Joint Programmes - Agence Erasmus+ France / Education Formation

Evaluation and quality
of joint programmes
Perspectives
of institutions and agencies
LAUREANO GONZÁLEZ VEGA
Evaluation of Programmes and Institutions
ANECA
Outline
ECA Principles Accreditation Joint Programmes
ECA: MULTRA
The Spanish Case: Regulation & Evaluation
CONCLUSIONS
http://www.ecaconsortium.net
http://www.ecaconsortium.net
ECA: Principles
http://www.ecaconsortium.net/main/projects/joqar
ECA: Principles
Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint
programmes (June 2007)
The problem
Joint programmes are programmes offered jointly by different
higher education institutions irrespective of the degree (joint,
multiple and double) awarded.
Joint programmes could be subject to accreditation procedures
by different accreditation organisations in each of the states
where the joint programme is offered.
These distinct accreditation jurisdictions imply the potential
involvement of several accreditation organisations and
therefore the execution of different accreditation procedures.
ECA: Principles
Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint
programmes (June 2007)
ECA Position
ECA members agree that the Code of Good Practice applies to
all accreditation organisations including their procedures
regarding joint programmes.
The principles set out below could be an integral part of a
mutual recognition agreement. This implies that accreditation
decisions regarding joint programmes are/should be subject to
the relevant mutual recognition of accreditation decisions
agreements.
To increase mutual trust and transparency, ECA members
concur that accreditation procedures regarding joint
programmes should take into account the following principles.
ECA: Principles
Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint
programmes (June 2007)
1. Information sharing and transparency
To inform the other relevant accreditation organisation(s) about the request;
The other relevant accreditation organisation(s) provide(s) information on:
Whether the programme is part of, has already undergone or is
undergoing a quality assurance and/or an accreditation procedure.
Whether the relevant institutions can legally offer the joint programme
(including the status of the degree involved).
2. The composition of the expert panel
Particular emphasis on the inclusion of experts with relevant international
experience and knowledge.
http://www.ecaconsortium.net/main/projects/joqar
ECA: Principles
Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint
programmes (June 2007)
3. The assessment process
Comprehensive information on the totality of the joint programme.
The panel has to determine the site visit(s) requirements;
Assessment on the totality of the joint programme.
Assessment process should include at least one observer from another
relevant accreditation organisation.
4. The accreditation decision
Based on the assessment of the totality of the joint programme
Communicated to the relevant accreditation organisation(s).
http://www.ecaconsortium.net/main/projects/joqar
ECA: Principles
Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint
programmes (June 2007)
A different version if programmes
are accredited through institutional
accreditation
http://www.ecaconsortium.net/main/projects/joqar
ECA: Principles
Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint
programmes (June 2007)
ECA Code of Good Practice
Transparency & Trust
ECA Bilateral Agreements
http://www.ecaconsortium.net/main/projects/joqar
ECA: MULTRA
ECA: MULTRA
Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Results regarding
Joint Programmes
The purpose of the MULTRA is to simplify the accreditation and
recognition of joint programmes and degrees awarded and to
provide an efficient way to expand mutual recognition to more
European Higher Education Area countries.
Started with JQAR project:
Joint programmes:
Quality Assurance and Recognition of degrees awarded
ECA: MULTRA
Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Results regarding
Joint Programmes
The signing accreditation organisations agree to apply the ECA principles for
accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes;
and confirm that within their competences they accept the results of the
accreditation procedures of the other signing accreditation organisations
when accrediting joint programmes;
on the condition that the signing agencies continue to exchange information
about their accreditation systems on a regular basis. Substantial changes of
the accreditation systems should be communicated without delay.
The signing accreditation organisations agree to give each other access to all
relevant documents relating to the accreditation results. All documents must
be treated confidentially until they are published.
ECA: MULTRA
Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Results regarding
Joint Programmes
MULTRA first signatories (December 10, 2010):
ANECA (Spain)
CTI (France)
FHR and ÖAR (Austria)
NVAO (The Netherlands and Flanders)
PKA (Poland)
ECA: MULTRA
Mutual Recognition of Accreditation Results regarding
Joint Programmes
MULTRA admission procedure:
ECA Management Group: “coordination point”
Requirements:
A valid bilateral recognition agreement, or
A recent (≤5 years) external evaluation against the ESG criteria, the ECA Code of
Good Practice or equivalent, and
Two observers (from a MULTRA agency) carry out an on-site-observation:
One observer should join a site-visit of a programme accreditation
procedure, the other one should get evidence of the accreditation practice
through discussions with the agency’s representatives.
The observers should conclude their report with a recommendation.
The MG formally checks the observation report and forwards the report
including a decision proposal to the MULTRA members.
Consensus of all signatory parties is needed for admission of new members.
The Spanish Case
THE SPANISH HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
!
RUCT
SIIU
A
ACREDITA
!
Accreditation Process in Spain
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE
2. JUSTIFICATION
3. LEARNING OUTCOMES
EX-ANTE
ACCREDITATION
CRITERIA
4. STUDENT ENTRY AND ADMISSION
5. PROGRAMME PLANNING
6. ACADEMIC STAFF
7. RESOURCES AND SERVICES
8. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
9. QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
10. AGENDA FOR IMPLEMENTING THE DEGREE
!
Accreditation Process in Spain
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE
2. JUSTIFICATION
3. LEARNING OUTCOMES
EX-ANTE
ACCREDITATION
CRITERIA
4. STUDENT ENTRY AND ADMISSION
5. PROGRAMME PLANNING (& COORDINATION)
6. ACADEMIC STAFF
7. RESOURCES AND SERVICES
8. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
9. QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
10. AGENDA FOR IMPLEMENTING THE DEGREE
!
Joint Programmes: Regulation
REAL DECRETO 861/2010: Grado & Máster & Doctor
Artículo 3 - Apartado 4
Las universidades podrán, mediante convenio con otras
universidades nacionales o extranjeras, organizar enseñanzas
conjuntas conducentes a la obtención de un único título
oficial de Graduado o Graduada, Máster Universitario o Doctor
o Doctora.
Joint Programmes: Regulation
REAL DECRETO 861/2010: Grado & Máster & Doctor
Artículo 3 - Apartado 4
A efectos de lo anterior se entiende por título conjunto el
correspondiente a un único plan de estudios oficial diseñado por
dos o más universidades, españolas o extranjeras, que han
suscrito el correspondiente convenio de colaboración y que han
presentado una única solicitud de verificación, a efectos del
procedimiento establecido en el artículo 25 de este real decreto.
Dicha solicitud deberá estar suscrita por todas las universidades
participantes que, asimismo, deberán designar a cuál de ellas
corresponderá la representación en el citado procedimiento.
Joint Programmes: Regulation
REAL DECRETO 861/2010: Grado & Máster & Doctor
Artículo 3 - Apartado 4
A tal fin, el plan de estudios deberá acompañarse del
correspondiente convenio en el que se especificará, al menos, qué
Universidad será responsable de la custodia de los expedientes
de los estudiantes y de la expedición y registro del título así como el
procedimiento de modificación o extinción de planes de estudios.
En el supuesto de convenios con universidades extranjeras, se
deberá acompañar al mismo certificación expedida por la autoridad
competente o, en su caso, por la entidad acreditadora, del
carácter oficial o acreditado de la universidad o universidades
extranjeras de que se trate.
En todo caso, la universidad española custodiará los expedientes de
los títulos que expida.
Joint Programmes: Evaluation
PROGRAMME PLANNING
Aspects to take into account:
Joint Programmes versus Dual Programmes.
Internal mobility for students and teaching staff and how to
support this.
Horizontal and vertical coordination: how modules are shared?
who? where? ...
A typical Joint Programme must fully exploit and take advantage of
the synergies that bring the paticipating universities.
Joint Programmes: Evaluation
JOINT PROGRAMMES: ... & SPAIN
The most complicated aspect here looks for the intersection, if any,
among the regulation of the involved countries:
ECTS for Bachelors and Masters different depending ...
Different accreditation regulation: ex-ante, ex-post, ...
Cases where different regulations are impossible to align.
“Memorias de verificación” completely different depending in
each country (the documentation issue).
...........................................................................................
CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions
Joint Programmes are essential tools when talking about
internationalization strategies (but not only EM !).
MULTRA is a good initial step but difficulties are still (and
will be) there.
The design of a Joint Programme is not an easy task and
requires a huge amount of work (the agrement ...).
MERCI
THANKS