EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions

1
Theme III

• Consolidating a Quality Culture in Europes
  Universities

2
Preconditions for quality

• Autonomy creates and requires responsibility.
• Universities are responsible for developing a
  quality culture.
• Cooperation is necessary EUA programmes and
  projects are helpful

3
Internal quality culture embraces

• A place of vibrant intellectual and educational
  attainment with a strong reputation
• A way of working where everyone strives to
  improve, develop and extend the intellectual and
  educational life of the university
• An institution that knows and challenges itself
  and is open and responsive to change
• Developed and supported by effective leadership,
  management and governance

4
Key principles

• university community and the staff s
  identification with the institution
• participation of students in the university
  community
• internal communication, discussions and devolved
  responsibility and staff development programmes
  in quality culture in universities
• agreeing an overarching framework for quality
  review processes and standards which will review
  periodically all programmes and activities

5
Key principles

• defining key institutional data historical,
  comparative, national and international and
  systematically collecting and analysing them
• involving the appropriate external and internal
  stakeholders
• stressing the self-evaluation stage as a
  collective exercise for the unit under review to
  ensure the implementation of appropriate change
• ensuring a follow-up of the internal reviews
  e.g., implementation of the appropriate
  recommendations and feed back loops into
  strategic management.

6
European dimension in QA3 principles for future
discussions

• mutual trust among the main stakeholders
• respect for diversity of national contexts,
  subject areas and other factors
• transparency clear architecture and clear
  procedures

7
Common characteristics for QA procedures

• They must promote cultural, academic and
  organisational quality
• They must respect institutional autonomy
• They must develop internal quality culture
• They must be cost effective
• They must include an evaluation of the QA
  agencies
• The must minimise bureaucracy and avoid over
  regulation

8
Higher Education Quality Committee

• Starting points for the work of the provisional
  Committee
• Independence
• Responsibility of HEIs for quality
• Public responsiveness