Evaluation of Higher Education in Iceland
improvement of education and research
Sólrún Jensdóttir
Director Department of Education
Ministry of Education, Science and Culture

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Contents:
1. A few facts about Iceland
2.The Higher Education System
3. Development of Quality Assurance
4. The Bologna-process
5. OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education
6. New Law on Higher Education- Accreditation- Qualification Framework- Quality Assurance- Internal and external evaluation

7. The way forward- Conclusions2

A few facts about Iceland• Volcanic island in the North Atlantic• Language Icelandic• 103.000 sq km – 300.000 inhabitants• 2.8 per sq km• Life expectancy 79 men-83 women• GDP per capita seventh highest in the world• 2004 service sector 71.2%, industry
22.4%,agriculture 3.4%, fishing 3%
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The Higher Education System• First University 1911
• 7 Education Institutions-4 public, 3 private• Student population increase
1996 – 9.564

2004 – 16.068• Legal framework 1997
• Increased autonomy• Secure basis for private institutions
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Development of Quality Assurance
Ｉｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌ ｃｏ-ｏｐｅｒａｔｉｏｎ，ＥＮＱＡ-ＮＯＱＡ
First provision
Supervision by the Ministry
Rules on internal and external evaluation
Objectives:- raise quality of teaching- improve organization- promote responsibility- ensure international comptetivenessInstitutions set up quality assurance systems
Public description of the systems
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External Quality Assurance• Not a special agency• Peer review groups 3-6 experts• Self evaluation report• Report by peers and response byinstitutions published• External quality assurance can coverdifferent units
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The Bologna-process• Iceland signed Bologna-declaration 1999
• Unproblematic introduction• Emphasis on quality assurance• European Standards and Guidelines• National Qualification Framework7OECD Thematic Review• 24 countries• Japan and Iceland in both strands• Visit of team of experts 2005
• Report published 22 August 2006
• Quality assurance discussed• No accreditation mechanism• Lack of quality assurance in research8New Law on Higher Education• Into force 1 July 2006
• Strengthen system - improve quality• International competitiveness• Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions9

Accreditation criteria• Definition of role and policy• Administration and organisation• Organisation of teaching and research• Personnel qualifications requirements• Admission requirements, students rights andduties• Working conditions• Internal quality system• National Qualification Framework-Learningoutcomes• Finances10Accreditation process• Application to Minister• Accreditation of a field of study (Frascati)
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Natural Sciences
Engineering and Technology
Medical Sciences
Agricultural Sciences
Social Sciences
Humanities• Independent expert committee• Accreditation revoked if demands are notmet

11National Qualification Framework• Has been issued by Minister• Based on the Framework of Qualification
for the European Higher Education Area
• Accepted by Ministers in Bergen 2003
• Systematic descriptions of degrees• Learning outcomes• Issued in Icelandic and English
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Quality Assurance of Teaching andResearch• Based on ENQA´s Standards and Guidelines• Special process for research• Objectives:•Ensure that accreditation requirements are met••••

The Qualification Framework respected
Enhance quality
Encourage responsibility
Ensure international competetiveness13

Internal and External Evaluation• Carried out regularly• Responsibility of institutions and Minister• Active participation of staff and students• Three year plan for external evaluation• Administration - the Office of Evaluation andAnalysis• Implemented by an independent agent• Domestic and foreign experts
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The way forward-Conclusions• Accreditation of all institutions in place
mid 2008• Rules for external evaluations underpreparation• Adjustment to rapid changes• Reasonably successful• Increased effort in quality assurance
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The way forward-Conclusions• Full implementation of the new law will
strengthen the position of Icelandic Higher
Education Institutions and theircompetitiveness both in Europe andglobally16