ShareEuropean Approach
In 2015, higher education ministers approved the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes (EA) at the Yerevan conference, with the aim of simplifying joint programme external assessment processes. By using common standards, the European Approach should enable these programmes to be assessed in only one of the states participating in the programme.
Subsequently, from 2017 to 2020 the ImpEA project was undertaken within the framework of the European ERASMUS programme, with the aim of supporting the implementation of the European Approach in the European Higher Education Area, and the 2020 Ministerial Conference in Rome insisted on its use.
The European Approach can only be applied to joint programmes offered jointly by higher education institutions from two or more countries.
To start the process, the institutions offering the joint programme must select a quality agency from the European Register of Quality Agencies (EQAR) list.
AQU Catalunya, as an EQAR-registered agency, can evaluate joint programmes in accordance with the European Approach as well as recognise evaluations by other registered agencies.
The differences in the process based on the European Approach with respect to the other external verification and accreditation assessments carried out by AQU Catalunya are:
- The language to be used in the documentation of the assessment process is English.
- All assessment processes, whether verification or accreditation, require an external visit.
- The external committee must include at least four members, from at least two countries involved in the consortium providing the programme. Members must include a student.
- It is highly recommended that there be cooperation from the quality agencies of the different countries involved, in order to ensure that there are no problems with the official recognition of qualifications.
- The validity of accreditation under the EA, for all programmes, is six years.
The European Approach assessment methodology is based on standards agreed within the framework of the European Education Area. These do not take into account additional state criteria.
AQU Catalunya has developed the following methodology:
- Conditions for the recognition by AQU Catalunya of joint programmes accreditations using the European Approach framework
- Guide to ex-ante accreditation of joint programmes using the European Approach
The following table compares how AQU Catalunya's assessment processes meet the conditions included in the European Approach protocol. The dimensions that are in bold are specific to the Catalan context.
European Approach | AQU ex ante Accreditation | AQU ex post Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
1. Eligibility | 1 Description, aims, objectives and programme justification | 1. Quality of the study programme |
2. Learning Outcomes | 2. Results of the teaching and learning process | 1. Quality of the study programme 6. Quality of programme learning outcomes |
4. Admission and Recognition | 3. Admission, recognition and mobility | 1. Quality of the study programme
|
2. Learning Outcomes 5. Learning, Teaching and Assessment | 4. Planning of teaching | 1. Quality of the study programme |
7.1. Resources: staff | 5. Academic and teaching support staff | 4. Suitability of teaching staff for the study programme |
6. Student support | 6. Resources for learning: materials and infrastructure, practices and services | 5. Effectiveness of learning support systems |
8. Transparency and Documentation 9. Quality assurance | 8. Internal Quality Assurance System | 2. Relevance of the public information 3. Efficacy of the programme's internal quality assurance system |
2. Learning Outcomes 5. Learning, Teaching and Assessment | — | 6. Quality of programme learning outcomes |
In the case of non-renewal of the Erasmus Mundus seal by a programme from Catalonia, it will be necessary to start a process of termination of the programme, since both its name and the general conditions that gave rise to the seal and the verification have changed. In these circumstances, to continue teaching the programme, a verification process must commence, so it is essential that the Government of Catalonia's Directorate General for Universities authorise its incorporation into the university programme.
As this is a joint European degree, AQU Catalunya will apply the Guide to ex-ante accreditation of joint programmes using the European Approach in the assessment of the Curriculum for its reverification.
See Note on verification/reverification of qualifications with the Erasmus-Mundus seal
ImpEA project support documents:
- template to make self-assessment reports
- videos of training in the EA
Information from EQAR on the European Approach:
- Database of reports prepared in accordance with the EA procedure
- Map of national implementation of the European Approach
Master in Global Challenges for Sustainability
External assessment report Following the European Approach
Coordinating university: Trinity College Dublin
Partner universities: University of Barcelona, Trinity College Dublin, Utrecht University, Eötvös Loránd University, University of Montpellier
Master in Transfusion Medicine and Cellular and Tissue Therapies
External review report Master in Transfusion Medicine and Cellular and Tissue Therapies
Coordinating university: Univestitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Partner universities: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Leiden University