As part of the Erasmus+ project ‘Improving University Quality Assurance Resilient Strategies Toward Excellence (QA-SURE)’, project partners are meeting at the South East European University (SEEU)
The first visit aimed at knowledge sharing and learning more about EU practices on Quality Assurance and best practices in Higher Education Institution (HEI) quality assurance mechanisms and structures was conducted at South East European University (SEEU) in Tetovo, North Macedonia, from April 15th to 16th. Professor Merita Shala from the University ‘Isa Boletini’ Mitrovica, the project coordinator for UIBM, along with Natyra Misini, the senior quality assurance officer, participated in this visit.
Throughout the two days, presentations were given by heads of academic and administrative offices on quality assurance practices. Engaging discussions covered a range of essential aspects of the project, from practices and models for strengthening quality assurance offices to the development of infrastructural capacities and the involvement of all partners in quality assurance. Of particular focus was the cultivation of a quality culture in higher education.
Overall, the visit facilitated a fruitful exchange of best practices, fostering collaborative efforts towards enhancing quality assurance in higher education.
The “Kick-off meeting” of the project “ Improving University Quality Assurance Resilient Strategies Toward Excellence” (QA-SURE), took place at WBU – Albania
The "Kick-off meeting" of the project “ Improving University Quality Assurance Resilient Strategies Toward Excellence”…
QA\SURE project UIBM team, organized a coordination meeting
QA\SURE project UIBM team held a productive coordination meeting, focusing on planning activities for the first six months. The drafting of the Action and Sustainability Plan for UIBM was a key agenda item, indicating a focus on ensuring the project’s actions align with sustainability goals of the project. Additionally, discussing issues to be included in the Quality Assurance Plan shows a commitment to maintaining high standards throughout the project’s duration. Overall, such coordination meetings are considered to be essential for ensuring clarity, alignment, and effective execution of project goals.
QA\SURE project is aimed at enhancing the quality assurance practices within the academic sector, by bringing together multiple universities from different countries to collaborate and share their knowledge and expertise on the subject.
Improving University Quality Assurance Resilient Strategies Toward Excellence
QA-SURE is a project that will focus on adapting modern and European quality assurance practices, instruments, methodologies, and thus aid the alignment of quality assurance standards of the project partners with those set out via the ESGs 2015 and European best practices.
This will be achieved by:
(1) Realignment of QA structures and mechanisms based on policy and regulations, QA cycles, and other institutional indicators, and widening of input into the systems by higher participation rates of students and external stakeholders,
(2) Training of QA, administrative and academic staff (>150) , as well as, students (>50), to ensure better preparation and inclusiveness of administrative and academic products within the partner HEIs, especially when it comes to service and study product design, and
(3) utilizing internationalization and digitalization as mechanisms for enhancing quality culture, while at the same time improving institutional transparency and accountability.
The project foresees the participation of larger variety of participants into the QA systems as current Western Balkans HEIs struggle with this. More emphasis will be laid out for the input and participation of (1) students since often students find themselves placed only at the end of the quality assurance cycles as means to close it rather than considering them as productive sources of primary feedback and data, and, (2) external stakeholders (businesses, public institutions, civil society etc), due to the high relevance of input that can be received for updating of study programmes aiming to be based on the fit-for-purpose concept and employment.
All of these processes apart from the increase in quality culture practices and mechanisms, will also enable the HEIs to prepare for international accreditation procedures as a tool to further improve themselves within the European perspective.
The consortium of the QA-SURE project:
- WESTERN BALKANS UNIVERSITY Albania Coordinator
- UNIVERSITETI POLIS SHPK Albania Partner
- LUARASI UNIVERSITY Albania Partner
- INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE MITROVICA XK Partner
- UNIVERSITETI I MITROVICES ISA BOLETINI XK Partner
- MEDNARODNA FAKULTETA ZA DRUZBENE IN POSLOVNE Slovenia Partner
- SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY TETOVO North Macedonia Partner
QA-SURE Workshop: Sharing the results on the situation on the quality assurance in HEI
On March 26, 2024, within the premises of University “Isa Boletini” in Mitrovica, a significant workshop convened to share the outcomes concerning the state of quality assurance. Attending this pivotal event were esteemed figures including the Rector of International Business College Mitrovica (IBC-M), deans representing various faculties of Isa Boletini University, students from diverse programs, academic personnel, as well as partners from Kosovo’s higher education institutions and members of faculty advisory boards.
Insights garnered from the varied perspectives, experiences, and feedback of the university community, as gathered through structured surveys assessing the current state of quality assurance practices within the institutions of the consortium, particularly focusing on UIBM and IBC-M, catalyzed engaging discussions among the participants on several noteworthy topics. Matters such as strengthening partnerships with industry, internalizing quality assurance processes pertaining to teaching, learning, research, and support services were extensively deliberated by both academic staff and attending partners and students. Additionally, the notion of utilizing evidence to guide improvement activities emerged as a prominent recommendation for future endeavors.
QA\SURE project is aimed at enhancing the quality assurance practices within the academic sector, by bringing together multiple universities from different countries to collaborate and share their knowledge and expertise on the subject.
