Download the WG Implementation - Nice 09-10.11.2016 - Minutes

Agenda

1. Draft agenda and background documents

WG Implementation - Nice 09-10.11.2016 - Draft agenda

WG Implementation - Internationalisation of (External) Quality Assurance

WG Implementation - Concept note: Reversed peer review

2. Welcome

Co-chairs and J.-Ch. Martin, Nice University Vice-President for International Relations

3. Introductory session

Setting the scene: different facets of internationalisation in external QA
Padraig Walsh, ENQA, President
WG Implementation - Internationalisation of (External) Quality Assurance

The ESG 2015 at 1,5 years after Yerevan
Tia Loukkola, EUA, Director for the Institutional Development unit
WG Implementation - ESG 2015: 1,5 years after Yerevan

4. QA of cross-border higher education

Introduction and results of the QACHE project
Padraig Walsh, ENQA, President
WG Implementation - Results of the QACHE project

From GATS to the Services Directive
Alberto Amaral, A3ES, President
WG Implementation - Quality Assurance of Cross-border Higher Education and the Services Directive

5. Cross-border quality assurance

Overview and introduction of the E4/EQAR Key Considerations
Melinda Szabo, EQAR, Project Officer
WG Implementation - Overview of cross-border QA and introduction of the E4/EQAR Key Considerations

International accreditation of engineering programmes by CTI
Marie-Jo Goedert, CTI, Director of administration & international relations
WG Implementation - International accreditation of engineering programmes by CTI

Benefits and challenges in carrying out external quality assurance abroad
Heli Mattisen, EKKA, Director
WG Implementation - Benefits and challenges of external quality assurance abroad: Moldova 2015

Experience with reviews abroad and incoming cross-border QA in Lithuania
Nora Skaburskienė, SKVC, Acting Director
WG Implementation - Experience with reviews abroad and incoming cross-border QA in Lithuania

6. Quality assurance of joint programmes

The European Approach – where do we stand 1,5 years after Yerevan?
Colin Tück, EQAR, Director
WG Implementation - The European Approach, where do we stand 1,5 years after Yerevan?

7. Liaison with other working groups and outcomes of WG2 activities

Liaison with other working groups, i.a. AG3 “Dealing with non-implementation”, WG1 “Monitoring” and WG3 “New Goals. Policy development for new EHEA goals”

Outcomes of WG2 activities (table of events, contribution to the BFUG meeting, final WG report)
WG Implementation - Outline report structure

8. Current challenges in the implementation of the EHEA commitments and next WG meeting

Discussion on reporting continues

Round table "current challenges in the implementation of the EHEA commitments in countries represented in the WG"

Next meeting

AOB

Conclusions

Source: BFUG Meeting 52 Bratislava Dec. 2016 - Work progress WG Implementation

First day: thematic session on ‘The internationalisation of QA’

• Quality assurance of cross-border HE (CBHE): the QACHE project and From GATS to the services directive
• Cross border activities of QAA : French QAA CTI ; Estonian QAA EKKA and the Lithuanian QAA SKVC
• QA of joint degrees

Discussions on the first day allowed for mapping current key challenges in implementation of commitments regarding cross-border QA and the European approach for quality assurance of joint programmes as well as dilemmas concerning quality assurance of CBHE.

Some conclusions of the first day

QA of CBHE

• CBHE cannot be subject of lower bar in the QA process, regardless whether the course is provided in EHEA countries or outside EHEA, ESG also encompass QA of CBHE.
• communication between all players is crucial (legislative, procurement as well as language and cultural differences should be taken into account)
• Significance of follow-up procedure in case of QA of CBHE should not be underestimated
• CBHE is widening access to higher education and shall therefore have an impact on SD

Cross-border QA: there is still a challenge of maintaining reliability of quality in the processes operated by EQAR-registered QA agencies abroad, however the situation is being improved in this regard

QA of joint programmes: implementation of the ‘European approach’ needs time.

Examples of more general comments

• Relation of QA and student-centred learning? Why is this so controversial?
• Link between teaching and research needs to be stressed

2nd day

A first discussion on reporting the outcomes of WG 2: 1)timetable was agreed; 2) structure of WG report discussed – it will be revamped following comments from the WG members 3) Some members signaled willingness to contribute (D, EKKA, UK, SWE, EUA; Georgia, Poland; Austria); Coordination of contributions and preparation of the report will be the responsibility of co-chairs.

Liaison with other WG and AG in particular WG 3 and AG 3: exchange of information is important.

Conclusions of the second day

• UK offered to organize RPR on social mobility
• Romania will host a Bologna Process researchers’ Conference; (equity, SD, “ethics in academia” are hot topics in Romani).
• Greece: free access to HE -> important for refugees
• Georgia: legislative changes to support Internalisation of Quality Assurance; Revised external QA standards and procedures based on ESG 2015
• Poland: limiting bureaucratic burden in higher education, including one related to QF and QA, is one of priorities.