Accreditation of joint programmes; challenges and opportunities

1. Accreditation of joint programmes; challenges and opportunities Split- 27 May 2011 Kaja Braathen • 14 March 2011

2. Content 1) Introduction to joint programmes 2) Accreditation procedures of joint programmes 3) JOQAR 4) Recognition of degrees awarded by joint programmes

3. Joint programmes

4. What is a joint programme? Erasmus Mundus: “..jointly planned and developed programme including strong integration of both curricula and organisation.” “A programme offered jointly by different higher education institutions irrespective of the degree (joint, multiple and double) awarded.” (European Consortium for Accreditation in higher education, Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes, 2007, p. 1)

5. European Commission characteristics of a JP • Programmes should be developed and approved jointly by several higher education institutions; • Student stays are of comparable length;   • Periods of study and exams passed at partner institutions are automatically recognised;   • Professors of each institution teach at the other institutions and form joint commissions for admission and examination;   • Graduates obtain either the national degrees of each institution or a degree jointly awarded by them.

6. Some key figures • Approximately 2500 joint programmes in the EHEA • 124 Erasmus Mundus Master programmes • 22 Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctoral programmes. • EUA survey of European HEIs (2010): 61% of respondent institutions offer joint programmes with institutions in a different country

7. Possible accreditation procedures of JPs • Usual approach • Transnational approach • Joint procedure • Single procedure ?

8. Possible accreditation procedures of JPs • 1. Usual approach • Initiative: individual institution • When needed or wanted • Procedure: individual agencies • Focus: national offer • Result: national Are all parts covered?

9. Possible accreditation procedures of JPs • 2. Transnational approach • Initiative: one institution • When needed or wanted • Procedure: one agency • Focus: whole joint programme • Result: national accreditation All parts are covered ?

10. Aims: • Mutual recognition of accreditation & quality assurance decisions • Dissemination of experiences with accreditation(-like) practices • Provision of transparent information on quality • Facilitation of internationalisation of institutions and students • Mutual recognition accreditation decisions • Signed agreementsLetters of Intent Joint declaration regarding the automatic recognition of qualifications Aim: if preconditions are met, degrees awarded by accredited institutions and/or accredited programmes should be automatically accepted in the countries concerned • Results: • Code of good practice (2004) • Principles for the selection of experts (2005) • Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes (2007) • Mutual recognition agreements (2007) • Qrossroads.eu (2008) • Principles regarding learning outcomes in accreditation procedures (2009) • Signing of MULTRA (2010) • Participants: • Partners • Observers • Projects on JP’s: • TEAM • TEAM II • JOQAR

11. TEAM2 Project (2008 – 2010) Accreditation of joint programmes Single accreditation procedure Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes Accreditation decision Accreditation in all national systems Recognition of qualifications of joint programmes? Which problems emerges? Development Qrossroads How can it be facilitated?

12. TEAM² Pilot accreditation procedures 5 pilot procedures Questionnaires Methodological report To develop a European methodology for single accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes

13. Possible accreditation procedures of JPs • 3. Joint procedure • Initiative: several institutions • When needed or wanted • Procedure: individual agencies • Focus: whole joint programme OR involved institutions • Result: national accreditations All parts could be covered

14. TEAM²: Some intrinsic difficulties when carrying out a joint procedure • focus on national or institutional requirements that are not essential for others • level of the detail required for procedures: e.g. the timing the duration, the panel composition • the extent and level of detail of criteria that could/ should/ must be applied during an assessment or accreditation.

15. TEAM²: Joint procedures- a modular approach Step 1:to identify the essential core modules which are agreed upon by all the agencies involved Step 2:toadd specific criteria/ items which are regarded as necessary to assess in order to accredit the programme in all the countries concerned Strengths: flexibility, diversity allowed, all standards can be met

16. Joint programmes: Quality Assurance and Recognition of degrees awarded (JOQAR)

17. JOQAR - project • ECA+ project • European funding • Nov. 2010 – Oct. 2013 • NVAO: coordinating organisation • ECA, incl. 4 ENIC-NARICs & 2 non-Eur. QAAs • Overall aim: • to ensure that joint programmes are facilitated in two specific areas: accreditation and recognition • Action lines: • Cross-border quality assurance of joint programmes • Recognition of degrees awarded by joint programmes

18. JOQAR Project (2010 – 2013) • Quality assurance and accreditation • The development of a multilateral recognition agreement regarding QA and accreditation results • The establishment of a European coordination point for external QA and accreditation of joint programmes • Recognition • Awareness-raising among HEIs and joint programmes about ENIC-NARICs’ expectations • ENIC-NARIC guidelines regarding the recognition of degrees awarded by joint programmes • Transparent information provision regarding Erasmus Mundus programmes

19. Possible accreditation procedures • 4. Single procedure- MULTRA • Precondition: signed MULTRA • Initiative: any institution • Procedure: one agency • Focus: whole joint programme • Result: national accreditations All parts should be covered • Joint principlesforaccreditation procedure re. joint programmes

20. Recognition of degrees awarded by joint programmes

21. Degrees awarded by joint programmes • Different types of degrees • Single, double, multiple degrees • Joint degrees • But complex mix of the above is possible Uni Y Qualification Uni X Qualification Uni X - Uni Y Qualification

22. Joint degree: example & definition A recognised degree awarded by the higher education institutions that offer the joint programme, attesting the successful completion of this joint programme. Single document Signed by the competent authorities of the institutions involved in the joint programme Replaces the separate (institutional/national) degrees

23. Example Recognised • Recognition will be denied • An unrecognised institution figures on the awarded degree • The unrecognised institution is seen as making use of joint programme arrangements to flee the national regulatory framework. Recognised Recognised Not recognised 23

24. Example Recognised • Recognition may be denied • One of the institutions involved in the programme is not recognised • This unrecognised institution is seen as making use of joint programme arrangements to flee the national regulatory framework. Recognised Recognised Not recognised 24

25. Example Master of Science Recognised • Recognition may be denied • IF one of the institutions involved in the programme cannot award Master of Science degrees (e.g. not accredited) • THEN this institution is seen as making use of joint programme arrangements to flee the national regulatory framework. Recognised Recognised Recognised 25

26. A way forward • HEIs offering joint programmes should: • Award qualifications/degrees in such a way that recognition is facilitated • Be able to now what is expected of them • A need for guidelines perhaps? • Conformity to national legislation re. HEI, JPs and (J)Ds • Transparency and clarity from but also for • national authorities, QAAs and HEIs • Essential and required information provided by: • the degree • the Diploma Supplement

27. Available Reports

28. www.ecaconsortium.net | www.qrossroads.eu ?All relevant publications: http://www.ecaconsortium.net/main/documents/publicationsk.braathen@nvao.netwww.nvao.net