The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), formerly the European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, was established to represent quality assurance and
accreditation
Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...
organisations from the
European Higher Education Area
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) was launched in March 2010, during the Budapest-Vienna Ministerial Conference, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Bologna Process.
As the main objective of the Bologna Process since its incep ...
and internationally.
Activities
In 2003, the Ministers of the Bologna process asked ENQA to elaborate "an agreed set of standards, procedures and guidelines" for higher education. The resulting European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG) was adopted by the Bologna Process Ministers in 2005 and was revised in 2015.
EQAR
ENQA worked with the other "E4" agencies, the
European University Association
The European University Association (EUA) represents more than 800 institutions of higher education in 48 countries, providing them with a forum for cooperation and the exchange of information on higher education and research policies. Members of ...
(EUA), the
European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) and the
European Students Union (ESU), to establish the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR),
which makes available a validated list of higher education quality assurance agencies which adhere to the ESG, and reduces the risk of bodies which purport to grant accreditation without rigorous review.
EQAR is composed of the founding E4 bodies, government members (any state which is part of the Bologna Process may join) and social partners, and governed by an elected Executive Board.
It has a small secretariat and is based in Brussels.
Notable affiliations
*
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is an American organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for academic quality through accreditation in order to ...
* In 2011, ENQA hosted a seminar jointly with the
(INQAAHE).
References
External links
Official ENQA site{{authority control
Education in the European Union
Educational institutions established in 2000
College and university associations and consortia in Europe
International organizations based in Europe
Quality assurance
2000 establishments in Europe
Higher education accreditation