External Evaluation of HAC: External Evaluation of HAC: Follow-up activitiesFollow-up activities

Tibor SzantoHungarian Accreditation Committee

The Hague, 15 June 2009

The Hague, 15.06.2009

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Overview

I. The HACII. The (second) review of HAC

III. HAC’s reaction to review results

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The Hungarian Accreditation Committee

Established by HE Act in 1993

National agency, wide scope of activities

Accreditation: compulsory (HEA)

Accreditation + recommendations (account. + enhanc.)

Body (29+non-voting members, 3-year term), Secretariat+ disciplinary subcommittees

Public service organisation (July 2006 on)

Funded from state budget + fees from HEIs (~ 10-30 %)

www.mab.hu/english/index.html

I.

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Activities of the HACI.

Institution

New

Programme

Operating

X

Shift: institution – QA system (meta-accr.) programme – disciplinary accr. (parallel accr. 2004 on)

+ other activities, e.g. giving opinion on professorial appointments

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The first external review of HAC 1999-2000

HAC’s own initiation

Co-ordinated by CRE (EUA)Selection: short list, according to WB rules

Financed from WB grantInternational review team by CRE (6 +1 PM)Scope of review:

a) Operation of HACb) Hungarian QA system in general

Final report published www.mab.hu/english/doc/extevalhac.pdf

I.

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The second external review of HAC 2007- 08

HAC’s initiation, based on ENQA membership

Co-ordinated by MoEC + HRCFinanced by MoECInternational review team (3 foreign + 3 Hung.)Type of review: „B”

a) EMC / ESGb) Operation of HAC in general

+ follow-up on previous review

Final report published www.mab.hu/english/doc/SelfEval_Teljes%20Kiadvany.doc

II.

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The second review – cont.

Final report (June 2008), findings• Overall substantial compliance• Room for improvement in 4 (5) standards

(out of 16)

• follow-up on previous review: most recommendations addressed further work needed in several cases

II.

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The second review – cont.

Final report, recommendations in 5 groups1. Focus of activities (7)2. Structure and operations (13)3. Role of Minister (3)4. Internal QA of HEIs (5)5. Financing the HAC (3)

Altogether 31Closely related to ESG 6

II.

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Major recommendations

• more focus on output of programmes• move to ex-post institutional evaluations• wider view of quality• more focus on improvement• decreasing the number of HAC members and

subcommittees• more stakeholders and international experts• students need voting rights in HAC• greater transparency, better communication • more system-wide analyses • Minister should not decide against HAC opinion• state funding of HAC should be more transparent• HEIs should pay for all appeals

II.

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HAC’s reaction to review results

1. Comments on the final report (FR), July 2008 • issues beyond the power of HAC• interpretation of EMC/ESG• recommendations appreciated

2. Distribution of FR

3. Discussions (incl. HAB, IAB)

4. Action Plan, December 2008

5. Distribution of AP (website, ENQA Board)

III.

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HAC’s Action Plan

AP accepted by HAC on 5 Dec. 200831 recommendations 28 actions planned

Scope of actions:• proposals for legal changes• refinement of HAC operations

Responsible persons/bodies:• HAC President, HAC members, Secr. Gen.• Strategic Comm., Quality Development Comm.

Timing: implementation mostly until end 2009 (end of term of current HAC)

III.

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Implementation of AP

Current standing (June 2009)• implemented actions: 4• proposals made (HEA): 7• in progress: 10• later: 7

III.

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Implementation of AP – cont.

Implemented• Bologna transition analysis

proposals for refining the system

• chair of VC reporting to HAC plenary

• more attention to internat. joint programmes(ongoing)

• regular formal staff meetings (again) (ongoing)

III.

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Implementation of AP – cont.

Proposals made, HEA amendment in preparation• inst. accr. cycle, 8 5 years• decreasing the number of HAC members and

subcommittees• inclusion of a foreign expert as HAC member• students to have voting rights in HAC• Minister to give reasons when deciding against

HAC opinion• international advertising of professorships• HEIs should pay for all appeals processes

III.

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Implementation of AP – cont.

In progress and later:

10 + 7 actions

Still quite a lot to do…

III.

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Thank you for your attention!