Input study to the report from the European Commission on progress in the development of quality assurance systems in the various member states and on cooperation activities at European level : executive summary

The present Study aims to identify progress in the development of quality assurance (QA) systems in various Member States and QA cooperation activities at European level with respect to the "Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on further European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education" (2006/143/EC) and the first triennial report on progress in QA in Higher Education (HE) presented by the European Commission in 2009. The Study explores current trends, achievements, good practices, weaknesses and future challenges to European QA systems and cooperation. It also provides recommendations on further development at EU, national, quality assurance agencies (QAAs) and higher education institutions' (HEIs) level. The study is qualitative in nature and based on a combination of comprehensive desk research, analysis of BFUG survey data and consultations of leading figures in European QA in HE, notably those from the E4 Group (EUA, ENQA, EURASHE and ESU) and the two, out of three, organisations identified in the Bucharest Communiqué (Business Europe and EQAR). In addition, an online survey among EQAR-registered agencies was undertaken to shed light on the extent and type of their international activities, as well as on their views regarding benefits and challenges of being an internationally active QAA, reasons for EHEA countries not to recognise foreign EQAR-registered agencies and perspectives on the further internationalisation of QA.