The Importance of QA andInternationalisation for Europe,
the Netherlands and Flanders

K.L.L.M Dittrich, chairman NVAOTokyo/NIAD-EU seminar
17 June 2010

Europe before 19892

Europe now3European QA developments: Bologna (1)• Bologna Declaration (1999)• Introduction of 3 cycles• Promotion of European cooperation in QA• Prague Communiqué (2001)• Necessity of close European cooperation: mutual
trust in and acceptance of national QA systems• Berlin Communiqué (2003)• All countries: external QA system by 2005
• System of accreditation, certification or comparable• Evaluations of programmes and/or institutions:• Internal QA, external assessment, participation ofstudents & publication of results• Primary responsibility of HEIs for quality

European QA developments: Bologna (2)• Bergen Communiqué (2005)• Standards and guidelines for QA in EHEA
• Overarching Qualifications Framework for EHEA;
committing to develop national qualification
frameworks• Proposal for European register of QA agencies• „…enhancing the mutual recognition ofaccreditation or quality assurance decisions“• London Communiqué (2007)• Implementing European Register of QA Agencies• Mutual recognition of QA & accreditation
decisions (Æ) ~encourage continued international
cooperation amongst quality assurance agencies

European QA developments: Bologna (3)• Leuven Communiqué (2009)• QA mentioned with regard to transparency tools,mobility, transnational education, student-centred
learning, lifelong learning• “We ask the E4 group (ENQA-EUA-EURASHEESU) to continue its cooperation in further
developing the European dimension of quality
assurance and in particular to ensure that theEuropean Quality Assurance Register isevaluated externally…”

Albania

3.639.453

Latvia2.231.503

Andorra83.888

Liechtenstein

34.761

Armenia

2.967.004

Lithuania

3.555.179

Austria8.210.281

Luxembourg

491.775

Azerbaijan

8.238.672

Malta

405.165

Belgium

10.414.336

Moldova

4.320.748

Bosnia‐Herzegovina

4.613.414

Montenegro

672.180

Bulgaria

7.204.687

Netherlands

16.515.057

Croatia

4.489.409

Norway4.660.539

Cyprus

796.740

Poland38.482.919

Czech Republic

10.211.904

Portugal

10.707.924

Denmark

5.500.510

Romania22.215.421

Estonia

1.299.371

Russian Federation

140.041.247

Finland5.250.275

Serbia10.800.000

France62.150.775Slovak Republic

5.463.046

Georgia

4.615.807

Slovenia

2.005.692

Germany

82.329.758

Spain

46.661.950

Greece10.737.428

Sweden9.059.651

Holy See

826

Switzerland

7.604.467

Hungary9.905.596

Macedonia (FYROM)

2.066.718

Iceland306.694

Turkey76.805.524

Ireland4.203.200

Ukraine45.700.395

Italy

58.126.212

United Kingdom

61.113.205

Kazakhstan

15.399.437
7

ECA partners• ÖAR, Austria• FHR, Austria• EVA, Denmark• CTI, France• GAC, Germany• AQAS, Germany• FIBAA, Germany• AHPGS, Germany• ZEVA, Germany• NVAO, NL & FL
• NOKUT, Norway• PKA, Poland• SQAA, Slovenia• ANECA, Spain• AQU Catalunya, Spain• OAQ, Switzerland

8

New ECA projects• Simplifying joint programmes procedures:
JOQAR• Training and setting up a pool of international
experts:
E-TRAIN• Promoting, extending and improving Qrossroads:
IMPAQTNVAO’s internationalisation activities• “Internationalisation” is part of generic definitionof basic quality• Internationalisation of panels• International certificate which might develop intoa European (ECA) certificate

Goals• International and multicultural competences ineducation• High quality level• Enlarge incoming and outgoing mobility

International certificate• Six standards: policy, learning outcomes,curriculum, facilities, staff and students• International experts: site visit on the basis ofself-evaluation• Certificate if overall judgement is “good” or“excellent”

If you have any questions on cooperation withDutch or Flemish HE institutions then pleasecontact:
info@nvao.net
www.nuffic.nl