A4-0358/97

Proposal for a Council Recommendation on European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education (COM(97)0159 - C4-0263/97 - 97/0121 (SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 4

>Original text>

Whereas one of the main issues of the Commission memorandum on higher education highlights that the former view of a vertical quality hierarchy of educational institutions whose qualifications are traditionally considered as different entrance tickets to society is becoming increasingly obsolete; whereas the emphasis today is more on quality across the whole of education and within each institution; whereas quality should be guaranteed at all levels and in all sectors, with differences only in terms of objectives, methods and educational demand; whereas there is support for the introduction of efficient and acceptable methods of quality evaluation which are based on European cooperation and transnational exchange of experience and which emphasise the importance of quality assurance for strategic management as well as its cultural dimension;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas one of the main issues of the Commission memorandum on higher education highlights that quality should be guaranteed at all levels and in all sectors, with differences only in terms of objectives, methods and educational demand; whereas there is support for the introduction of efficient and acceptable methods of quality evaluation which are based on European cooperation and transnational exchange of experience and which emphasise its role and cultural dimension;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 5a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in view of the numerous differing types of institutions in the various Member States, agreement must be reached on the meaning of the term 'higher education institution' to which the recommendation refers;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas higher education institutions have not only to meet the educational and professional requirements of a world-wide 'knowledge society', but also to address social problems nationally; whereas they aim to guarantee the quality of teaching by developing new initiatives (individually or on a collaborative basis within higher education associations) in order to give the services they provide the required attributes;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas higher education institutions have to meet the new educational and social requirements of a world-wide 'knowledge society' and the resulting developments; whereas they aim to improve the quality of teaching by developing new initiatives (individually or on a collaborative basis within higher education associations) aimed at giving the services they provide the required attributes;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 6a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas higher education institutions must constantly review whether the courses they offer meet the changing social trends and quality requirements on the labour market, to enable them to take promptly the necessary action as regards the content of courses, the structure of study and the relationship of research and teaching to practice;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 7

>Original text>

Whereas in view of the ever greater constraints of global competition as well as of mass education, authorities in all Member States face the task to tailor higher education systems and their relationships to state and society in ways which respect existing academic norms and values, and reinforce the autonomy and responsibility of higher education institutions;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the technological and economic changes and their consequences for the labour market pose new challenges for higher education institutions: under increasingly difficult conditions, including a growing number of students accompanied by a shortage of financial resources, they are required to ensure that students obtain a future-oriented education and to prepare them appropriately for the requirements of the labour market; whereas, if these challenges are to be met, traditional academic norms and values must be the subject of reflection and the autonomy of higher education institutions must be increased;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 9

>Original text>

Whereas the White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment identifies as a weakness at European level the lack of an open education area in the Community resulting from an insufficiently transparent system of qualifications; it considers the wealth of nations to be increasingly based on the creation and exploitation of knowledge and states that the key elements in competitiveness include the quality of education and training as well as the way in which corporate strategies are able to react to the changes in society;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 7)

Recital 10

>Original text>

Whereas the White Paper on Teaching and Learning and the premise of the 'learning society¨, on which it is based, stresses the role of education and training as the 'main vehicles for self-awareness, belonging, advancement and self- fulfilment¨, and that the 'individual's place in relation to their fellow citizens will increasingly be determined by their capacity to learn and master fundamental knowledge¨; as the social and cultural functions of education and training on the one hand and their economic functions on the other are indivisibly linked, demands in terms of the quality of education and training are correspondingly multidimensional and vitally important for all European citizens;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 8)

Recital 10a(new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in view of the expected eastward enlargement of the EU, the associated states of Central and Eastern Europe should, in view of their specific problems, be involved straight away in the development of evaluation procedures and the creation of the network;

(Amendments 41 and 9)

Recital 11

>Original text>

Whereas the Commission Green Paper on obstacles to transnational mobility highlights the difficulties encountered by students wishing to pursue their studies on a transnational basis and stresses that this type of mobility is essential for an education of high quality which can enable individuals to meet European and international standards and to take advantage of freedom of movement within the Community;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, pursuant to Articles 126 and 127 of the Treaty, promoting mobility is a declared objective of the Community; whereas the Commission Green Paper on obstacles to transnational mobility examines the principal legal, administrative and practical obstacles encountered by students wishing to study in another Member State, proposes measures to improve mobility and stresses that this type of mobility is essential for an education of high quality which can enable individuals to meet European and international standards and to take advantage of freedom of movement within the Community;

(Amendment 10)

Recital 11a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas quality evaluation systems serve to guarantee or review for higher education institutions the quality of the education they provide; whereas their aim should therefore be to assess quality in a given subject area, considering inter alia - for example in the form of teaching and study reports - aspects of courses having a European dimension. whereas it would accordingly be possible, for individual subject areas, to carry out European quality assessments; whereas these assessments should provide for a two-stage procedure of internal and external evaluation; whereas no centrally determined evaluation standards should be laid down for quality assessments at European level; whereas one possibility might, however, be for the Member States and their higher education institutions to agree among themselves on criteria which could then be supplemented in the Member States to take account of individual countries' peculiarities and traditions; whereas one - though not the only -.indicator of the quality of a higher education will be the reactions of the labour market; whereas for this reason a continuing dialogue among all those concerned and all decision-makers in society is essential - particularly in the form of feedback to

>Text following EP vote>

nurture a future-oriented debate on quality in science, administration and industry and an exchange of views with the social partners - in order to work out ways of adapting quality standards in the various higher education institutions in the interests of graduates and to measure success in terms of these institutions' own objectives;

(Amendment 11)

Recital 11b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the quality assurance systems must remain flexible and be adaptable to new circumstances arising as a result of further developments in the structure and objectives of higher education institutions;

(Amendment 12)

Recital 11c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas quality assurance systems will vary from one Member State and higher education institution to another, since the size, structure, financial environment, institutional characteristics and pedagogical self-image of higher education institutions differ;

(Amendment 13)

Part I, section A, introductory statement

>Original text>

A. to establish, within their responsibilities for the organisation of their higher education systems, transparent quality assessment and quality assurance systems with the following aims:

>Text following EP vote>

A. to establish, in strict accordance with their responsibilities for the organisation of their higher education systems, their constitutional and budgetary requirements and the principle of the autonomy of higher education institutions, transparent quality assessment systems with the following aims:

(Amendment 14)

Part I, Section A, first indent

>Original text>

- to safeguard the quality of higher education within the specific economic, social and cultural context of their countries while taking due account of the European dimension and of international requirements;

>Text following EP vote>

- to safeguard the quality of higher education within the specific economic, social and cultural context of their countries while taking due account of the European dimension and of a rapidly changing world;

(Amendment 15)

Part I, Section A, second indent

>Original text>

- to help higher education institutions use quality assurance techniques as steering mechanisms to promote organisational flexibility for permanent improvement in a rapidly changing environment;

>Text following EP vote>

- to encourage and help higher education institutions to use quality assurance techniques as a means of better meeting the requirements of a rapidly changing environment within the framework of the comprehensive education and research mandate of educational establishments in general;

(Amendment 16)

Part I, Section A, third indent

>Original text>

- to underpin European and world-wide cooperation in order to benefit from each other's experience for the accomplishment of the two foregoing tasks;

>Text following EP vote>

- to support cooperation and exchanges of experience in these areas between higher education institutions and other interested parties in the EU;

(Amendment 17)

Part I, Section A - new final paragraph

>Text following EP vote>

to create quality assessment schemes for research, in order to ensure the necessary degree of coherence;

(Amendment 18)

Part I, section B, introductory statement

>Original text>

B. to base systems of quality assessment and quality assurance on the following principles:

>Text following EP vote>

B. to develop systems of quality assessment and quality assurance that may include the following elements, which form part of the various assessment systems and have proved useful in the implementation of pilot projects:

(Amendment 19)

Part I, section B, 1st element

>Original text>

Autonomy and independence of the bodies responsible for quality assessment and quality assurance

>Text following EP vote>

Ensuring the autonomy and independence of the bodies responsible for quality assessment and quality assurance in relation both to political authorities and higher education institutions

(Amendment 20)

Part I, section B, 2nd element

>Original text>

Relating evaluation procedures to the profile of institutions while respecting their autonomy

>Text following EP vote>

Taking account of the institutional peculiarities of institutions and their pedagogical self-image in the formulation of procedures in order to preserve and protect their autonomy and their individual character

(Amendment 21)

Part I, section B, commentary to 2nd element

>Original text>

Quality assessment and quality assurance procedures should involve questions of institutional self understanding, especially how they define their aims and objectives, be it at the level of the institution, of the department or of the discipline, in order to allow for diverse educational responses to different societal needs.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 22)

Part I, section B, 3rd element

>Original text>

Internal and external procedural elements

>Text following EP vote>

Linking of internal, self-reflective procedural elements to an appraisal by external experts

(Amendment 23)

Part I, section B, commentary to 3rd element

>Original text>

All quality assessment and quality assurance procedures should consist of an internal, self-reflective component and an external component, based on the appraisal of external experts.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 24)

Part I, Section B, 4th element

>Original text>

Involvement of all the players

>Text following EP vote>

Involvement of teachers, students and the administration in the internal element, and, depending on the object of the assessment or the assessment procedure, alumni, the social partners, representatives of the business community, parents, professional associations and foreign experts capable of enriching the procedure with their knowledge of standard practices in other countries and of contributing to better mutual cultural understanding in the external element;

(Amendment 25)

Part I, section B, commentary to 4th element, 1st paragraph

>Original text>

The internal element should involve all the relevant players within the institution in the process of self- reflexion, especially teaching staff and administrators in charge of academic and professional guidance, as well as students.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 26)

Part I, section B, commentary to 4th element, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

The external element should be a process of cooperative consultation and advice between independent experts from outside and players from within the institution.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 27)

Part I, section B, commentary to 4th element, 3rd paragraph

>Original text>

Alumni, social partners, professional associations and other interested social groups could be included in the expert groups in order to bring relevant social and professional criteria to bear.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 28)

Part I, section B, commentary to 4th element, 4th paragraph

>Original text>

It is recommended to include foreign experts from other Member States in the groups of external experts. They can contribute to quality assessment and assurance by providing experiences from abroad, relating the observed process to standards prevailing in other countries and by fostering cultural understanding.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 42)

Part I, Section B, 5th element

>Original text>

Publication of evaluation reports

>Text following EP vote>

Publication of findings in accordance with the capacities and situation of each Member State and of each higher education institution

(Amendment 29)

Part I, Section Da (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Da. to make optimum use of available budget resources from the existing Community programmes (e.g. Socrates) and to incorporate the experience already gained under these programmes and expand existing networks.

(Amendment 30)

Part II, introductory phrase

>Original text>

II. AND, TO THIS END, REQUESTS THE COMMISSION:

>Text following EP vote>

II. AND, TO THIS END, REQUESTS THE COMMISSION AND THE MEMBER STATES:

(Amendment 31)

Part II(1), opening paragraph

>Original text>

1. to support the establishment of a 'European Quality Assurance Network¨ of bodies responsible for quality assessment and quality assurance, designated by the Member States, and of organisations and associations within the European Community with quality assessment or quality assurance experience in the field of higher education;

>Text following EP vote>

1. to support the expansion and completion of the existing structures for the creation of a 'European Quality Assurance Network¨ of bodies responsible for quality assessment and quality assurance, designated by the Member States, and of organisations and associations within the European Community with quality assessment or quality assurance experience in the field of higher education;

(Amendment 32)

Part II(1)(a)

>Original text>

(a) exchange of information and experience through European conferences, workshops and by using new technologies;

>Text following EP vote>

(a) exchange of information and experience, for example through European conferences, workshops and by using modern information and communication technologies;

(Amendment 33)

Part II(1)(d)

>Original text>

(d) other assistance to higher education institutions including information on new methodological developments and examples of good practice, facilitating contact with international experts by forming a 'pool¨ or preparing a 'tool kit¨ of methodological instruments for obtaining information necessary for quality assessment and quality assurance procedures;

>Text following EP vote>

(d) other assistance to higher education institutions including information on new methodological developments and examples of good practice, facilitating contact with international experts, for example by forming a 'pool¨ or preparing a 'tool kit¨ of methodological instruments for obtaining information necessary for quality assessment and quality assurance procedures;

(Amendment 34)

Part II(1)(f)

>Original text>

(f) preparation of methods to achieve better integration of graduates in the European labour market;

>Text following EP vote>

(f) preparation of methods to enable higher education establishments to fulfil every aspect of their missions;

(Amendment 35)

Part II(1), final paragraph

>Original text>

The 'European Quality Assurance Network¨ will be eligible for financial support in the framework of the SOCRATES and the LEONARDO DA VINCI programmes, subject to their objectives and normal procedures. A tangible business sector involvement in the assurance of quality in higher education is necessary for the latter, but is also desirable for SOCRATES;

>Text following EP vote>

The 'European Quality Assurance Network¨ will be eligible for financial support in the framework of the SOCRATES and the LEONARDO DA VINCI programmes, subject to their objectives and normal open and transparent procedures. A tangible business sector involvement in the assurance of quality in higher education is necessary for the latter, but is also desirable for SOCRATES;

(Amendment 36)

Part II(2)

>Text following EP vote>

IIa. AND REQUESTS THE COMMISSION:

>Original text>

2. to present every two years reports to the Council, to the European Parliament and other relevant institutions of the European Community on the development of quality assessment and quality assurance systems in the Member States and on cooperation activities at European level;

>Text following EP vote>

to present every two years reports to the Council, to the European Parliament and other relevant institutions of the European Community on the development of quality assessment and quality assurance systems in the Member States, on cooperation activities at European level and on the progress achieved with respect to the objectives referred to above;

>Original text>

in the light of these reports, to submit appropriate proposals to strengthen quality assurance in higher education.

>Text following EP vote>

in the light of these reports, to submit appropriate proposals to strengthen quality assurance in higher education and cooperation among the Member States.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Recommendation on European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education (COM(97)0159 - C4-0263/97 - 97/0121 (SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0159 - 97/0121 (SYN),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c and Articles 126 and 127 of the EC Treaty (C4-0263/97),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media, and the opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A4-0358/97),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a (2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.