Accreditation of joint programmes; Accreditation of joint programmes; challenges and opportunitieschallenges and opportunities

Split- 27 May 2011Kaja Braathen

• 14 March 2011

Content Content

1) Introduction to joint programmes

2) Accreditation procedures of joint programmes

3) JOQAR

4) Recognition of degrees awarded by joint programmes

What is a joint programme? 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)

European Commission characteristics of a JPEuropean 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.

Some key figuresSome 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

Possible accreditation procedures of JPsPossible accreditation procedures of JPs

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1. Usual approach

2. Transnational approach

3. Joint procedure

4. Single procedure

Possible accreditation procedures of JPsPossible 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?

Possible accreditation procedures of JPsPossible accreditation procedures of JPs

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2. Transnational approach• Initiative: one institution

• When needed or wanted

• Procedure: one agency

• Focus: whole joint programme

• Result: national accreditation

All parts are covered

PARTICIPANTS:Partners Observers

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

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)

Mutual recognition accreditation decisions

Signed agreements Letters 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

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PROJECTS ON JP’S:•TEAM

•TEAM II

•JOQAR

TEAMTEAM22 Project (2008 – 2010) Project (2008 – 2010)

Accreditation of joint programmes

Single accreditation procedure

Accreditation decision

Accreditation in all national systems

Recognition of qualifications of joint programmes?

Which problems emerges?

How can it be facilitated? Development Qrossroads

Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes

TEAM² Pilot accreditation procedures TEAM² Pilot accreditation procedures 5 pilot procedures Questionnaires

Methodological report

To develop a European methodology for single accreditation procedures regarding

joint programmes

Possible accreditation procedures of JPsPossible 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

TEAM²: Some intrinsic difficulties when TEAM²: Some intrinsic difficulties when carrying out a joint procedurecarrying 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.

TEAM²: Joint procedures- a modular TEAM²: Joint procedures- a modular approachapproach

Step 1: to identify the essential core modules which are agreed upon by all the agencies involved

Step 2: to add 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

JOQAR - projectJOQAR - 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

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JOQAR Project (2010 – 2013)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

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Possible accreditation proceduresPossible 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 principles for accreditation

procedure re. joint programmes

Degrees awarded by joint programmesDegrees awarded by joint programmes• Different types of degrees• Single, double, multiple degrees

• Joint degrees

• But complex mix of the above is possible

Joint degree: example & definitionJoint 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.

Signed by the competent authorities of the institutions involved in the joint programme

Single document

Replaces the separate (institutional/national) degrees

ExampleExample

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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

Not recognised

Recognised

Recognised

ExampleExample

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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

Not recognised

Recognised

Recognised

ExampleExample

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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

Recognised

Master of Science

A way forwardA 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

Available ReportsAvailable Reports

??All relevant publications:All relevant publications:

http://www.ecaconsortium.net/main/documents/publication

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k.braathen@nvao.netwww.nvao.netwww.ecaconsortium.net | www.qrossroads.eu