Quality assessment of study programme groups
Assessment of quality of a study programme group is the assessment of the conformity of the study programmes belonging to the study programme group and the instruction provided on the basis thereof to legislation and to national and international standards, including the assessment of the level of the corresponding theoretical and practical instruction, the research and pedagogical qualification of the teaching staff and research staff, and the sufficiency of resources for the provision of instruction.
Based on ISCED97, a study programme group is a new classification of study programmes, which has been established in an Appendix to the Standard of Higher Education, and which comprises the characteristics of both fields of study and the groups of study programmes.
Quality assessment is focused on assessing the quality of studies provided on the basis of study programmes and its objective is to support the self-evaluation and self-development of higher education institutions. Quality assessment of study programme groups is not followed by sanctions; expert opinions are considered recommendations.
Quality assessment results in an assessment decision and concrete recommendations how the educational institution can improve the quality of studies. At the same time, EKKA has an obligation to inform the Ministry of Education and Research if the quality of studies has substantially declined compared to the results of the previous evaluation. In this case, the minister must conduct state supervision, which, at worst, may result in deprivation of the right to conduct studies. This decision is exceptional. The decision to deprive the educational institution of the right to conduct studies must be accompanied by the solution as to how its students can continue their studies.
Quality assessment of study programme groups takes place once in seven years, unless EKKA has set an up to three-year deadline based on the results of the previous evaluation.
The principles of and the procedure for quality assessment of study programme groups shall be established by EKKA Quality Assessment Council.
| Archimedes Foundation, Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency| Koidula 13A Tallinn 10125 | Tel +372 696 2424 | ekka@archimedes.ee |