Better Academic Qualifications through Quality Assurance

ended

This project aims at stimulating implementation of qualifications frameworks in internal and external quality assurance procedures in three countries: Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. All three countries have adopted relevant legislation wish to engage in peer counselling to implement and fully engage the potential of qualifications frameworks for assuring and increasing the quality of higher education within the European Higher Education Area goals and principles. The three beneficiary countries will provide each other with exchange of experiences and peer support, and rely on counselling with countries that have more experience in developing standards of qualifications and using them within quality assurance, also members of the thematic peer groups. Each country will establish a national stakeholder group consisting of ministry and agency staff (relevant public authorities), higher education representatives (including students), consultant experts, and other stakeholders (labour sector representatives, professional associations and chambers). The project entails three phases for all three beneficiary countries: developing a competence/qualification standard; using the standard in updating an existing or developing a new study programme, and finally to implement an external review of the programme using the European standards and guidelines for quality assurance. The project aims to provide the participants with hands-on experience in working with competence standards and focusing on learning outcomes, which are still not fully used in the region. While it focuses on 3 specific standards, the impact of the project is expected through transfer of the competences gained by participants to their colleagues. This should ultimately increase the quality of study programmes, integrate the countries’ higher education better within EHEA and consequently prepare students better for their future careers.