Sn

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I wish to have the most educated country of them
all, therefore I have ordered to issue doctoral
diploma for all my subjects
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ACCREDITATION
Slovak experience
Assoc. Prof. Ivan OSTROVSKÝ, PhD
Slovenia
November 2007
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If we acknowledge that universities represent
sources of civil and moral teaching for preachers
and country nobility to draw their strength from
it and then spread it among people, great care
should be paid to keeping these sources clean,
neither muddied by godless politicians nor
bewitched by bad ghosts.
Thomas Hobbes Leviathan (1651)  
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QA Trends

• Across Europe, the external quality assurance of
  higher education has two main aims
• to contribute to the improvement of higher
  education
• to provide reliable information on the current
  quality of activities of higher education
  institutions in regard to both teaching, and
  research.

With the move toward a European Higher Education
Area, there is, however, also a drive for
greater transparency and comparability of quality
and standards across Europe to facilitate the
international mobility of workers and the
trans-national recognition of qualifications.
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CONCEPTUAL LINK EVALUATION AND ACCREDITATION
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS
AUTHORITY AND OWNERSHIP, INDEPENDENCE
ACCREDITATION COUNCIL TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
ACCREDITATION COMMISION VERSUS MINISTRY
VISIBILITY OF PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES
OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES
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LegislatioN

• The accreditation activities of Accreditation
  Commision of Slovak Republic (ACS) are
  legitimised by national law No. 131/2002
  (novelised by the Law No. 538/2003)

• The ACS was established by the government
  decision 1240/2002 on November 13th, novelised by
  the government decree 104/2003

• Other legislation
• Law No 477/2002 and 445/2003 about the
  professional qualifications,
• Regulation of the Ministry of Education about the
  academic awards and titles

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Accreditation CommissionEstablishment

• The Accreditation Commission is established by
  the Govern-ment as its advisory body

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Accreditation Commission Membership

• The Accreditation Commission is composed of the
  Chairman, Vice-Chairman and other members
  appointed and recalled by the Government at the
  Minister's proposal after an opinion given by
  representative bodies of higher education
  institutions
• they are appointed from among distinguished
  personalities of higher education institutions,
  professional and scientific establishments.
  Members of the Accreditation Commission also
  include foreign experts.

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Accreditation Commission Composition

• 21 members
• 30 external members
• 3 of Slovak Academy of Science
• 2 from another institutions
• 2 foreigners (1 CZ 1 HU)
• The Government shall appoint members of the
  Accreditation Commission for six years they may
  be appointed for not more than two consecutive
  terms of office.
• The function of the member of the Accreditation
  Commission is incompatible with the post of
  Rector, Vice-Rector, Dean and Vice-Dean

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Accreditation CommissionManagement

• The method of discussion of the Accreditation
  Commission and its work teams is regulated by the
  Statute of the Accreditation Commi-ssion approved
  by the Government.
• Activities of the Accreditation Commission are
  physically and financially provided for by the
  Ministry.
• Activities of members of the Accreditation
  Commission and its work teams are acts in the
  general interest. The employer shall, at the
  Ministers proposal, grant them a remuneration
  and cover their travel expenses in accordance
  with special regulations.The funds for the
  remuneration are refunded to the employer by the
  Ministry.

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Accreditation CommissionManagement

• The Accreditation Commission may establish work
  teams for professional preparation of its
  discussions.
• The Chairman and other members of the work team
  are appointed and recalled by the Chairman of the
  Accreditation Commission after the approval of
  the Accreditation Commission.
• The Chairman of the work team is appointed from
  members of the Commission.
• The work team members must fulfil the criterion
  of a high professional level and authority. Also
  foreign experts may become members of the work
  team.

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Accreditation CommissionRecall

• The Government may recall a member of the
  Accreditation Commission at the Minister's
  proposal after an opinion given by
  repre-sentative bodies of higher education
  institu-tions provided the member
• fails to fulfil his/her obligations resulting
  from the membership the reason shall be
  considered by the Accreditation Commi-ssion and
  the recalling shall be proposed to the Minister
  by the Chairman of the Ac-creditation Commission,
• has been lawfully sentenced for an inten-tional
  crime or he/she has been sentenced to
  unconditional imprisonment.

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DEFINITIONS FOR ACCREDITATION

• Agency provides the following definition for
  accreditation that have a set of common features
• accreditation is concerned with quality of
  programmes and/or institutions (objects)
• it implies clearly defined consequences
  (sanctions), and a formal licensing (recognition,
  right to award degrees), that result from formal
  decisions
• accreditation follows transparent rules and
  regulations.

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Law 131/2002 Section 82
Accreditation CommissionActivities

• The AC
• monitors,estimates and independently evaluates
  the quality of the teaching, research,
  develop-ment, artistic or other creative
  activities of higher education institutions
• contributes to their improvement
• generally assesses conditions under which such
  activities are carried out at individual
  institutions of higher education
• works out recommendations for improvement of work
  in higher education institutions
• may inform the public about its findings.

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Accreditation CommissionActivities

• The Accreditation Commission appraises the level
  of research, development, artistic or other
  creative activities of higher education
  institutions. In doing so it considers the
  results of periodical evaluation of a higher
  education institution according to special
  regulations.
• ) Law No. 132/2002 on Science and Technology,
  Section 18, Clause 7.
• The Accreditation Commission also performs
  complex accreditation of activities of the higher
  education institutions.

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Accreditation CommissionActivities

• When fulfilling its tasks pursuant to Law, the
  Accreditation Commission is entitled to require
  information, docu-mentation and cooperation,
  essential for its activities, from central bodies
  of the State administration, from hig-her
  education institutions and legal entities
  carrying out research and development at the
  territory of the Slovak Republic.

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Accreditation CommissionOutputs/Outcomes

• The AC gives its opinion on the following
• capacity of the higher education institution to
  implement the study programme with the right to
  award to its graduates the academic degree,
• capacity of the non-higher education institution
  to take part in implementation of the PhD study
  programme,
• capacity of the higher education institution to
  conduct the habilitation procedure and procedure
  for nomination of profesors,
• proposals for establishment, merger, affiliation,
  split, dissolution, change of name or change of
  seat of a public higher education institution or
  a State higher education institution, faculty of
  a public higher education institution or faculty
  of a State higher education institution,
• proposal for granting the State consent for a
  legal entity wishing to act as a public higher
  education institution,
• proposal for classification of a higher education
  institution as referred to under Law 131/2002,
  Section 2, Clause 13 and 16,
• proposal for change in the list of the fields of
  study,
• other proposals with regard to the system of
  higher education presented by the Minister.

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Accreditation CommissionOutputs/Outcomes

• The Accreditation Commission gives its opinion on
  the facts according to Law, not later than within
  one hundred fifty days from receipt of complete
  documents.
• The statement within the framework of complex
  accreditation of activities of the higher
  education institution not later than 10 month
  from receipt of complete documents

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VISIBILITY OF PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES

• ACS assessment criteria and its pro-cesses and
  procedures are publicly available. This
  information is published on the website of the
  SAC and Ministry of Education
• ACS awares that it should provides the documents
  in English, even if it has not accomplished this
  yet.

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VISIBILITY OF PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES
RECORDS

• Record No. 1 (19.4.1999, Bratislava).

• Record No.34 (26.-28.9.2007,
• Nový Smokovec).

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Accreditation of Individual Activities of a
Higher Education Institution and Granting Rights
Accreditation CommissionOrientation

• Accreditation of a study programme is a process
  within the framework of which the Accreditation
  Commission shall assess at the request of a
  higher education institution its capacity to
  implement the study programme.
• After the statement of the Accreditation
  Commission according to Law the Ministry may
  grant to the higher education institution the
  right to award for graduates of this study
  programme the appropriate academic degree.
• The study programme for which the higher
  education institution achieved the above right,
  is the accredited study programme.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS

• By assessment of HE institution capacity to
  provide particular study program is discussed
• HE Institution and its departments involved in
  such study program provision,
• Study program itself.
• By assessment of HE Institution as the provider
  of study program are assessed attributes as
  follows
• Level of research,
• Working and technical conditions and resources
• Human resources.
• By assessment of study program are assessed
  attributes as follows
• Curricula contents
• Requirements for applicants and entrance
  examinations requirements,
• Requirements for graduates,
• Level of students and graduates.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS

• Criterion/attribute
• Level of research
• Bc
• Continuous routine research in the field
• Implementation of research results into the
  program
• Ms
• Continuous research at national/international
  level
• Implementation of research results into the
  program
• PhD
• Continuous research at international level
• Grants performance

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS

• Criterion/attribute
• Human resources capacity
• Enough qualified staff (Ms, PhD, )
• Guarrantors
• Bc
• Assoc.Prof. lt 65
• Ms
• Prof. lt 65
• PhD
• Prof. lt 65

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Law 131/2002Chapter TwoGranting Rights and
Complex Accreditation of Activities of a Higher
Education Institution

• Section 84 Complex Accreditation of Activities
  of a Higher Education Institution
• Section 85 Relocation of a Higher Education
  Institution
• Section 86 Application of Non-Higher Education
  Institution for Accreditation and Granting the
  Right for the Appropriate Field of Study to
  Participate in Implementation of the PhD Study
  Programme
• Section 87 Activity of a Higher Education
  Institution during Suspension or after
  Deprivation of Granted Rights

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PROGRAMME ACCREDITATION

• PRACTICE

LICENCE (accreditation)

• University

CRITERIA

• owner
• provider

• Government

PROPOSAL (dossier)
DECISION (proposal)

• political authority

Working Groups
DIPLOMA (quality value)

• Accreditation
• Commission

• Public

• advisory body

• user/customer

• professional body

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PROGRAMME ACCREDITATION

• RESULTS

• University

• Government

PROPOSAL (dossier)

• political authority

DECISION (proposal)
Job Licence
LICENCE (accreditation)
2000 Accredited study programmes
DIPLOMA (quality value)

• Accreditation
• Commission

• professional body

• OVERBURDENED!

• STATE guaranty

• Public

• user/customer

• PROFESSIONAL guaranty

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CREDENTIALS

• The credentials of completed study programmes
  within the framework of a field of study are the
  following
• higher education diploma,
• certificate of State examination,
• Diploma Supplement.

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CREDENTIALS

• The higher education diploma is a certificate on
  completion of an accredited study programme in
  the field of study and on award of academic
  degree. It is issued by the higher education
  institution.
• The diploma of higher education contains
• the graduate's first name and surname,
• diploma registration number,
• name of the higher education institution,
• name of the field of study,
• name of the study programme pursued,
• name of the faculty if the programme has been
  carried out at the faculty,
• academic degree
• other data determined by the higher education
  institution.

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CREDENTIALS

• The certificate of the State examination is a
  document on the State examination taken, its
  parts and its result. It is issued by a higher
  education institution.
• The Diploma Supplement is a document containing
  details on the completed study programme.
  Information to be included in the Diploma
  Supplement shall be provided for by regulations
  issued by the Ministry. The Diploma Supplement
  shall be issued by a higher education
  institution. The graduate shall receive the
  Diploma Supplement along with his/her diploma.
• The higher education institution shall also issue
  the credentials under Law (Clause 1)in a foreign
  language at a special request.

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External Quality Assurance inSmall Countries

• The reliance on national Portuguese experts
  poses a problem. The pool of Portuguese experts
  is limited and, as is generally the case with
  academic communities in small countries, there is
  often considerable familiarity between reviewers
  and the reviewed. This combination potentially
  compromises the necessary independence and
  objectivity of the external evaluations.
• An Assessment of the Existing System and
  Recommendations for a Future System
• Report by an ENQA review panel Quality Assurance
  of Higher Education in Portugal

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