQN also accepts Observers for organisations outside the Asia-Pacific region.
Only Full and Intermediate Members are eligible to participate in the governance and administration of APQN.
Associate and Institutional Members may participate in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and other meetings of the General Council, but without the right to vote.
Nowadays APQN includes 208 organisations from 40 country of the Asia-Pacific Region: 41 full members, 22 intermediate members, 15 associate members and 120 institutional members. Ten otrganisations have an observer status.
The complete list of APQN members with the organisations’’ names, websites, and other contact information specified can be found on the APQN website http://www.apqn.org
The Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENQA) is an association of national organizations which focus on the academic, research and educational networking.
CEENQA was founded on October, 13 2001 (Krakow, Poland). CEENQA was legally registered in Dusseldorf, Germany on July 4, 2011.
CEENQA’s Mission
The primary mission of CEENQA is to co-ordinate the international aspects of the academic, research and education networks in Central and Eastern Europe and in adjacent countries.
CEENQA’s Objectives
- • the promotion and support of the technical and organizational collaboration between national research networks
- • the support and organization of conferences, workshops and courses
- • the preparation and submission of project applications to European and other international organizations for promotion of the development of research networks
- • the formation of working parties to undertake technical activities which comply with the objectives of the Association
- • the publication and distribution of relevant documentation, brochures, magazines, in particular through the use of electronic media
- • the promotion and support of the development and establishment of corresponding national network services
- • if necessary the establishment and operation of joint network services and technical facilities
- • the safeguarding and pursuit of the common interests of the Association and its members in relation to other Organization
- • the exchange and provision of operational, organizational and technical information relating to research networks
CEENQA membership
Today the total CEENQA membership comprises 24 national research and education networks from the following countries: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, North Cyprus, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia and Slovakia.Those interested in quality assurance in higher education and related matters can obtain further information about the Network from the Secretary or any of the other board members. While each board member is responsible for particular areas, board members are always pleased to discuss any matter of mutual interest.
The complete list of CEENQA members can be found on www.ceenetwork.hu
IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence
IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence emerged as a joint initiative of the UNESCO European Centre for Higher Education (UNESCO-CEPES) and a group of international ranking experts concerned with the quality of academic ranking. IREG was founded in 2004 by the UNESCO European Centre for Higher Education (UNESCO-CEPES) in Bucharest and the Institute for Higher Education Policy in Washington, DC. It is upon this initiative that IREG’s second meeting (Berlin, Germany, 18 to 20 May, 2006) has been convened to consider a set of principles of quality and good practice in HEI rankings - the Berlin Principles on Ranking of Higher Education Institutions.
IREG’s mission
IREG was established to improve the quality of both international and national rankings of higher educational institutions.
IREG’s objectives
• to improve standards and practice in accordance with the Berlin Principles on Ranking of Higher Education Institutions;
• to analyze the impact of rankings on the access to higher education and employability of graduates;
• to examine the impact of rankings on the activity of higher educational institutions;
• to increase public awareness and understanding of academic work
IREG Membership
Today the total IREG membership comprises more than 30 organizations from Denmark, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Germany, Taiwan, USA, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Singapore, France, United Kingdom, Ukraine, China, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Slovenia and Spain. IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence as an international non-profit association welcomes higher education institutions, and all other organizations concerned with ranking and promotion of quality of higher education.
Full membership is open to the organizations engaged primarily in the area of academic ranking and excellence, research, evaluation and analysis of the quality of higher education, and other stakeholders.
Associated membership is open to organizations and entities that are engaged in activities aimed at improvement of the quality of higher education.
The complete list of IREG members and detailed information about the Group is available on the IREG website
EQEA
Education Quality Evaluation Agency, Ministry of Education, P.R. China (EQEA) (previous name - The Higher Education Evaluation Center (HEEC)) of the Ministry of Education, which was established in August 2004, is an administrative body under the auspices of the Ministry of Education.
EQEA Mission:
To organize and implement the evaluation of baccalaureate degree programs and associate degree programs offered in institutions of higher education.
EQEA Objectives:
- organise and implement the evaluation, based on the guidelines, regulations, and evaluation criteria of the MOE, of teaching performance of institutions of higher education, of other education organizations, and of specialized education;
- conduct research in the areas of policies, regulations, and theories in higher education reform and evaluation;
- develop international cooperation and exchanges with higher education evaluation (accreditation) agencies/commissions in other countries;
- develop non-government cooperation and exchanges in the study of higher education teaching and learning.
FIBAA
Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) was founded in 1994 and hence became one of the first agencies to be accredited by the German Accreditation Council.
The leading organisations of Swiss, Austrian and German industry established FIBAA in autumn 1994 as an international foundation. Right from Day One, the intention was to develop a strict Assessment Guide for quality assurance in the field of higher education.
FIBAA is one of the founding members of European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA), the Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENQA), a full member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). In 2012 the membership of FIBAA in ENQA and its listing in EQAR has been renewed.
Mission Statement:
To promote quality and transparency in education and science by awarding a Quality Seal to education programmes and providers operating in tertiary and quaternary fields.
FIBAA Objectives:
-developing suitable measures and instruments which serve to define quality guidelines for the respective academic goals which educational offerings and institutions pursue;
-creating the relevant decision-making bodies to accredit, audit, evaluate and certify educational programmes and their providers in the international field;
-contributing to the work of international bodies and beyond in order to attain the comparability of quality standards and quality assurance processes in the educational sector.
Agreement with FIBAA
HEEACT
The foundation, Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT) was established jointly by the Ministry of Education and all the higher education institutions in Taiwan on December 26, 2005. Since 2006, HEEACT has conducted higher education quality assurance evaluations to assist the universities to contribute to society through the pursuit of quality education as well as research.
HEEACT is a member of Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN), the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
HEEACT Mission:
- to conduct institutional and program evaluations on all Taiwan’s universities and colleges in the higher education system;
- to conduct quality assurance and enhancement research and development projects on higher education.
HEEACT Tasks:
- develop a set of indicators and mechanisms for higher education evaluation;
- implement higher education evaluation and accreditation commissioned by the Ministry of Education and make suggestions to the Ministry of Education on policymaking based on evaluation reports;
- conduct training workshops and programs for reviewers, and to create a talent pool of higher education evaluation practitioners;
- promote international collaboration and exchange in higher education evaluation;
- assist universities and colleges to establish the self-improvement mechanism;
- conduct research studies on the trends and development of higher education evaluation;
- hold international academic conferences regarding higher education evaluation.
Agreement with HEACT
AACCUP
Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) is a non-profit, non-stock corporation now composed of 111 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). The accreditation of curricular programs in the Philippines, particularly for state universities and colleges, is the main function of the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), Inc.Organized in 1987, officially registered and recognized under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 4, 1989.
AACCUP is now closely allied with the Association of Local Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation, Inc. (ALCUCOA). AACCUP is a member of the National Network of Quality Assurance Agencies, Inc. (NNQAA), Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN), International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
Agreement with AACCUP
SQAA
SQAA was established in 2010 as a non-governmental direct budget user and public authorisation holder by a Resolution on the Founding of the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (SQAA).
SQAA is a full member of the European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA Consortium), the Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENQA), the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
SQAA Mission
The Agency provides for development and operation of the quality assurance system in the Slovenian higher education area. The Agency shall, with its system of quality assurance development, contribute to the higher education in Slovenia being of high quality in terms of education and research, internationally recognizable, competitive and equally integrated in the global higher education area.
SQAA Objectives:
- managing the quality assurance system in higher and vocational education;
- setting procedures and criteria for external evaluations and accreditations and setting other criteria and rules;
- conducting external evaluations of higher education institutions, study programmes and vocational colleges;
- giving consent to changing higher education institutions and study programmes;
- establishing and updating an experts’ register;
- cooperating with higher education institutions and vocational colleges, providing them with advice and promoting self-evaluations.
Agreement with SQAA
EVALAG
EVALAG (evaluation agency Baden-Wurtemberg) was founded in 2000 as a foundation under public law and is committed to non-profit purposes. EVALAG operates both nationally with focus on activities in the German Federal State of Baden-Württemberg - and abroad. The agency works independently and on the basis of internationally accepted standards.
EVALAG is a member of DeGEval (Evaluation Society), a full member of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education) and CEENQA (Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies). At an international level, EVALAG is a member of INQAAHE (International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education). EVALAG is registered in EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) since 2010 and carries out international accreditations both in Europe and worldwide.
EVALAG Mission:
To promote the quality concept based on the basic principles of higher education institutions’ responsibility for the quality of programmes and the measurement and validation of the higher education objectives.
EVALAG Objectives:
- provide expertise in order to support the commitment of higher education and scientific institutions;
- contribute to strengthening the self-steering ability and boosting the quality culture of higher education and scientific institutions;
- provide expert-based information for preparing appropriate decisions on higher education politics and policy to the authoritative institutions;
- apply methods for certification which combine the basic approach of examination with methodological elements for quality enhancement to capture and support the holistic quality of study programmes and universities;
- participate in the continued development of quality assurance, quality enhancement, and quality management of higher education institutions and actively contributes to this goal both by practical and scientific-theoretical activities.
Agreement with EVALAG
The High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education, HCERES
As an independent administrative authority set up in 2007, the HCERES is tasked with evaluating research and higher education institutions, research organisations, research units, higher education programmes and degrees and with approving their staff evaluation procedures.
HCERES Mission
HCERES intends to play a part in improving the quality of the French research and higher education system in accordance with the European recommendations and decisions of European ministers in the context of the Bologna Process .
HCERES Objectives
- • evaluating research organisations and institutions, research and higher education institutions, scientific cooperation foundations and institutions;
- • evaluating the research activities conducted by the research units of the aforementioned organisations and institutions;
- • evaluating the programmes and degrees of higher education institutions;
- • approving the staff evaluation procedures of research organisations and institutions and giving its opinion on the conditions under which these are implemented;
- • working with other evaluation stakeholders worldwide;
- • taking part in evaluating foreign or international research and higher education organisations.
website: http://www.hceres.fr/
The Accreditation, Certification and Quality assurance Institute, ACQUIN
In May 2000, the Bavarian Rectors’ Conference passed a resolution to establish an accreditation agency that performs accreditation for all types of higher education institutions taking into account all types of programmes and disciplines.
The Accreditation, Certification and Quality assurance Institute ACQUIN was founded on January 26, 2001 and accredited by the German Accreditation Council on March 22, 2001. Nowadays ACQUIN is an association of over 100 higher education institutions from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary and the United States of America. The German Accreditation Council reaccredited ACQUIN in 2006 until 30th of September 2011.
ACQUIN’s aim is to support the maintenance and enhancement of quality standards for teaching and learning in higher education and to contribute to the internationalisation of German higher education by performing accreditation for all types of higher education institutions and taking into account all types of programmes and disciplines.
A main objective is to provide guidance and information for students, employers and higher education institutions and to contribute to more transparency in the market of study programmes. Within the accreditation process, the institutional membership of the applicant does not have any decisive influence, neither on the content of the evaluation procedure nor on the accreditation decision-making process.
The main characteristics of ACQUIN are independence, objectivity and high quality. Academic freedom and academic autonomy are respected: higher education institutions may regulate their own quality and standards, but at the same time they must guarantee transparency of process and public accountability in discharging this self-regulation.
ACQUIN serves quality assurance in an open education market by evaluating study programmes on the basis of the degree programme profile and performance defined and proposed by the applicant higher education institution itself and by developing quality standards and evaluation criteria.
ACQUIN website: www.acquin.org
ABOUT US
The National Accreditation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (further NAC) was created by the Government decree of the Republic of Kazakhstan №405 from April 29, 2005.
NAC activity is directed on contributing into people’s intellectual development and spiritual potential’s growth, higher education institutions’ modernization and the realization of the tasks, determined by the President of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev aimed at providing competitive capacity of Higher Education and recognition of Kazakhstani education in the world community.
MISSION STATEMENT
To create and develop The National Model of Quality Assurance in Education harmonized with international standards, to contribute significantly to the integration of the Education System of Kazakhstan into the world education community.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
• Fulfillment of quality assurance aspects of Bologna Declaration signed by Kazakhstan in March 2010.
• Implementation of institutional and specialized accreditation of educational institutions according to standards and criteria consistent to the “Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area” (ESG).
• Foreign educational credentials recognition.
• Training of external quality assurance experts in the sphere of education.
• Performing the National ranking of educational institutions.
TASKS
• To develop accreditation standards and assessment criteria compliant with Bologna process.
• To conduct institutional and specialized accreditation of educational institutions.
• To organize and perform training studies regarding the accreditation processes.
• To learn international experience and adopt the good practices in the Education System of Kazakhstan.
• To participate in international programs on quality assurance.
• To recognize and nostrificate credentials issued by foreign institutions of higher education.
MAIN PRINCIPLES OF QUALITY ASSURANCE
• The accreditation procedure is delivered on a voluntary basis.
• Educational institutions are responsible for education quality.
• External assessment is conducted only in objective, transparent and independent way (without influence of third parties, e.g. state authorities, HEIs/TVETs administration and public opinion).
• The information from HEIs/TVETs is confidential.
• All information about accredited HEIs/TVETs is delivered to wider community through mass media and Internet.
More on: http://naric-kazakhstan.kz/en/
About the Agency for Science and Higher Education
The Croatian Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE) was modelled after the best European practices in quality assurance in science and higher education. Becoming a full member of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education) and being listed in EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) in 2011, the Agency proved its reliability as a quality assurance agency working in the European Higher Education Area.
Mission
ASHE mission is to continuously support quality improvement of science and higher education, by applying European and international best practices.
Purpose
In order to achieve its mission, ASHE cooperates closely with higher education institutions, scientific organisations and other stakeholders in higher education and science, on:
• quality improvement of higher education and science, as well as opportunities to acquire specific educational levels
• dissemination of reliable information on the quality of academic standards to students, higher education institutions’ management and the public
• comparing the achieved standards and quality levels with the quality and standards of similar institutions in the country and EU
• active trend following
• developing the quality culture in higher education and science.
Values
ASHE fosters the following values in its work:
• reliability - ASHE employees perform their tasks independently, objectively, fairly and honestly, and make evidence-based judgements and decisions
• professionalism - ASHE strives to reach high professional standards in its work
• accountability - ASHE is accountable for its work to the society as a whole
• flexibility - ASHE adapts easily to the needs of stakeholders and trends in higher education and science in order to respond to all the challenges which support the diversification of higher education institutions and scientific organisations
• cooperation -ASHE encourages mutual cooperation of all employees in common problem solving and responding to challenges arising from the introduction of new activities
• openness - demonstrated through the transparency of ASHE work and building the trust of users of ASHE services. ASHE publishes the results of its work online and in print (brochures, reports, analyses).
Activities
According to the Act on Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education the Agency performs a part of the procedure of initial accreditation, procedures of reaccreditation, thematic evaluation and audit, collects and processes data on Croatian higher education, science and related systems, which serve as a basis for analyses necessary to establish standards and criteria of evaluations carried out by ASHE, as well as a basis for informed and evidence-based strategic decision-making of bodies in the system of higher education and science.
ASHE also provides information and unifies data on the conditions of enrolment to higher education institutions in the Republic of Croatia.
One of the ASHE tasks is to administer and support the activities of the National Council for Higher Education, National Council for Science, Council for Financing Scientific Activity and Higher Education, Ethics Committee in Science and Higher Education, Area Councils, Scientific Field Committees, Humanities and Arts Committees and expert panels.
More on: http://www.azvo.hr/
Basic information about the Agency
Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance has been established by Framework Law on Higher Education in BiH (Official Gazette of BH No. 59/07), as independent public organization. Council of Ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Decision on Begging the Work and the Seat of the Agency (which was published in Official Gazette of BH No. 10/08), on the 33rd session on January the 10th 2008. The Seat of the Agency is in Banjaluka.
Independent work of the Agency, within its jurisdiction, related to external quality assurance, shall be achieved by legal, transparent and public selection procedures of domestic and international experts which provides assessment and quality review and give recommendation on accreditation of higher education institutions.
Openess of the Agency’s work shall be achieved in accordance with the Law on free access to information in BH, by submitting work reports to the Parliamentary Assembly and Council of Ministers of BH, and by public medium.
The Agency shall, in performing its tasks, respect following principles:
• legality,
• transparency
• publicity
• efficiency and effectiveness,
• professional impartiality
The Agency shall be financed from the budget of BH institutions, and in the part of jurisdiction related to external assurance, from its own income.
Within its activities, the Agency shall cooperate with relevant domestic institutions - educational authorities in BH, entities, cantons and Brčko District, academic community, international community and relevant stakeholders.
Mission Statement
The Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina performs its work on the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina by issuing regulations and recommendations from the field of higher education, particularly in establishing the new and developing the existing higher education institutions, and leading the process of external quality assurance. In this matter, the Agency is acting in cooperation with the competent ministries on all levels, higher education institutions, the whole academic community and students, and all that in accordance with the general principles of legality, objectivity, transparency and non-discrimination.
Appreciating the good practice and tradition of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Agency became the key player in creating the quality culture; making clear standards and regulations for higher education, as basic criteria for activities which shall be undertaken by respective ministries and higher education institutions.
The Agency encourages all higher education institutions to build their own system of quality, based on these standards, the periodic self-evaluations as a basis for external evaluation, which shall be performed by independent and impartial national and international experts, in accordance with clear and transparent criteria.
Подробнее на: http://hea.gov.ba
The founders of HEQEC are Ministry of Education and Science and (according to a decision made by the Council of Rectors) five higher education establishments: University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Riga Stradins University, Daugavpils University and "School of Business Turiba".
HEQEC Mission:
- promote development of higher education in Republic of Latvia;
- improve quality, effectivity and accessibility of higher education;
- provide opportunity to receive objective and complete information about quality of higher education in Latvia to all interested parties, including students, academic personnel, administration of higher education institutions, employers and professional organizations.
HEQEC objectives:
- to work out and co-ordinate the procedures aimed at quality assessment of higher education institutions and study programmes as well as preparing peer visits in compliance with the Law on Education of the Republic of Latvia and the Law on Higher Education Institutions;
- to organize the quality assessment of higher education institutions and study programme on behalf of the Ministry for Education and Science;
- to set up commissions and working groups responsible for solving problems related to quality assessment and accreditation;
- to invite foreign experts for peer visits to higher education institutions;
- to sum up and to make public the experience obtained as the system of higher education institution and study programme quality assessment is being set up and implemented.
YODAK
YÖDAK - Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council, Nicosia.
Agreement with YODAK
Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (CQAHE) is an independent public agency established in 1995. The Centre implements the external quality assurance policy in higher education in Lithuania and contributes to the development of human resources by creation of enabling conditions for free movement of persons. The Centre was founded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania as an expert institution.
The mission of the Centre: The SKVC is an organisation contributing to the improvement of quality in Lithuanian higher education and the free movement of persons across borders.
The vision of the Centre: The Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education as an influential generator, implementer and disseminator of ideas in higher education.
The main function of the Centre is to assist HEI to assure quality and to constantly improve it. The Centre fulfils this function through:
• Assessment of the quality of higher education
• Assessment of the qualifications concerning higher education
• Provision of information on higher education systems and qualifications recognition
More on http://www.skvc.lt
Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency (EKKA)
EKKA promotes the quality of higher education and vocational education and training (VET) in Estonia, values the best quality assurance practices and disseminates them. Upon making assessment decisions, EKKA is independent and sovereign. EKKA continues the work of the Estonian Higher Education Accreditation Centre and the Estonian Higher Education Quality Assessment Council that operated from 1997 to 2008. EKKA was established on January 1, 2009.
Two councils - The Higher Education Quality Assessment Council and VET Quality Assessment Council - currently operate as parts of EKKA.
EKKA
- - offers consultations on quality assurance in higher education and VET as well as training for higher education institutions, VET institutions and evaluation experts
- - conducts institutional accreditation of higher education institutions in Estonia and quality assessment of study programme groups
- - conducts expert analyses in order to grant the higher education institutions the right to conduct studies
- - conducts expert analyses of study programmes that are not yet registered in Estonia
- - conducts accreditation of study programme groups of VET institutions
- - analyses the evaluation process and makes information about the outcomes of assessment of higher education and VET institutions publicly available
- - participates in international higher education and VET quality assurance networks, such as ENQA, INQAAHE, CEEN, EQAVET, and others
EKKA is comprised of the Bureau, which administers and organises EKKA's work, and EKKA Quality Assessment Council, whose main task is to make decisions on institutional accreditation of higher education institutions in Estonia and on quality assessment of their study programme groups.
Accreditation Commission Czech Republic
Accreditation Commission Czech Republic was established in 1990 as an independent government body taking care of the quality in higher education.
Mission of AСCR
The Accreditation Commission takes care of the quality of higher education in Czech Republic and carries out comprehensive evaluation of the teaching, scientific, research, development and innovative work, artistic and other activities of higher education institutions.
Objectives of ACCR
Accreditation Commission carries out its mission through quality assessment and accreditation process of degree programmes. It is inspired by the quality assurance models in the European Higher Education Area where it represents the Czech accreditation system and through which it cooperates with accreditation agencies in other countries. Accreditation Commission acts with a sense of responsibility, openness and transparency of the accreditation and quality assurance processes, taking professionals and representative bodies of higher education institutions as well as representatives of student community as its natural partners. Mutual trust and dialogue represent the key tool in the process of assurance of the high quality in higher education in the Czech Republic.
The chief means of achieving these objectives are:
- evaluating the activities of higher education institutions and the quality of accredited activities and publishing the results of such evaluations;
- рreviewing other issues affecting the system of higher education and expressing its standpoint on these issues.
The Accreditation Commission expresses its standpoint on the following
- requests for accreditation of degree programmes;
- requests for authorization to carry out the habilitation procedure and the procedure for the appointment of professors;
- the establishment, merger, amalgamation, splitting or dissolution of a faculty of a public higher education institution;
- the granting of state permission to a legal entity wishing to operate as a private higher education institution;
- specification of the type of higher education institution.
The Accreditation Commission consists of twenty-one members, who are appointed by the government. Members of the Accreditation Commission are appointed for a six-year term.
Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating of the Republic of Kazakhstan was created in 2011.
Nonprofit establishment «Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating» is a nonprofit organization which has a status of a legal body, created to improve the competitiveness of higher education institutions, also technical and professional organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan on national and international levels by conducting the procedures of accreditation and academic rankings.
The Agency is nongovernmental and nonprofit organization whose main purpose is not to gain profit.
IAAR Mission
IAAR Mission is advancement of competitiveness of educational organizations through institutional and specialized accreditation and academic ranking.
The purpose of the Agency’s activity is to provide organizational and technical maintenance of the conducting procedures of institutional and specialized accreditation of educational institution, to elaborate standards and criteria for accreditation, to carry out the rankings of higher education institutions, technical and professional organizations.
National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance Foundation, ANQA
National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance Foundation (Armenia) conducts external quality assurance processes in accordance with the norms set by the RA legislation and regulations, as well as with the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG-ENQA). ANQA also developed Guidelines, Criteria and Standards for Quality Assurance taking into account the local needs and international good practice.
Currently, ANQA has an Associate Status at the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, granted on 12 June, 2009.
ANQA Mission
ANQA strives to promote public trust, social cohesion, equity, responsibility and competitiveness in Armenian society through systematic enhancement of tertiary level education provisions.
ANQA Objectives
ANQA aims at setting a quality assurance system, which
- is receptive to the needs of the national stakeholders;
- complies with international standards;
- ensures visibility at international level.
International Cooperation
Internationalization is one the most vital elements of ANQA’s activities. The scope of activities aimed at internationalization includes but is not limited to the following:
• participation in the international debate on quality assurance through attendance of EQAF and IQAAHE Forums, ENQA workshops as well as scientific articles;
• active involvement in EU TEMPUS project. In 2010 ANQA started two TEMPUS projects: DIUS and PICQA;
• following the international developments in quality assurance and integrating the best practices in its developments;
• active cooperation with international counterparts for experience exchange as well as expert exchange.
More information is available on the official website http://www.anqa.am/en/
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India to assess and accredit institutions of higher education in the country. It is an outcome of the recommendations of the National Policy in Education (1986) which laid special emphasis on upholding the quality of higher education in India. To address the issues of quality, the National Policy on Education (1986) and the Plan of Action (POA-1992) advocated the establishment of an independent national accreditation body. Consequently, the NAAC was established in 1994 with its headquarters at Bangalore.
NAAC Mission
To make quality the defining element of higher education in India through a combination of self and external quality evaluation, promotion and sustenance initiatives.
NAAC Objectives
• To arrange for periodic assessment and accreditation of institutions of higher education or units thereof, or specific academic programmes or projects;
• To stimulate the academic environment for promotion of quality of teaching-learning and research in higher education institutions;
• To encourage self-evaluation, accountability, autonomy and innovations in higher education;
• To undertake quality-related research studies, consultancy and training programmes;
• To collaborate with other stakeholders of higher education for quality evaluation, promotion and sustenance.
International Cooperation
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA International Quality Group), the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN) and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
Shanghai Education Evaluation Institute, SEEI
Shanghai Education Evaluation Institute (SEEI), affiliated to Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, is earliest-established education evaluation institute in China, originating from Shanghai Higher Education Evaluation Agency founded in 1996. With years’ persistent efforts, SEEI has grown into the largest professional agency with the widest business scope in the field of education quality assurance in China.
SEEI Mission
SEEI adopts “The result of evaluation represents the voice of authority” as its motto and follows the principles of “providing service, improving quality, demonstrating capability, emphasizing research, enhancing professionalism, setting brand”.
SEEI Objectives
•Undertaking various kinds of education evaluation and accreditation from preschool to postgraduate level;
•Conducting examination and evaluation for quality of higher education subjects, specialties and faculties;
•Carrying out performance evaluation for local universities and colleges;
•Organizing education evaluation research and academic exchange;
•Promoting education evaluation training and providing advisory service for district education evaluation institutions and schools under the guidance of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.
International Cooperation
SEEI pays great attention to domestic and international academic exchange and cooperation. It is not only the formal member of International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) and Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN), but also the location of APQN Secretariat.
More information is available on the official website of SEEI http://www.seei.edu.sh.cn/
The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS) was established in 2005 and is an autonomous public institution, of national interest, whose main mission is the external evaluation of the Romanian higher education’s quality, at the level of study programmes, as well as from the institutional point of view.
As of September 2009, ARACIS is a full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education – ENQA and is registered in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education - EQAR.
ARACIS Mission
The agency’s strategy reflects the mission assumed by ARACIS in order to constantly assure and improve quality in the Romanian higher education, as well as its own activity.
ARACIS Objectives
• improving the external evaluation methodology, in full compliance with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education - ESG;
• increasing the role of students and employers, as final beneficiaries, within the process of evaluation and assurance of education quality;
• creating a quality culture in the Romanian higher education;
• establishing a permanent partnership with all institutions in the national higher education system (MECTS, CNCSIS, CNFIS, ACPART) as well as with the economic-social environment, in order to correlate higher education with the labour market.
The Agency is carrying out its activity according to the best international practices, which are taken in its own Methodology and whose implementation is focused towards quality assurance and evaluation of the Romanian higher education, as part of the European Higher Education Area.
Please see more information on the official website of SEEI http://www.seei.edu.sh.cn/
MusiQuE – Music Quality Enhancement
Foundation for Quality Enhancement and Accreditation in Higher Music Education, is an external evaluation body dedicated to the continuous improvement of the quality of higher music education across Europe and beyond and to assisting higher music education institutions in their own enhancement of quality. Founded in The Hague, The Netherlands, on 7th October 2014, MusiQuE is registered at the chamber of commerce in The Hague and its current seat of operation is in Brussels, Belgium.
MusiQuE is an affiliate of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and a full member of the European Alliance for Subject-Specific and Professional Accreditation an Quality Assurance (EASPA). In 2015 MusiQuE was registered in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).
MusiQuE Mission:
MusiQuE is an independent European-level external evaluation body which has the aim to assist higher music education institutions in their own enhancement of quality and to improve the quality of higher music education across Europe and beyond.
Independent accreditation agency “Bilim-Standard”
Non-governmental foundation “Independent accreditation agency “Bilim-Standard” was founded in 2018 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. The agency carries out institutional and programme accreditation of educational institutions delivering study programmes of secondary, secondary vocational, higher professional and postgraduate education.
The agency is a member of the Eurasian Association for Educational Assessment (EAOKO).
Mission:
Improving competitiveness of graduates by creating and developing the systems of quality assurance.
Eurasian Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Health Care (ECAQA)
Eurasian Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Health Care (ECAQA) is recognized by the decision of the Republican Accreditation Council of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is included in the National Register of Recognized Accrediting Agency (Register 1) by the Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Science.
ECAQA is included in the Directory of Organizations that Recognize/Accredit Medical Schools (DORA) of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER). The Centre is a full member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), member of the CHEA International Quality Group, affiliate member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), full member of the Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENQA), full member of the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN).
ECAQA Mission
Ensure the introduction of international standards and principles of external quality assurance and enhancement of health professions education and evolve to meet the national health system needs and involvement of principal stakeholders in order to maintain public confidence.
ECAQA Objectives
Modernization of the quality assurance system in health professions education through the enhancement of internal and external quality assurance mechanisms at the institutional and national levels, increasing the competitiveness of health professionals and healthcare nationally and internationally.
Agency for Accreditation of Educational Programmes and Organizations (AAEPO)
The Independent Agency for Accreditation of Educational Programmes and Organizations was established in 2014. Non-profit institution "Agency for Accreditation of Educational Programmes and Organizations" is a non-profit organization, which has legal status, established to enhance the competitiveness of professional education of the Kyrgyz Republic by conducting accreditation.
AAEPO is a member of the Eurasian Association for Educational Assessment (EAOKO).
AAEPO Mission
Agency’s mission is to improve education in the Kyrgyz Republic via independent accreditation of educational institutions and study programmes taking into account the use of best practices and scientific achievements in the field of education quality assurance.
AAEPO Objectives
The Agency's goal is to provide institutional and programme accreditation of educational organizations and to develop methodology, technologies, standards and criteria for accreditation of educational programmes and professional education organizations. Accreditation is aimed at improving the quality of educational programmes and the effectiveness of educational institutions.
The Higher Education Quality Council of Turkey (THEQC)
THEQC is a special budget founded public legal entity with administrative and financial autonomy. Following its first establishment as part of the “Higher Education Quality Assurance Regulation” that entered in force upon its publication in the Official Gazette No. 29423 on July 23rd, 2015, the Council was reorganized according to the Additional Provision No. 35 added to the Law No. 2547 on Higher Education on June 18th, 2017 and has gained both administrative and financial independence. The three pillars of responsibility of the THEQC are the external evaluation for quality assurance of higher education institutions; granting authorization to autonomous national program accreditation agencies as well as recognition of international quality assurance organizations and program accreditation agencies; spreading the culture and raising the awareness of quality assurance in Higher Education in Turkey.
THEQC Mission
The mission of THEQC is to implement and enhance the quality assurance system of the national higher education system by supporting the internal quality assurance system and the progress of quality culture, and conducting the external assessments of the higher education institutions so that it can significantly contribute to the enhancement of intellectual capital and sustainable development of the society in a transparent, accountable and collaborative manner.