Quality assurance has been one of EUA’s key areas of activity since the Association was established. As the voice of Europe’s universities, EUA seeks to ensure that the views of the university sector are taken into account in European and national-level policy discussions on internal and external quality assurance. It also supports its members in developing internal quality systems and aims to promote institutional quality cultures.
With this objective, EUA carries out a variety of activities that are underpinned by the principle that the main responsibility for quality assurance lies within higher education institutions.
EUA is a recognised voice in the quality assurance debate in Europe. At the national level, the Association maintains a continuous dialogue with its collective members, the national rectors’ conferences, about developments taking place in their countries’ systems.
At the European level, a major part of EUA’s policy work related to quality assurance is done in cooperation with the E4 Group, consisting of EUA, ENQA, ESU and EURASHE.
Notably, the E4 worked in cooperation with other stakeholders (Education International, Business Europe and the European Quality Assurance Register) to develop a revised version of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), which were approved at the Bologna Ministerial meeting in 2015. Implementing quality assurance in line with the ESG is one of the key commitments of the Bologna Process.
In response to the questions related to the continued relevance and applicability of the ESG in the changing context of higher education and to the calls that have been made for their further revision, the E4 wrote a joint statement in 2020. In addition, EUA in the report “Micro-credentials linked to the Bologna Key Commitments” prepared as part of the MICROBOL project, has examined whether and how the ESG and other European Higher Education Area tools can be used and/or need to be adapted to be applicable micro-credentials.
The E4 Group organisations are also founding members of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR). This is a public register of quality assurance agencies that substantially comply with the ESG. EQAR provides clear and reliable information on credible and legitimate quality assurance agencies operating in the EHEA. EUA is a member of its Executive Board and of the General Assembly. It also nominates two members of the Register Committee.
EUA is active internationally to contribute the European perspective to quality assurance discussions on the global level. Furthermore, the Association supported the development of quality assurance frameworks outside Europe, for example in Asia (SHARE), Africa (HAQAA) and the United States.
EUA has taken the lead in developing the capacity of higher education institutions to create internal quality processes and foster quality cultures and is an acknowledged expert on these topics.
The Association has worked with its members to gather information and share experience in order to empower universities to fulfil their responsibility for quality assurance. As a result, EUA has produced an extensive set of materials on these matters, most notably the “ESG part 1: are universities ready?”, “Enhancing quality: From policy to practice”, and “Student-centred learning: approaches to quality assurance”.
In addition, EUA’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) has been running since 1994 and offers enhancement-led institutional peer reviews across Europe and beyond. The Programme supports universities in developing their strategic leadership and capacity to manage change by evaluating them in the context of their own mission and goals.
EUA has worked on the topic of rankings through a number of projects and activities aimed to better understand the role and impact that rankings play for its members and informing stakeholders of the advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches. EUA continues to monitor ongoing initiatives and participate in the debate around rankings at the European and international level.
For example, in the report “Exploring higher education indicators”, EUA explored what kind of education indicators are used by external quality assurance agencies, funding mechanisms and international university rankings and whether they are fit for purpose.
The European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) has been co-organised by EUA, ENQA, ESU, and EURASHE since 2006 and has become the largest annual gathering of the European higher education quality assurance community and a flagship activity in this field.
EQAF bridges national boundaries by facilitating a Europe-wide discussion on current trends and forthcoming developments in research, policy and practice. EQAF provides a unique opportunity to share experiences and network with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from higher education institutions and quality assurance agencies, students, researchers and policy makers from across Europe and beyond.
All papers presented at EQAF are available in the EUA publications section.
In recent years, higher education provision has been changing rapidly, including the mainstreaming of e-learning, the emergence of micro-credentials, the launch of the European Universities Initiative, and the renewed importance of the third mission of higher education institutions.
Improving the quality of teaching and learning has been at the heart of the Bologna Process reforms and continues to be of crucial importance for the further implementation of these reforms. The growth in interest in rankings, as well as recent student protests further illustrate the need for universities to reiterate their continued commitment to improving the quality of teaching and learning. Therefore EUA’s policy position has been updated to take account of recent developments and to provide a solid basis for policy work and advocacy in the years to come.
Representatives of higher education institutions in countries that are a member of the Thematic Peer Group B on the Lisbon Recognition Convention are invited to fill in a survey gathering real-life examples of micro-credentials, which will feed into published guidelines on the design, issuing and...
view moreThis paper presents the results of the first phase of the “Quality Assurance Fit for the Future”...
read moreThe European University Association (EUA) is pleased to become a supporting organisation for the More Than Our Rank initiative, promoted by the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS). More Than Our Rank has been developed in response to some of the problematic features...
view moreThis self-assessment tool was developed by the European University Association (EUA) in...
read moreEUA’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP), a quality assurance agency that supports universities in enhancing their strategic leadership and ability to manage change, is now accepting registrations for the 2022/23 round. IEP was launched in 1994 with the aim of supporting higher education...
view moreIn 2018 EQAR established a database of higher education institutions and programmes that have been subject to external quality assurance by a quality assurance agency, DEQAR (Database for External Quality Assurance Results). DEQAR currently offers insight into 65 000 reports of 3000 higher...
view moreEUA member German Rectors' Conference (HRK) organises the International Conference on Recognition on 25-26 November 2021 and online. EUA President Michael Murphy will give a keynote speech. Organisers are inviting all those involved in recognition to submit proposals for...
view moreThe European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) published “ESG Coverage of Higher Education Systems in Europe”, the first of several DEQAR CONNECT policy briefs based on the analysis of the data collected through the Database of External Quality Assurance Results...
view moreThe TPG-LRC project, aimed at promoting the implementation of procedures compliant with the Lisbon Recognition Convention, has published a guide for higher education institutions. TPG-LRC stands for “Thematic Peer Group B on the Lisbon Recognition Convention” and the project has been coordinated...
view moreThe Steering Committee of the ESU’s Quality Assurance (QA) Student Experts’ Pool launched a call for 90 new student members for the membership period 2021/2022. Deadline is 14 June at 23.59 CEST. The European Students' Union (ESU)’s Quality Assurance Student Experts Pool has been...
view moreThe STREAM online training platform, which provides training materials based on the European Recognition Manual for Higher Education Institutions (EAR-HEI manual), is open for a second round of training. The platform is specifically geared towards admissions officers working in higher...
view moreIn response to the Covid-19 crisis, higher education institutions around the world adjusted their...
read moreEUA’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) is now accepting registrations for the 2021/2022 round. IEP was launched in 1994 with the aim of supporting higher education institutions in fulfilling their responsibility for assessing and improving the quality of their own activities. Since...
view moreMicro-credentials have attracted interest as a means to increase the effectiveness and flexibility...
read moreThe E4 Group (ENQA, EUA, EURASHE and ESU) has issued a joint statement reinforcing the relevance of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). The statement, “The ESG in the changing landscape of higher education”, reinforces the purpose and...
view moreThe European Students’ Union (ESU) opened a call for 60 students for the ESU Quality Assurance Students Experts’ Pool. Students have until 3 July to fill in the application form and submit the required documents. In addition to new recruits, the call is also open to current members of the...
view moreThere is a legitimate need for data on the performance of higher education institutions. It is...
read moreEUA’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) is now accepting registrations for the 2020-2021 round. IEP offers comprehensive, improvement-oriented institutional evaluations conducted by a team of experienced higher education leaders. The evaluation process and resulting report and...
view moreIn the light of coronavirus pandemic, both the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) and the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) have issued statements and actions of support for quality assurance agencies and the higher education sector...
view moreThe fourth edition of the G3 Quality Symposium will take place on 28 – 30 October 2020 at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Brussels. Organisers invite interested participants to submit communication proposals by 30 April 2020 under the topic of "challenges and strategies” through four...
view moreThe Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education is looking for international evaluators to take part in the upcoming evaluation and accreditation procedures at Slovak universities and schools of higher education. Assessors from among teachers, scientists, employers, quality system experts,...
view moreThe 2019 European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) is taking place this week at Technical University Berlin in Germany. More than 500 participants are attending the event, which runs from 21-23 November. It focuses on how quality assurance can support higher education institutions in meeting...
view moreThe Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) organises the final dissemination seminar of the Erasmus+ Refugees and Recognition – Toolkit 2 (REACT) project on 17 January 2020 in Brussels. The project has identified possible pathways for the admission of refugee students in...
view moreThe Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) organises a webinar on 19 November from 12:00 to 14:00 to present the results of the testing performed at higher education institutions in Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Ireland. The webinar is organised within the...
view moreThe Database of External Quality Assurance Results (DEQAR) has grown significantly since its launch in May 2018 and now contains more than 40 000 reports on higher education programmes and institutions in the European Higher Education Area. A new public interface was also unveiled earlier in...
view moreThis year, (IEP) marks 25 years since its founding. During this time, the Programme has conducted...
view moreAmple evidence suggests that even though student-centred learning is a topic of great interest and...
read moreThe partners of the project ‘Linking academic recognition and quality assurance’ (LIREQA) have published recommendations on how fair and effective academic recognition practices can be supported through internal and external quality assurance. Separate recommendations are aimed at...
view moreEUA’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) is now accepting registrations for the 2019/20 round of evaluations. IEP offers comprehensive, improvement-oriented institutional evaluations conducted by a team of experienced higher education leaders. The evaluation process and resulting...
view moreUniversities across Europe are calling for a more student-centred, inclusive university...
read moreEUA’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) underwent an external review coordinated by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) in 2018. As a result, on 21 February, the ENQA Board reconfirmed IEP’s membership for the next five years. The ENQA review panel...
view moreThe evaluation of learning and teaching is one central activity through which universities monitor...
read moreEUA’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) evaluated nine Montenegrin higher education institutions in 2018. Based on the individual evaluation reports, IEP published in December a system review report, which examines common issues and challenges amongst the nine institutions and...
view moreThe European Union and African Union Commissions have announced the publication of the African Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ASG-QA), under the Harmonisation of African Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation (HAQAA) Initiative. EUA has been pleased to be part of the...
view moreThe annual European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF), co-organised by ENQA, ESU, EUA and EURASHE...
view moreENQA - the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, is organising a workshop on quality assurance of student-centered learning and the role of students in assessing it. The workshop will take place 10-11 December at the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA...
view moreEUA’s has completed the evaluations of all public higher education institutions in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The evaluations took place during the years 2016-2018 at the joint request of the institutions and the Ministry of Education and Science as part of the...
view moreThe study is the result of a series of activities including workshops, surveys and focus groups...
read moreThe European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), European Students’ Union (ESU), European University Association (EUA), European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) and European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education...
read moreIn 2012-2014, EUA was part of the stakeholder group that revised the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). This work resulted in the current ESG, which were adopted by the ministers in charge of higher education in May 2015. The...
read moreEUA has a long record of working on quality assurance (QA) in Europe and has supported its members in developing their internal QA systems through a variety of activities. Many of these activities have been co-funded by the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme...
read moreThe Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG)...
read moreThe first results of U-Multirank (UMR), a multi-dimensional ranking of higher education institutions produced with seed funding from the European Commission, were unveiled on 13 May 2014. UMR has also been discussed by EUA’s governing bodies on a number of occasions and these...
read moreThe publication “Rankings in Institutional Strategies and Processes (RISP): Impact or Illusion?” is the outcome of a 2.5 year EUA-led project, which has carried out the first pan-European study of the impact and influence of rankings on European higher education...
read moreCreated in 1994, IEP (Institutional Evaluation Programme) is an independent membership service of the European University Association (EUA) which has carried out over 300 institutional evaluations in higher education institutions (HEI), in Europe and worldwide, and a number of system-level...
read moreThe first EUA report on “Global university rankings and their impact” was published in June 2011. Its purpose was to inform universities about the methodologies and potential impact of the most popular international or global rankings already in existence. This second report was...
read moreQuality assurance and doctoral education have been elements of the Bologna Process since the 2003 ministerial meeting in Berlin, but until rather recently, they have been developing on two different tracks. The basic principles governing both, the Standards and Guidelines for Quality...
read moreIn October 2009, the European University Association (EUA), together with its partners, the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and QAA Scotland, launched a project entitled: “Examining Quality Culture in Higher Education Institutions” (EQC). The EQC project...
read moreLe présent rapport a été établi à la demande de l’EUA en raison du nombre croissant de classements internationaux et nationaux dans l’enseignement supérieur, en réponse aux demandes de plus en plus nombreuses d’informations et...
read moreThe project "Examining Quality Culture in Higher Education Institutions" (EQC) aimed to provide an overview of the internal quality assurance processes in place within higher education institutions across Europe and tackled the question of how they have responded to Part 1 of the...
read moreEUA commissioned this report in response to the growth in international and national rankings, as a result of increasing questions from member institutions requesting information and advice on the nature of these rankings, because of the interest shown by national governments in ranking...
read moreThe project “Examining Quality Culture in Higher Education Institutions” (EQC) aims to identify institutional processes and structures that support the development of an internal quality culture. The study bases its understanding of “quality culture” on the...
read moreConcerns about the relationship between quality assurance processes and creativity and how quality assurance, whether internal or external, can either enhance or stifle innovative practices and creativity within higher education institutions (HEIs) was picked up as a main question for...
read moreThis report is the result of a four-year project, which involved 134 higher education institutions grouped in 18 networks. The major aim of the project was to identify how internal quality culture can be developed and embedded in institutions. The project report highlights...
read moreThe Institutional Evaluation Programme of the European University Association (EUA) was launched in 1993 and has evaluated over 110 universities in 35 countries. The evaluation reports offer a wealth of insights and recommendations which were waiting to be tapped. At the...
read moreThe EUA Quality Culture Project, funded by the Socrates Programme, was conceived to enable participating institutions to discuss how to introduce and embed a quality culture in their institutions and develop action plans in specific thematic areas. Participants included fi fty...
read moreEn octobre 2002, le groupe ELU (Europe Latine Universitaire) composé des Présidents et de permanents des conférences de Présidents et de Recteurs suisse, italienne, portugaise, belge francophone et française a décidé d’entreprendre...
read moreIn October 2002, ELU (the Latin European Universities Group), an organisation made up of rectors and staff of Swiss, Italian, Portuguese, francophone-Belgian and French rectors’ conferences, decided to embark on a collective study about the evaluation of university systems. Based...
read moreFor Elizabeth Gadd, it is time for the higher education sector to think carefully about the...
read moreCan, and should, quality assurance play a greater role in ensuring that common academic values are...
read moreMartin Prchal expands the debate on teaching and learning to how institutions should see...
read moreAchieving and maintaining compliance with internationally accepted recognition procedures is a...
read moreThe European University Association’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) has outstanding...
read moreMicro-credentials are expected to widen participation in higher education by supporting inclusion...
read moreAs learning pathways are increasingly international, the recognition of qualifications and credits...
read moreExternal quality assurance across the European Higher Education Area is highly diverse. EQAR’s...
read moreEuropean countries have made strides in establishing the right framework conditions to facilitate...
read moreThe quality-led rationale of digitalisation in learning and teaching slowly moves back onto the...
read moreThe Covid-19 crisis has led to a widening of the scope and role of internal quality assurance at...
read moreOn the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the European University Association, Andrée Sursock...
read moreGathering feedback is a key element in internal quality assurance. However, “closing the feedback...
read moreFair recognition in the European Higher Education Area can only be fully achieved if practices in...
read moreLearning outcomes are increasingly used in qualifications frameworks and quality assurance...
read moreMicro-credentials are growing exponentially in popularity, attracting the interest of various...
read moreThe Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG)...
read moreIn recent years, a series of new international university rankings have come into the spotlight....
read moreAs universities across Europe move to online learning and teaching amid the coronavirus crisis,...
read moreWhat would be the most effective way forward for universities to promote social dimension in their...
read moreResearch assessment practices are becoming more accurate, transparent and responsible. This is...
read moreWhy should universities collect formative data at the course level if they aim to make...
read moreCross-border quality assurance has been slow in the making over the past two decades. However, as...
read moreThis year, EUA’s Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) marks 25 years since its foundation....
read moreThe quality of student assessment is one of the major concerns in Europe’s universities. Emmanuel...
read moreWill quality assurance as we know it remain relevant amid the changing higher education landscape?...
read moreNumerous cases of positive change in higher education systems can be attributed to EUA’s...
read moreHow can universities frame their internal quality assurance and shake up the image of the...
read moreExternal quality assurance reports are publicly available, demonstrating transparency and building...
read moreReports produced by quality assurance agencies can be used in many ways, including in...
read moreA recent EUA study stresses that contributing to innovation in society is a central mission of...
read moreQuality assurance and the enhancement of learning and teaching are no longer exclusively the...
read moreNew approaches to quality assurance in different regions of the world are contributing to a global...
read moreThe continuous development of teaching competences needs commitment at all levels. It is a...
read moreThe EUA Thematic Peer Group on the evaluation of learning and teaching has enhanced a student...
read moreRecognition of study and qualifications are key for people to move freely to study and work in...
read moreBy Tia Loukkola, Director of Institutional Development and senior quality assurance expert at the...
read moreWith the academic year now in full swing, and most university rankings published – the latest...
read moreWelcome It is a pleasure to welcome you to EQAF 2023, the annual event in quality assurance organised by EUA, ENQA, ESU, and EURASHE. This year’s EQAF will...
Read moreThe 2022 European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) was hosted from 17 to 19 November by West University of Timisoara, Romania. The Forum, entitled “Shaping or...
Read moreThe 2021 European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) has taken place online on 18 and 19 November. The Forum, entitled “Building trust and enhancement: from...
Read moreThursday 20 May 14.00-15.00 CEST The main responsibility for quality and quality assurance lies with higher education institutions. Thus, the sudden shift in...
Read moreIdentical sessions on 1 (14.00 CET) and 2 February (09.00 CET) 2021 In response to the Covid-19 crisis higher education institutions have adjusted and...
Read moreDue to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 European Quality Assurance Forum was organised in the form of online sessions. This decision was taken with the health...
Read moreFollowing measures adopted across Europe to minimise health risks associated with the current coronavirus outbreak, EUA has decided with much regret to...
Read morePapers presented at EQAF are available in the EUA publications section, photos are available here. The European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) provides...
Read moreWebinar co-hosted by EUA, ENQA and EQAR A recording of the webinar is available on the EUA YouTube Channel.An important factor in smooth and efficient...
Read moreA new standard for internal quality assurance systems included in the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area...
Read moreThe 13th European Quality Assurance Forum focused on how institutions and quality assurance agencies can build systems that encompass a broad range of...
Read moreHow can quality assurance (QA) ensure transparent and responsible action? The 12th EQAF explored current developments in research, policy and practice from...
Read moreThe European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) provides a platform for discussion, professional development and exchange of experiences among the main...
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