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Towards Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Decisions in Europe

Towards Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Decisions in Europe. Rolf Heusser, Chairman of ECA. Warsaw, 18 April 2008. Presentation Rolf Heusser. Rationale for Mutual Recognition The ECA project: methods and results „Qrossroads“ - a new information tool

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Towards Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Decisions in Europe

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  1. Towards Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Decisions in Europe Rolf Heusser, Chairman of ECA Warsaw, 18 April 2008

  2. Presentation Rolf Heusser • Rationale for Mutual Recognition • The ECA project: methods and results • „Qrossroads“ - a new information tool • Lessons learned and future perspectives Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 2

  3. MR of accreditation decisions – Rationale • Ratification of Lisbon recognition convention did not solve all recognition problems • Mutually validated information about quality might facilitate recognition work • MR agreements will simplify accreditation/ recognition of joint programmes • Mutual Recognition initiatives enhance visibility of accredited HEIs and study programmes in Europe Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 3

  4. MR of accreditation decisions - Purpose • Reduce existing barriers in recognition of foreign qualifications • Enhance academic and professional mobility • Increase transparency in higher education • Opportunity for QA-bodies to learn from experiences and good practices of other agencies Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 4

  5. Political basis for MR initiatives in Europe • Bologna Ministers Conference, Bergen 2005: • „We underline the importance of cooperation between nationally recognised agencies with a view to enhancing the mutual recognition of accreditation or quality assurance decisions“. Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 5

  6. ECA – Foundation and Aim • Established in November 2003 • Consortium of national accreditation organisations • 15 member organisations from 10 European countries: AT, BE, CH, DE, ES, FR, IE, NL, NO, PL • Aim: mutual recognition of accreditation decisions among participating members until end of 2007 Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 6

  7. Mutual recognition agreements – Elements • Trust building process needed • Built upon mutual understanding • Built upon commonly agreed principles/tools • Built upon cooperations in practice • Built upon external reviews of agencies Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 7

  8. Mutual understanding of accreditation organisations Mutual Recognition of accreditation procedures Mutual Recognition of accreditation results/decisions ECA Road map to mutual recognition • Activities/Tools Date • Inventory of accreditation systems 2004 • Mutual observations 2005 • Code of good practice 2004 • Principles: selection of experts 2005 • Principles: accreditation of joint programmes 2006 • Common publication format/databank 2007 • Mutual cooperation projects 2006 • Joint declaration ECA – ENIC/NARIC 2006 • External review of ECA members 2007 • Formal agreements of mutual recognition 2007 Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 8

  9. ECA – Inventory of accreditation systems • Accreditation profiles of ECA member organisations • Description of accreditation process and procedures • Information about national HE-system • Legal background, role and status of accreditation body • Databank expanded Information tool established (website driven databank, support: EU Commission) Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 9

  10. Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 10

  11. Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 11

  12. ECA – Code of good practice • Guarantees comparability of accreditation procedures • 17 standards - signed by all ECA member organisations in Zurich 2004 • Compatibility to European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) assured • External reviews of ECA members to check fulfillment of Code Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 12

  13. External reviews of ECA members • Most reviews took place in 2007 • 3 step procedures (SE-report, on site visit by independent experts, publication of report) • ECA member organisations showed a high degree of compliance with the ECA Code/ESG • Improvement areas are: independence, publication of reports, appeal systems, student participation Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 13

  14. ECA – Mutual cooperation projects • Exchange of experts/staff exchange • Observation of other members‘ accreditation procedures • In depth comparisons of accreditation procedures and standards • Joint accreditation procedures Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 14

  15. ECA – Joint declaration with ENIC/NARICs • Partnership ECA members – ENIC/NARICs (recognition bodies) • Now 6 countries: A, CH, FL, NL, NO, PL Aspiration • Automatic recognition of HE qualifications from institutions and/or programmes, accredited by ECA members, at their proper level in the overarching framework Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 15

  16. ECA – Trust building process • Bilateral Mutual Recognition Agreements Cooperation projects; external reviews Common tools/instruments Information exchange Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 16

  17. Agreement on MR of accreditation decisions • “The signing accreditation organisations agree to regard their accreditation procedures, standards and results as free of significant differences and confirm that within their competences they accept the results/decisions of the procedures of the other signing accreditation organisation” • MR agreement, ECA 2007 Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 17

  18. Mutual recognition agreements • Now 12 mutual recognition agreements • Involving 8 ECA member countries • On 9 agreements the Joint declaration concerning the „automatic“ recognition of qualifications applies • Other agencies may sign later Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 18

  19. ECA project – Conclusions • ECA has successfully tested a new methodology to come to MR agreements. • ECA‘s approach is based on systematic trustbuilding between agencies (step by step process involving co-operations on all levels). • Methods and tools of ECA might also be useful for other accreditation and quality assurance agencies. Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 19

  20. ECA Work – Lessons learned • MR is not a destiny, it is a journey which has resulted in innovative side products. • The combination of formal agreements and practical co-operation projects has been particularly useful. • It was important to acknowledge and accept the existence of different legal prerequisites for accreditation. • Trust building process has increased mutual understanding among ECA members and was perceived to be a valuable learning experience. Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 20

  21. ECA - Future prospects • Continuation of ECA work for second project period • Provide platform for cooperation and mutual learning • Further develop ECA methodology for MR • Focus on needs of HEI stakeholders and recognition authorities Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 21

  22. Heusser / Warsaw/ 2008 | 22

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