ESG 2015: Linking external and internal QA Involving stakeholders Tia Loukkola Director for Institutional Development 22 January 2016.

ESG 2015: Linking external and internal QA

Involving stakeholders

Tia LoukkolaDirector for Institutional Development

22 January 2016

The ESG basics (1)• 2005: the first version of the Standards and Guidelines for

Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) adopted in by the Ministers for higher education• Developed by the E4 Group (EUA, EURASHE, ESU and ENQA)• Had major impact on the quality assurance (QA) developments in

Europe• 2015 ESG adopted by the Ministers in May in Yerevan

• Developed by the E4 Group, EI, BUSINESSEUROPE and EQAR• Takes into account of the changes in the past decade and looks

forward

• Focus on quality assurance, not quality as such

…2…

The ESG basics (2)• Three parts covering

Internal QA within HEIs External QA carried by QAAs Internal QA within QAAs

• Focus on learning and teaching in HE, including Learning environment Links to research and innovation

• The ESG are applicable to all types of HE; irrespective of mode of provision or place of delivery

• The standards: agreed and accepted practice – Should be taken account of and adhered to

• The guidelines explain why the standard is important and describe how standards might be implemented.

…3…

Part 1: Internal QA1.1 Policy for quality assurance1.2 Design and approval of programmes1.3 Student-centred learning, teaching and assessment 1.4 Student admission, progression, recognition and certification1.5 Teaching staff1.6 Learning resources and student support1.7 Information management 1.8 Public information1.9 On-going monitoring and periodic review of programmes1.10 Cyclical external quality assurance

…4…

Part 2: External QA2.1 Consideration of internal quality assurance2.2 Designing methodologies fit for purpose2.3 Implementing processes2.4 Peer-review experts 2.5 Criteria for formal outcomes2.6 Reporting2.7 Complaints and appeals

…5…

Part 3: QA of QA agencies3.1 Activities, policy and processes for quality assurance3.2 Official status 3.3 Independence 3.4 Thematic analysis 3.5 Resources3.6 Internal quality assurance and professional conduct3.7 Cyclical external review of agencies

…6…

State of play

• Different approaches when creating national QA systems Trend towards institutional approach, yet often combined with

programme level Accreditation, evaluation or audit Aligned with the ESG, but national characteristics and criteria on top

• Institutional policies and systems mostly in place Development of past 10 years How developed or efficient are they? QA identified among the most influential reforms/trends by HEIs

…7…

…8…

The principles for QA in the EHEA• HEIs have primary responsibility for the quality of their

provision and its assurance• QA responds to the diversity of higher education systems,

institutions, programmes and students• QA supports the development of a quality culture• QA takes into account the needs and expectations of

students, all other stakeholders and society

On the link between internal and external QA

• External QA is based on internal QA• However, experience shows that the external QA also acts

as a driver for internal QA developments• Therefore,

Seek synergies between internal and external QA Develop context-sensitive QA approaches Ensure participation of all stakeholders

…9…

Stakeholder participation in QA (1)• Internal QA

1.1. “Internal stakeholders should develop and implement [the institutional QA] policy through appropriate structures and processes, while involving external stakeholders.”

• External QA 2.2. “Stakeholders should be involved in [the] design and continuous

improvement [of external QA].” 2.4. “External quality assurance should be carried out by groups of

external experts that include (a) student member(s).”• Also the principle of QA promoting quality culture drives

towards stakeholder participation

…10…

…11…

Quality culture?

QUALITY CULTURE

Formal quality assurance processes

Tools and processes to define, measure, evaluate, assure, and enhance quality

Quality commitment Cultural element Individual level: personal commitment to strive for quality Collective level: individual attitudes and awareness add up to culture

Communication Participation

Trust

Stakeholder participation in QA (2)• Employer participation – either in internal and external QA –

not widespread• In external QA the student participation becoming a norm

More in expert panels than in the decision-making bodies• In internal QA how to involve all stakeholders remains a

challenge How to motivate the academic staff? Student participation varies from one system to another. Trends2010:

• 83% of HEIs: students participate actively in QA committees etc• 72% of HEIs: students have voting rights in faculty or departmental

bodies

…12…

Solutions to increase the ownership• Adapting to the context• Balancing formal and structural approaches with informal

and cultural elements• Investing in follow-up actions

…13…

Conclusions• Themes of the ESG 2015 are familiar to all, but the level of

implementation varies greatly• National implementation and interpretation: impact of the

context• Aim for improved quality levels in higher education, not

mere compliance with the ESG

…14…

Some linksESGhttp://www.enqa.eu/index.php/home/esg/

EUA publicationshttp://www.eua.be/activities-services/publications.aspx

The European Higher Education Area in 2015: Bologna Process Implementation Reporthttp://www.ehea.info/news-details.aspx?ArticleId=385

…15…