external quality assurance vis-à-vis internal quality assurance
DESCRIPTION
External quality assurance vis-à-vis internal quality assurance. Axel Aerden. 17 April 2012. NVAO?. Set up in the framework of the Bologna Process Bi-national organisation Established by treaty Safeguards for independence procedures, methodologies, decision-making Publicly funded - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
External quality assurance vis-à-vis internal quality assurance
Axel Aerden
17 April 2012
NVAO?
• Set up in the framework of the Bologna Process• Bi-national organisation• Established by treaty
• Safeguards for independence • procedures, methodologies, decision-making
• Publicly funded• Pre-funded by the Netherlands & Flanders (60/40)• HEIs pay for procedures
• Accountable • Committee of ministers• Respective parliaments
2
European Association of HEIs (EURASHE)
European Student Union (ESU)
European University Association (EUA)
“Master”2nd cycle
90-120 ECTS
Bachelor
1st cycle
180-240 ECTSAssociate
Degree+/- 120 ECTS
“Ph.D.”
3rd cycle
European HE Quality Assurance Landscape
Qualifications Framework for EHEA
European Standards & Guidelines for QA
European QA Register
Level descriptors AD, Ba., Ma. & Dr.
Peer review of QA Agency
European Association for QA in HE (ENQA)
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European Credit Transfer System
From internal to external quality assurance
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Accreditation
External quality assurance
Internal quality assurance
From internal to external quality assurance
• Internal QA assurance• To achieve academic excellence (“improve”)
• quality of teaching, learning, research and scholarship
• To demonstrate achieved academic quality (“proof”)• To keep at the level of achieved quality
• External QA assurance• To contribute to the enhancement of quality• To provide third-party information about quality• To support transparency
5
Internal quality assurance system
Externalquality
assurance system
Assessment frameworks
From internal to external quality assurance
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Institutional level
Institutional audit
Programmelevel
Programme accreditation
Self-evaluation report
Self-evaluation report
NVAO’s general principles
• Open and inclusive approach• One framework for all assessments in a given type of
procedures• E.g. one assessment framework for all types of initial
accreditation
• Fit for purpose (~appropriate burden)
• Respect for institutional autonomy • Internal quality assurance system• Assessment in line with institutional choices on the
basis of the relevant framework• Programme level• Institutional level
7?
NVAO’s framework principles
• Generic, descriptive standards≠ Narrow, prescriptive and highly formulated
Broad acceptance
• Focus on what should be done (~fitness of purpose)
≠ How they should be achievedDo not dictate practice
• Focus on teaching & learning (~education)
• Incl. academic standards ≠ Research
• Incl. professional orientation ≠ Service to society
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The self-evaluation report (NL)
• Central documentation for External QA• Self-contained document – relatively brief• Basic information
• Institution / programme details
• Presents perspective shared by (internal) stakeholders• Addresses each standard in relevant framework
• rationale, practice, ambition
• Provide insight into strengths & weaknesses• Maximising strengths?• Converting weaknesses into strengths?
• Mandatory annexes
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Assessment system
Internal QA
Self-eval report
External QA
Panel report
