COMMON POSITION (EC) No 29/98 adopted by the Council on 26 February 1998 with a view to adopting a Council recommendation of ... on European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education
Date: 1998-02-26
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU Member State, cooperation policy, education policy, higher education

10.6.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  178/1

I

(Information)

COUNCIL

COMMON  POSITION  (EC)  No  29/98

adopted  by  the  Council  on  26  February  1998

with a view to adopting a Council recommendation of . . . on European cooperation in quality
assurance  in  higher  education

(98/C  178/01)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Articles  126  and  127
thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (1),

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the
Regions (2),

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189c  of  the  Treaty (3),

(1)  Whereas a high quality of education and training is
an  objective  for  all  Member  States;  whereas  the
Community  is  called  on  to  contribute  to  their
ongoing efforts by promoting cooperation between
Member  States  and,  if  necessary,  by  supporting
fully
and 
respecting  their  responsibility  for  the  content  of

their  action  while 

supplementing 

teaching  and  the  organisation  of  education  and
training  systems  and  their  cultural  and  linguistic
diversity;

(2)  Whereas 

in 

its  conclusions  of  25  November
1991 (4)  the  Council  stated  that  improving  the
quality  of  higher  education  was  a  concern  shared
by  each  Member  State  and  by  every  institution  of
higher education within the European Community;
whereas,  in  view  of  the  diversity  of  methods  used
at  national  level,  national  experience  could  be
complemented by European experience acquired, in
through  pilot  projects  aimed  at
particular, 
establishing  cooperation 
this  area  or  at
strengthening  existing  cooperation;

in 

(3)  Whereas 

in 

to 

the 

replies 

the  Commission
memorandum  on  higher  education  stress  inter  alia
that  quality  should  be  guaranteed  at  all  levels  and
in  all  sectors,  with  differences  between  institutions
terms  of  objectives,  methods  and
only 
educational  demand;  whereas  there 
is  general
support  for  the 
introduction  of  efficient  and
acceptable  methods  of  quality  assurance  which
international
take 
experience  and  the  possibility  of  cooperation;

into  account  European  and 

(1)  OJ  C  19,  21.1.1998,  p.  39.
(2)  Opinion  delivered  on  19  November  1997  (OJ  C  64,

27.2.1998,  p.  76).

(3)  Opinion  of  the  European  Parliament  of  18  November  1997.
(OJ  C  371,  8.12.1997,  p.  33),  Council  common  position  of
26  February  1998  and  Decision  of  the  European  Parliament
of  . . .  (not  yet  published  in  the  Official  Journal).

(4)  Whereas  a  Commission  study  on  the  state  of
quality  assurance  in  the  Member  States  revealed

(4)  OJ  C  321,  12.12.1991,  p.  2.

C  178/2

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

10.6.98

that the new quality assurance systems had certain
points  in  common;  whereas  the  two  pilot  projects
conducted  subsequently  were  based  on  these  core
elements of existing national systems; whereas they
tested  a  common  method  successfully  and  showed
that  the  players  in  the  field  are  all  eager  to  pursue
exchanges  of  experience  which  demonstrate  the
diversity  of  national  evaluation  cultures  as  well  as
the  importance  of  quality  assurance  in  general;

in  view  of 
in 
systems 

the  great  diversity  of
(5)  Whereas, 
education 
the
the  Community, 
definition of the term ‘higher education institution’
to  which  the  recommendation  refers  includes  all
the types of institutions which confer qualifications
or degrees at this level irrespective of how they are
described  in  the  Member  States;  whereas  this
definition  is  used  in  the  decision  establishing  the
Socrates programme;

(6)  Whereas higher education institutions have to meet
the  new  educational  and  social  requirements  of  a
worldwide  ‘knowledge  society’  and  the  resulting
developments;  whereas 
therefore,
endeavour to improve the required attributes of the
services 
they  provide  by  developing,  where
appropriate,  new  initiatives  (individually  or  on  a
collaborative  basis  within  higher 
education
associations),  aimed  at  increasing  the  quality  of
teaching  and  learning;

they  will, 

into  higher 

(7)  Whereas  the  technological  and  economic  changes
and their consequences for the labour market pose
new  challenges  for  higher  education  institutions
and  whereas,  in  view  of  the  challenges  of  global
competition as well as the ever-increasing influx of
institutions,
students 
Member  States  face  the  task  of  organising  their
higher  education  systems  and  their  relationships
vis-à-vis  state  and  society  in  ways  which  respect
existing  academic  standards,  training  objectives,
the
quality  standards, 
independence — in terms of the relevant structures
in  each  Member  State  —  of  higher  education
institutions, and the need to be accountable to and
inform  the  public;

the  autonomy  and/or 

education 

(8)  Whereas 

of 

discussion 

the  Commission
communication  of  13  February  1994  has
demonstrated  that  quality  assurance  systems  could
contribute towards mutual recognition of academic
or  professional  qualifications  at  Community  level;

obstacles 

(9)  Whereas the Commission White Paper on ‘Growth,
competitiveness and employment’, the White Paper
on  ‘Teaching  and  learning:  towards  the  learning
society’  and  the  Green  Paper  on  ‘Education  —
to
Training  —  Research.  The 
transnational  mobility’  indicate  how  important
high-quality  education  is  for  employment  and
growth  within 
its
competitiveness  at  world 
level;  whereas  these
documents  highlight  the  link  that  exists  between
the  social  and  cultural  functions  of  education  and
training,  on  the  one  hand,  and  their  economic
functions,  on  the  other  hand,  and  therefore  the
many  aspects  of  the  concept  of  quality;  whereas  it
is  clear  that  transparent  educational  systems  are
required  for  transnational  mobility;

the  Community  and 

for 

(10)  Whereas encouraging mobility is one of the aims of
Community  cooperation  in  the  fields  of  education
and training; whereas the Commission Green Paper
on 
‘Education  —  Training  —  Research.  The
obstacles  of  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  beneficial  to  an  education  of  high
quality  which  can  enable  individuals  to  compete
internationally  and  to  take  advantage  of  freedom
of  movement  within  the  Community;

the  higher  education 

(11)  Whereas  the  size,  structure  and  funding  of  higher
education  systems  differ  from  Member  State  to
Member  State  and  the  objectives  of  these  systems
will continue to evolve; whereas in certain Member
States 
includes
universities and other higher education institutions,
often  pursuing  vocational  aims;  whereas 
the
concept,  scope  and  methods  of  quality  assurance
will  be  defined  by  each  Member  State  and  will
remain 
to  changing
circumstances  and/or  structures;

flexible  and  adaptable 

system 

(12) 

systems  and  of 

In view of Member States’ exclusive responsibilities
for  the  organisation  and  structure  of  their  higher
education 
their  budgetary
constraints,  and  in  view  of  the  autonomy  and/or
independence  of  higher  education  institutions,  in
terms  of  the  relevant  structures  in  each  Member
State,

I.  HEREBY  RECOMMENDS  that  Member  States:

A.  support 

and,  where 

establish
transparent  quality  assurance  systems  with  the
following aims:

necessary, 

10.6.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  178/3

—  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,

—  to  encourage  and  help  higher  education
institutions  to  use  appropriate  measures,
particularly  quality  assurance,  as  a  means  of
improving 
teaching  and
learning  in  a  rapidly  changing  world,

the  quality  of 

—  to stimulate mutual exchanges of information
on  quality  and  quality  assurance  at
Community  and  world 
to
encourage 
cooperation  between  higher
education  institutions  in  this  area;

level  and 

E.  promote  cooperation  between  the  authorities
responsible  for  quality  assessment  or  quality
assurance 
in  higher  education  and  promote
networking.

This  cooperation  could  cover  some  or  all  of  the
following areas:

(a)  encouraging  and  developing  the  exchange  of
information  and  experience,  in  particular  on
methodological  developments  and  examples
of  good  practice;

(b) fulfilling the requests for expertise and advice
the
the  authorities  concerned 

in 

from 
Member  States;

(c)  supporting  higher 

institutions
which  wish  to  cooperate  in  the  field  of
quality  assurance  on  a  transnational  basis;

education 

B.  base  systems  of  quality  assurance  on 

the

following  features,  as  explained  in  the  Annex:

(d) promoting 
experts.

contacts  with 

international

—  autonomy  and/or  independence  in  terms  of
the  relevant  structures  in  each  Member  State
for 
for  quality
assurance  in  their  choice  of  procedures  and
methods,

the  bodies 

responsible 

—  adaptation  of  quality  assurance  procedures
and  methods  to  the  profile  and  aims  of
higher education institutions, while respecting
their autonomy and/or independence in terms
of  the  relevant  structures  in  each  Member
State,

—  targeted utilisation of internal and/or external
aspects  of  quality  assurance  adapted  to  the
procedures  and  methods  used,

—  involvement 

parties
the 
concerned  according  to  the  purpose  of  the
quality assurance,

different 

of 

—  publication  of  quality  assurance  results  in  a
form  which  is  appropriate  to  each  Member
State;

C.  where  necessary,  encourage  higher  education
institutions,  in  cooperation  with  the  competent
structures  of 
take
appropriate  follow-up  measures;

the  Member  States, 

to 

to 

institutions 

D.  call  upon  the  competent  authorities  and  higher
education 
special
importance  to  the  exchange  of  experience  and
cooperation  regarding  quality  assurance  with
other  Member  States,  as  well  as  with
international  organisations  and  associations
active  in  the  field  of  higher  education;

attach 

In  pursuing  these  objectives  the  developing  links
between  quality  assurance  and  other  existing
Community  activities 
the
framework  of  the  Socrates  and  Leonardo  da
Vinci programmes should be taken into account,
as  should  the  acquis  communautaire  in  the  field
recognition  of  qualifications  for  professional
purposes.

in  particular 

in 

II.  HEREBY  RECOMMENDS  that  the  Commission,  in
close  cooperation  with  the  Member  States  and  on
the basis of existing programmes and subject to their
transparent
objectives  and  normal  open  and 
procedures, encourage the cooperation referred to in
point  I.E  between  the  authorities  responsible  for
quality  assessment  and  quality  assurance  in  higher
education, 
and
associations  of  higher  education  institutions  with  a
European  remit  and  the  necessary  experience  in
quality  assessment  and  quality  assurance.

involving  organisations 

also 

III.  HEREBY  REQUESTS  the  Commission  to  present
triennial  reports  to  the  European  Parliament,  the
Council,  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and
the  Committee  of  the  Regions  on  progress  in  the
development  of  quality  assurance  systems  in  the
various Member States and on cooperation activities
at  European  level  including  the  progress  achieved
with  respect  to  the  objectives  referred  to  above.

Done  at  . . .

For  the  Council

The  President

C  178/4

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

10.6.98

ANNEX

Indicative  features  of  quality  assurance

The  features  referred  to  below  are  common  to  existing  European  quality  assurance  systems.  The  European
pilot  projects  assessing  the  quality  of  higher  education  have  demonstrated  that  all  parties  involved  in  this
area  can  benefit  from  observing  these  features.

The autonomy and/or independence, in terms of the relevant structures in each Member State, of the body
responsible  for  quality  assurance  (as  regards  procedures  and  methods)  is  likely  to  contribute  to  the
effectiveness  of  quality  assurance  procedures  and  the  acceptance  of  their  results.

Quality assurance criteria are closely linked to the aims assigned to each institution in relation to the needs
of  society  and  of  the  labour  market;  the  different  quality  assurance  procedures  must  therefore  include
allowance  for  the  specific  nature  of  the  institution.  Knowledge  of  the  institution’s  objectives,  be  it  at  the
level of the whole institution, at the level of a department or at the level of a single unit, is essential in this
respect.

Quality  assurance  procedures  should  generally  consist  of  an  internal,  self-examination  component  and  an
external  component  based  on  appraisal  by  external  experts.
The  internal  element  of  self-examination  should  aim  to  involve  all  the  relevant  players,  especially  teaching
staff  and,  where  appropriate,  administrators  in  charge  of  academic  and  professional  guidance,  as  well  as
students.  The  external  element  should  be  a  process  of  cooperation,  consultation  and  advice  between
independent  experts  from  outside  and  players  from  within  the  institution.

In the light of the objectives and criteria used in the quality assurance procedures and with reference to the
structures  of  higher  education  in  the  Member  States,  professional  associations,  social  partners  and  alumni
could  be  included  in  the  expert  groups.

The participation of foreign experts in the procedures would be desirable in order to encourage exchange of
experience  acquired  in  other  countries.

Reports  on  quality  assurance  procedures  and  their  outcomes  should  be  published  in  a  form  appropriate  to
each Member State and should provide a source of good reference material for partners and for the general
public.

10.6.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  178/5

STATEMENT  OF  THE  COUNCIL’S  REASONS

I. 

INTRODUCTION

1.  On  12  May  1997,  the  Commission  submitted  to  the  Council  a  proposal  for  a
recommendation  on  European  cooperation  in  quality  assurance  in  higher  education.

2.  The Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions delivered their

opinions  on  29  October  1997  and  19  November  1997  respectively.

3.  The  European  Parliament  delivered  its  opinion  on  18  November  1997.

4.  On  3  February  1998  the  Commission  presented  a  modified  proposal.

5.  On  26  February  1998  the  Council  adopted  its  common  position  in  accordance  with

Article  189c  of  the  EC  Treaty.

II.  AIM  OF  THE  PROPOSAL

The proposal takes the form of a recommendation addressed to the parties concerned (the
Member  States,  the  Commission  in  close  cooperation  with  the  Member  States  and  the
Commission solely) with the objective of promoting cooperation between Member States in
the  field  of  quality  assurance  in  higher  education.

1. 

General  comments

In  its  common  position  the  Council  has  approved  the  essence  of  the  Commission
proposal  while  making  some  amendments  which  it  thought  desirable.

2. 

Specific  comments

2.1.  Amendments  made  by  the  Council  to  the  Commission  proposal

2.1.1.  S t r u c t u r e   o f   t h e   r e c o m m e n d a t i o n

The  Council  considered  that  the  detailed  request  addressed  to  the  Commission  to
support  the  establishment  of  a  ‘European  quality  assurance  network’  under  part  II
—  1  of  the  original  proposal  was  not  appropriate.  The  content  of  this  request  has
therefore  been  transferred,  with  some  modification  and  clarification  in  wording,  to
part  I,  addressed  solely  to  the  Member  States.  However,  the  Commission’s  role  in
encouraging inter-Community cooperation in the field of quality assurance (in close
cooperation  with  the  Member  States  and  on  the  basis  of  existing  programmes)  is
now  dealt  with  under  the  new  part  II.  Part  II  —  2  of  the  original  proposal
concerning  progress  reports  has  now  become  the  new  part  III,  addressed  to  the
Commission.

2.1.2.  A n n e x   t o   t h e   r e c o m m e n d a t i o n

The Council considered that in the interests of clarity, it would be more appropriate
to  transfer,  with  some  expansion  and  textual  modification,  the  explanatory  details
concerning  the  characteristics  of  quality  assurance  systems  to  an  Annex  entitled
‘Indicative  features  of  quality  assurance’.

2.1.3.  R e c i t a l s

In the interests of rationalisation, certain recitals have been, as appropriate, merged
or  modified  or  in  one  case  deleted.  One  recital  concerning  Member  States’
responsibilities  and  the  autonomy  and/or  independence  of  higher  education
institutions  has  been  added.

C  178/6

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

10.6.98

2.2.  European  Parliament  amendments

2.2.1.  P a r l i a m e n t   a m e n d m e n t s   a d o p t e d   b y   t h e   C o m m i s s i o n

The  Commission  adopted  in  full,  in  part  or  in  essence  17  of  the  38  Parliament
amendments.  Those  amendments  are  Nos  1,  2,  3,  5,  9  and  41,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,
30,  31,  32,  33,  35  and  36.

2.2.2.  P a r l i a m e n t   a m e n d m e n t s   a d o p t e d   b y   t h e   C o u n c i l

The Council accepted in full, in part or in essence 13 of the amendments proposed
by  the  Parliament  and  adopted  by  the  Commission.  Those  amendments  are  Nos  1,
2,  3,  5,  9  and  41,  11,  12,  13,  14,  30,  35  and  36.

2.2.3.  P a r l i a m e n t   a m e n d m e n t s   n o t   a d o p t e d   b y   t h e   C o u n c i l

Apart  from  the  amendments  not  adopted  by  the  Commission,  the  Council  did  not
adopt  the  following  amendments:

—  Amendment  15

R e f e r e n c e  
t o  
e s t a b l i s h m e n t s

e d u c a t i o n  

a n d  

r e s e a r c h   m a n d a t e  

o f  

e d u c a t i o n a l

The  Council  considered  that  the  mention  of  research  was  inappropriate,  since
not  all  educational  establishments  are  involved  in  research,

—  Amendment  31

E x p a n s i o n   a n d   c o m p l e t i o n   o f   e x i s t i n g   s t r u c t u r e s   f o r   t h e   c r e a t i o n   o f   a
‘ E u r o p e a n   q u a l i t y   a s s u r a n c e   n e t w o r k ’

The  Council  thought  that  it  was  for  the  Member  States  to  decide  if  such
expansion  was  necessary,

—  Amendments  32  and  33

E x a m p l e s   o f   e x c h a n g e   o f   i n f o r m a t i o n   a n d   e x p e r i e n c e   a n d / o r   a s s i s t a n c e

In  the  Council’s  view,  these  examples  are  to  be  worked  out  by  the  competent
authorities.

III.  CONCLUSIONS

The  Council  considers  that  its  common  position  constitutes  a  balanced  text  which  will
contribute  to  the  development  of  quality  education  within  the  European  Community  by
encouraging  cooperation  between  Member  States.