Prof. V.J. PapazoglouProf. V.J. Papazoglouon behalf of theon behalf of the

Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (HQAA)Education (HQAA)

ENQA Seminar on “Current Trends in the European Quality ENQA Seminar on “Current Trends in the European Quality Assurance and the situation in the SEE region”Assurance and the situation in the SEE region”

Sofia, 9 November 2007Sofia, 9 November 2007

Quality Assurance in Greek Quality Assurance in Greek Higher Educational Institutions: Higher Educational Institutions:

Introduction and ChallengesIntroduction and Challenges

CONTENTSCONTENTS

IntroductionIntroduction

Brief Historical OverviewBrief Historical Overview

The Legal FrameworkThe Legal Framework

First steps takenFirst steps taken

Challenges for HQAAChallenges for HQAA

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Main Objectives of Quality Assurance in Main Objectives of Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Greece:Higher Education in Greece:

The establishment of a uniform approach for The establishment of a uniform approach for recording, understanding and systematically recording, understanding and systematically assessing the work of Departments, Schools and assessing the work of Departments, Schools and Institutions of Higher Education.Institutions of Higher Education.

The adoption of necessary measures in order The adoption of necessary measures in order to assure and improve the quality of work performed to assure and improve the quality of work performed by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), within the by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), within the framework of their academic profile, objectives and framework of their academic profile, objectives and mission.mission.

First attempts at introducing a legal framework for First attempts at introducing a legal framework for QA in HEIs in the mid to late 90’sQA in HEIs in the mid to late 90’s

During the same period several HEIs have During the same period several HEIs have undergone a QA exercise either independently or through undergone a QA exercise either independently or through the EUA.the EUA.

Several changes in the proposed legal framework at Several changes in the proposed legal framework at the beginning of the 21the beginning of the 21stst century (decisions by Senates of century (decisions by Senates of various HEIs)various HEIs)

Finally, Law 3374 on Quality Assurance in Higher Finally, Law 3374 on Quality Assurance in Higher Education was ratified by the Greek parliament during the Education was ratified by the Greek parliament during the summer of 2005.summer of 2005.

BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEWBRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

THE LEGAL FRAMEWORKTHE LEGAL FRAMEWORKLawLaw 3374/2005 3374/2005

Core provisions:Core provisions:

– Teaching, research and all other services provided Teaching, research and all other services provided by HEIsby HEIs are subject to continuous evaluation, are subject to continuous evaluation, aimed at assuring and improving the quality of aimed at assuring and improving the quality of research and teaching, curricula and all other research and teaching, curricula and all other services provided by them, within the framework of services provided by them, within the framework of their mission.their mission.

– Accountability to society and the widest possible Accountability to society and the widest possible transparency are established as a means of transparency are established as a means of reinforcing the autonomy of HEIs.reinforcing the autonomy of HEIs.

The The evaluation criteria and indicesevaluation criteria and indices for quality in for quality in HEIs are established.HEIs are established.

The The evaluation processevaluation process and the corresponding and the corresponding bodies are defined.bodies are defined.

An An independent administrative agencyindependent administrative agency is is established, under the title “Hellenic Quality established, under the title “Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (HQAA)”, Assurance Agency for Higher Education (HQAA)”, responsible for organizing and overseeing the whole responsible for organizing and overseeing the whole process.process.

Through LawThrough Law 3374/2005 : 3374/2005 :

ADIP – HQAA is an ADIP – HQAA is an independent agencyindependent agency; its ; its President was voted for by the Greek Parliament.President was voted for by the Greek Parliament.HQAA’s Board consists of:HQAA’s Board consists of:– 6 Professors of Greek Universities and 4 Professors of 6 Professors of Greek Universities and 4 Professors of

Technological Education Institutes (TEI), selected by the Technological Education Institutes (TEI), selected by the Rectors of Universities and Presidents of TEI, respectively.Rectors of Universities and Presidents of TEI, respectively.

– One member representing non-yniversity Research One member representing non-yniversity Research Institutes Institutes

– One member representing all Professional BodiesOne member representing all Professional Bodies– The two student members (they have not been nominated The two student members (they have not been nominated

yet).yet).

Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (HQAA)for Higher Education (HQAA)

Evaluation Criteria and IndicesEvaluation Criteria and Indices

Quality of Quality of teachingteaching

Quality of Quality of researchresearch

Quality of departmental Quality of departmental curriculacurricula

Quality of Quality of other servicesother services

Evaluation Criteria and IndicesEvaluation Criteria and Indices

Teaching

Research

• Quality of teaching process• Organization and implementation of teaching tasks• Teaching aids• Means and infrastructure• Use of new technologies• Academic staff/student ratio and their cooperation • Level and quality of knowledge provided• Interrelation between teaching and research• Mobility of academic staff and students• Efficiency of teaching staff

• Promotion of research within the academic unit• Research publications• Research infrastructure• Research projects• Efficiency of research work• Originality of research• Acknowledgement of research work by others• Research partnerships• Research distinctions and rewards• Participation of students in research

LawLaw 3374/2005, 3374/2005, §§3.13.1

Evaluation Criteria and IndicesEvaluation Criteria and Indices

Curriculum

Other services

• Degree to which the curriculum meets the unit’s objectives and societal demands

• Cohesion and operability• Rational organization of educational

processes• Examination system• Support by available infrastructure

• Effectiveness of administrative services• Student services• Infrastructure• Use of new technologies• Transparency and efficiency in the

management of financial and other resources

• Cooperation with other educational and research institutions, both in Greece and abroad

LawLaw 3374/2005, 3374/2005, §§3.13.1

Self Evaluation ProcessSelf Evaluation Process

AnnuallyAnnually

Annual Internal Report

AnnuallyAnnually

Annual Internal Report

AnnuallyAnnually

Annual Internal Report

SelfEvaluatio

n

SelfEvaluation

Report

QualityAssuranc

eUnit

(QAU)

Academic UnitAcademic Unit ((or Curriculumor Curriculum))Internal Evaluation GroupInternal Evaluation Group HEIHEI

HQAAHQAAHEIHEI

SelfEvaluation

Report QAU HQAA

ExternalEvaluation

Report

ExternalEvaluators

External EvaluationExternal Evaluation

External Evaluation CommitteeExternal Evaluation Committee

Consists of 5 experts in the relevant scientific Consists of 5 experts in the relevant scientific field, all coming from the Register of field, all coming from the Register of independent experts kept at the HQAA.independent experts kept at the HQAA.

1 member can be nominated by the academic 1 member can be nominated by the academic unit under evaluation (from the register).unit under evaluation (from the register).

The remaining 4 members are selected by lot The remaining 4 members are selected by lot by HQAA.by HQAA.

Register of Independent ExpertsRegister of Independent Experts

Compiled on the basis of recommendations made by the HEIs Compiled on the basis of recommendations made by the HEIs and HQAA.and HQAA.Revised every 4 yearsRevised every 4 years..Necessary qualificationsNecessary qualifications::– Scientific relevance Scientific relevance – Scientific excellenceScientific excellence– Experience in evaluation processesExperience in evaluation processes

Desirable qualificationDesirable qualification: : management experience in academic unitsmanagement experience in academic units

It is desirable to haveIt is desirable to have::– At least one expert of non-Greek originAt least one expert of non-Greek origin– One representative of the relevant professional bodyOne representative of the relevant professional body

The Role of HQAAThe Role of HQAA

– Guarantees the transparency of the evaluation processGuarantees the transparency of the evaluation process– Plans, coordinates and supports the HEIs’ evaluation Plans, coordinates and supports the HEIs’ evaluation

proceduresprocedures

– Formulates, reviews and specifies evaluation standards and Formulates, reviews and specifies evaluation standards and guidelinesguidelines

– Compiles, keeps and revises the Register of independent Compiles, keeps and revises the Register of independent expertsexperts

– Performs studies and carries out research on Performs studies and carries out research on methodologies, techniques and applications of quality methodologies, techniques and applications of quality assurance and improvement in higher educationassurance and improvement in higher education

– Submits reports to the stateSubmits reports to the state

FIRST STEPS TAKENFIRST STEPS TAKEN

HQAA started work as a body on September 1, 2006HQAA started work as a body on September 1, 2006..

A meeting was held with all Rectors of Universities A meeting was held with all Rectors of Universities and Presidents of TEI in November 2006.and Presidents of TEI in November 2006.

Developed and circulated the following documents:Developed and circulated the following documents:An informative document on Quality Assurance in Higher EducationAn informative document on Quality Assurance in Higher Education

Guidelines for the Internal Evaluation ProcessGuidelines for the Internal Evaluation Process

Analysis of the Criteria for the Internal Evaluation ProcessAnalysis of the Criteria for the Internal Evaluation Process

Model data sheetsModel data sheets

Format for the Self Evaluation ReportFormat for the Self Evaluation Report

Contacted the Departments of all Universities and Contacted the Departments of all Universities and TEIs.TEIs.

Started work on the register of external reviewers.Started work on the register of external reviewers.

CHALLENGES FOR HQAACHALLENGES FOR HQAA

To overcome resistance, since the process is introduced for To overcome resistance, since the process is introduced for the first time, i.e. to overcome:the first time, i.e. to overcome:– Ignorance of the process and/or misinformation regarding Ignorance of the process and/or misinformation regarding

Quality Assurance in HEIsQuality Assurance in HEIs– Preservation of Preservation of status qvo antestatus qvo ante

– Insecurity of stakeholdersInsecurity of stakeholders

– Other external factors (e.g. political motives)Other external factors (e.g. political motives)

To inspire trustTo inspire trust

To ensure that the whole process will be objectiveTo ensure that the whole process will be objective

To clarify and put emphasis on the many benefits of To clarify and put emphasis on the many benefits of the processthe process

Thank you for your attention!