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Study Visit to the QAA in Scotland on the integration of ESGs into the work of QA agencies in higher education from the WB6, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, 21-22 March2024

A Study Visit to the Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education in Scotland was organised on 21 and 22 March 2024. The Study Visit will be hosted by the QAA Scotland in partnership with the Heriot Watt University on their Edinburgh campus.

The main goal of the visit was to explore the integration of European standards and guidelines (ESG) into the work of quality assurance agencies in higher education from the Western Balkans 6. The WB6 delegation included representatives from the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Kosovo* Accreditation Agency, the National Centre for Recognition of Diplomas (NARIC) Kosovo*, the Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education in Montenegro, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE).

Across the two-day visit, delegates and QAA colleagues discussed a range of topics, including internal quality assurance processes, approach to thematic analysis, management of quality review and our experience of review by the European Association for Quality Assurance (ENQA). Heriot Watt University also presented to the delegation on their approach to quality assurance and enhancement and how this interacts with external quality review.

Speaking about the visit, QAA’s Deputy CEO, Alastair Delaney said: “This was an excellent opportunity for QAA to strengthen relationships with our partner quality agencies across Europe. Hosting study visits like this one help to underpin trust in the quality of UK education and cements QAA and the UK’s commitment to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).”

Ms Šarić, ERI SEE Director, said on behalf of the participants: “We very much appreciate the willingness of the QAA and Heriot Watt University to host our delegation. I was an excellent opportunity to learn about the enhancement-led process that is integrated into the work of the QAA but also in the higher education community, and to observe how this approach regulates and governs all the related activities. Also, the effective and all-encompassing partnership relationship between QAA and stakeholders, with their joint commitment to quality, that was presented to us, is something we very much want to explore further in our contexts. The study visit was a great source of learning and inspiration for us!”

The Study Visit presentations can be downloaded here:

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