Quality Assurance and Accredita�on) Ini�a�ve, funded

development of a harmonised quality assurance and accredita�on system at ins�tu�onal level, na�onal,

• To contribute and support the harmonisa�on ofhigher educa�on programmes and the crea�on of arevitalised, dis�nc�ve, a�rac�ve and globallycompe��ve African higher educa�on space,

• Specifically to support the development of aharmonised quality assurance and accredita�onsystem at ins�tu�onal level, na�onal, regional and

• Enhancing con�nental collabora�on in qualityassurance across and between regional networks

•and poli�cal priori�es

• Capacity Building for both internal and external QAat the ins�tu�onal, na�onal and regional level

• Promo�ng good prac�ces/ sharing experiences in amul�lateral way: Europe-Africa, Africa-Europe,Africa-Africa, Africa-other world regions

• The realiza�on of a unique, con�nental Training Course on ‘A Common Language for Higher Educa�on in Africa’. This brought together na�onally nominated representa�ves responsible for the na�onal development of their QA systems and entailed both prac�ce sharing from Europe and training on/providing sensi�za�on to the PAQAF. The no�on of “PAQAF ambassadors” arose from this dynamic group of individuals. In addi�onal to three physical training events, par�cipants also conducted Personal Ac�on Plans aimed at improving specific elements of their own QA systems.

• The development of the African Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Educa�on (ASG-QA), a major guiding document that outlines common standards for ins�tu�onal quality assurance and external quality assurance conducted by external QA bodies and accredi�ng agencies. The document is in four languages and has been extensively consulted across diverse stakeholder groups.

• The further promo�on of one of the tools of the PAQAF- the African Quality Ra�ng Mechanism (AQRM)- and support for ins�tu�onal self-assessment, via 15 visits to universi�es in five African regions, selected for their diversity. The evalua�on visits were designed to validate the AQRM survey that the ins�tu�ons completed and provided concrete advise for improvement.

• The development of a methodology to assess, externally, QA agencies in Africa in order to guarantee their transparency and ensure that they uphold common and interna�onally agreed principles and prac�ces: The methodology u�lizes Part C of the ASG-QA. It was tested on four established QA agencies in Africa (Senegal, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Mozambique) which agreed to under-go a self-assessment and receive an evalua�on by an interna�onal panel. Four addi�onal countries which do not yet have agencies but are in the process of establishing them also received ‘consultancy visits’ by experts teams, inspired by the ASG-QA (Cameroon, Togo, Mali and Morocco).

• General visibility for an awareness of the PAQAF and its components has been generated through a HAQAA Ini�a�ve website, the crea�on of a database and the consistent follow-up with the Training Course par�cipants, the Advisory Board, par�cipa�on in interna�onal conference and events and the prepara�on of input for Africa-EU summits, the publica�on of a number of outputs (the ASG-QA, the outcome reports of the Training Course and the AQRM exercise), the organiza�on of a consulta�on event in Addis Ababa for the ASG-QA and a final conference in Dakar Senegal and the general exploita�on of the media channels and networks that the partners of the implemen�ng consor�um use.

For more informa�on on any of the above ac�vi�es,

‘PAQAF’- The Pan-African Quality Assurance and Accredita�on Framework, which the AUC has had endorsed via its commi�ees and its Council, is an overriding framework for a number of commitments related to quality assurance ac�vi�es in Africa. The implementa�on of the Addis Conven�on and AQRM are part of it, as are commitments to develop African Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance, an African Credit Transfer System and a con�nental register for quality assurance agencies and na�onal bodies. As many aspects of PAQAF have not yet been developed, the HAQAA Ini�a�ve is seen as a means to contribute to it its implementa�on.

Contact

Main outputs

Working methodology

• The HAQAA Ini�a�ve has been a complex endeavor that has required working at various levels within the African context (ins�tu�onal, na�onal, regional and con�nental) and in conjunc�on with many divers and important stakeholders ac�ve at these different levels.

• The complexity of the ini�a�ve required a dynamic and inclusive governance structure in which major stakeholders were included in shaping all products and outcomes, so as to ensure their African ownership;

• An Advisory Board of major African regional higher educa�on organisa�ons from different linguis�c groups was convened and met officially 7 �mes throughout the three-year contract and was also invited to important events, to ensure their constant and construc�ve input;

• A Technical Working Group of seven African experts from different regions and linguis�c groups was tasked with developing the African Standards and Guidelines for QA (ASG-QA) and the review methodology for assessing QA agencies, two major outputs of this contract and key contribu�ons to realising the PAQAF of the African Union;

• The implemen�ng consor�um worked closely with both the EC and the African Union Commission to ensure that the ini�a�ve was consistent with and op�mally contribu�ng to African Union poli�cal objec�ves and par�cularly the PAQAF.

What is PAQAF?

please contact: nfontg@ub.edu