STRATEGY
OF THE SLOVENIAN QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION – SUMMARY
2011–2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction .................................................................................................... 3
Mission, vision and values of SQAA .................................................................... 3
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in SQAA operation ..................... 4
Strategic development pillars and strategic objectives of SQAA ............................. 5
Protocol of updating the strategy ....................................................................... 9
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1. Introduction
The document provides a summary strategy of the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency
for Higher Education (hereinafter SQAA) adopted on the 39 th session of the SQAA Council
in November 2011.
The SQAA summary strategy for the period 2011-2016 presents its mission, and vision
and values which SQAA observes in its functioning, followed by a table of the established
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in SQAA operation in 2011. The
findings constitute grounds for the development of the strategy addressed herein.
Identification of strategic development pillars of SQAA and strategic objectives until 2016
is presented in Section 4. Further on, short-term strategic objectives of SQAA until 2013
are specified. The latter include concrete activities from 2011 to 2013.
Section 5 presents the protocol of updating the SQAA strategy.
2. Mission, vision and values of SQAA
SQAA performs professional and development tasks in higher education and regulatory
tasks for external quality assurance in higher education and higher vocational education.
Additionally, it also performs other statutory tasks providing for continuous, expert and
independent assistance in assuring and developing quality in higher education as well as
in higher vocational education.
Mission
SQAA provides for the development and functioning of the quality assurance system in
higher education in Slovenia. It operates responsibly in terms of form and contents and
counsels all stakeholders and participants in tertiary education in line with the European
and global directions of development.
Vision
SQAA shall, with its system of quality assurance development, contribute to the higher
education in Slovenia being of high quality in terms of education and research,
internationally recognisable, competitive and equally integrated in the global higher
education area.
Basic values which SQAA observes in its operation:
independence
responsibility
openness and transparency
professionalism
efficiency
commitment to progress
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3. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in SQAA operation
The established strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in SQAA operation in
2011 constituted grounds for drafting of the SQAA strategy from 2011 to 2016.
Strengths
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Weaknesses
being public and transparent in its operation
independence
adequate qualification and professional
competence of SQAA staff
continuous training provided to SQAA staff,
quality assessment experts and Council
members
close cooperation with stakeholders in higher
education
improvement of quality assessment
procedures
notification of the public regarding the results
of SQAA operation
analysis and development of the quality
assurance system functioning,
exchange of experience with other quality
assurance agencies and networks in this field
setting up the operation through ESF
youth – new employees, new ideas,
initialisation of functioning, new opportunities
regulatory restrictions in the field of quality
assurance
 excessive preoccupation of SQAA staff with
pending procedures and matters
 insufficient focus on development tasks and
functioning of SQAA due to extensive
pending procedures (old, new)
 poor representation of experts in certain
areas of assessment
 delayed performance of accreditation and
preparation of some acts (e.g. higher
vocational colleges, transnational TNHE)
according to the new criteria due to delays in
establishing the Agency and its bodies
 slow development of ICT concerning both
SQAA and stakeholders
 poor cooperation with foreign agencies
 delays in preparing and keeping different
records specified by the Higher Education
Act
 unregulated funding after 2014 (after ESF
funds expire) and uncertainty arising
therefrom
 the public is not sufficiently familiar with
SQAA functioning and its work is not
adequately perceived
Threats
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Opportunities
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participation in drafting and development of
higher education policy (also at the
legislative level)
increased qualification and competence of
SQAA staff also through international
cooperation and experience exchange
participation in drafting and introduction of
the uniform higher education information
system (eVŠ)
participation in forming and introducing the
national qualifications framework
participation in the Council for Higher
Education
close cooperation with foreign agencies in
the region and more broadly
cooperation with other agencies of this kind
in Europe
exchange of experts with other foreign
agencies
close cooperation with international quality
assurance associations for higher education
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small size of the national higher education
area and a risk of a conflict of interests
inadequate perception of the role of SQAA by
some stakeholders, which is contrary to its
autonomous status
inadequate perception of the role of SQAA by
several stakeholders in higher education and
by a part of general public
limited possibilities to obtain candidates for
the entry into Register of Experts
lack of motivation of certain stakeholders in
higher education to introduce changes
lack of data regarding the functioning of the
entire higher education system
absence of continuous external evaluation of
the Slovenian higher education
funding problems after the expiry of ESF
slow and complex legislative procedures for
quality assurance
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continuous public information on SQAA
functioning and its results
participation in analysing and revising the
Bologna process at the national level
cooperation with ECA in the JOQAR project
implementation
inclusion in the MULTRA network for mutual
accreditation recognition
direct role of SQAA in external evaluation of
Slovenian higher education
creating a positive public image (through
consultations, conferences, workshops in the
field of higher education, seminars, public
relations)
4. Strategic development pillars and strategic objectives of SQAA
The established strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in SQAA operation in
2011 provide a basis for strategic development pillars of SQAA for the period between
2011 and 2016:
1.
quality = (self-)responsibility
2.
professionalization of quality assessment
3.
building of trust in the national quality assurance system and in SQAA
4.
following the international standards and admission of SQAA to the European quality
associations and their activities, cooperation with related foreign agencies
Strategic development pillars of SQAA constitute grounds for the following strategic
objectives to be realised by SQAA by 2016:
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OF SQAA UNTIL 2016
1. development and functioning of the quality assurance system
2. monitoring of progress and strengthening of higher education quality culture
3. positioning and recognition of the role, significance and quality of the SQAA operation in
public
4. co-creation and development of higher education policy in the area of quality
5. promotion of the quality of transnational education
6. incorporation of SQAA into international associations (ENQA and EQAR)
7. provision of high-quality consulting services by its professionally qualified staff
By 2013, SQAA will focus on the realisation of the following three strategic objectives:
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OF SQAA UNTIL 2013
1. participating in development of higher education in Slovenia
2. transformation of the quality assurance system in higher education and higher vocational
education
3. establishment and development of the quality assurance system of SQAA
Activities for the realisation of the above three short-term strategic objectives of SQAA
are provided below:
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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE no. 1: Participating in development of higher education in Slovenia
WIDER ACTIVITIES (EMPHASISED UNTIL 2013)
implementation of the National Higher Education Programme 2011–2020 in the field of quality and internationalisation,
and active participation in the Higher Education Act renewal
participation in drafting the National strategy for the internationalization of higher education
forming and implementing uniform criteria and standards of higher education internationalisation (TNHE Criteria for
quality assurance)
encouraging higher education institutions to be more closely associated in the field of quality and its development and to
Participating in
liaise with research agencies
stimulating association between higher education institutions and business and non-business entities in the field of
development of higher
knowledge transfer as a quality element
education and higher
forming, introducing and developing uniform criteria and standards in study programmes
vocational
education in
development and quality implementation of external evaluations in higher education
Slovenia
participation in forming the national qualifications framework
participation in the Council for Higher Education activities
monitoring of extracurricular activities in higher education institutions
encouraging the life-long learning concept as a quality element in higher education
Participating in
development of higher
education and higher
vocational education in
Slovenia
CONCRETISATION OF ACTIVITIES FROM 2011 TO 2013
setting up the grounds for admission to international associations of agencies (ENQA, EQAR)
participation in drafting the new Higher Education Act
review of conditions for TNE and joint study programmes implementation in EU, preparation of TNHE criteria and
coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology regarding the provisions of the present act and
participation in drafting the National internationalisation strategy
participation in preparing NQF
preparation of research quality criteria in the processes of assessing applications for accreditation/external evaluation
annual revision of acts in the field of accreditation (Accreditation Criteria and the corresponding acts)
organisation of the annual consultation with the stakeholders and experts on quality standards development and quality
processes development
active responsiveness towards stakeholders by all SQAA bodies according to the needs of providing and assuring quality of
stakeholders
active participation in public discussions on higher education and higher vocational education topics
gathering and analysing relevant information, implementation of thematic and comparative studies for the needs of SQAA
operation and other higher education and higher vocational education development policies
providing adequate public information on relevant data and achievements
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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE no. 2: Transformation of the quality assurance system in higher education and higher vocational education
in the field of external evaluations
WIDER ACTIVITIES (EMPHASISED UNTIL 2013)
developing and updating the external quality assurance system through the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders
following the European criteria and standards in development of the external quality assurance system
gradual transition to institutional evaluations of higher education institutions
counselling to higher education and higher vocational education institutions in internal quality assurance
Transformation of the
quality assurance
system
in higher education
and higher vocational
education in the field
of external
evaluations
Transformation of the
quality assurance system
in higher education and
in higher vocational
education in the field of
external evaluations
CONCRETISATION OF ACTIVITIES FROM 2011 TO 2013
becoming a member of ENQA and to be registered at EQAR
developing and updating the entire external quality assurance system in compliance with ESG (continuous activities)
gradual transition from programme to institutional accreditation (by 2016; adequate conditions are to be established by 2013)
new definition of conditions for setting up or for the operation of individual types of higher education institutions (National
Programme for the Development of Higher Education, binary system)
establishing and developing the internal quality system (a comprehensive quality loop of SQAA interior environment is needed)
external quality assurance of SQAA (initiation of procedures for the Agency accreditation in 2011, preparation of appropriate
substantive grounds and procedures: continuous)
increased activity in international quality associations for higher education such as ENQA, ECA, CEE Network etc. (active
participation in congresses, workshops, good practice exchange, exchange of employees between the agencies – continuous)
cooperation with foreign quality agencies for higher education in the field of expert and experience exchange (concrete objectives
within the annual business plan to be defined) (continuous)
continuous harmonisation of acts and rules of operation with the European standards and adequate substantive transfer among
the stakeholders (meetings with stakeholders, consultations)
simplification of procedures for modifying programmes, formation of joint study programmes and multiple diploma programmes
(2011)
continuous information of stakeholders and public regarding the changes and development of contents and activities of the Agency
(website, consultations, public presentations)
setting up an efficient e-system for applicants and internal environment of SQAA (2011)
to be actually included in the Record and Analytical Information System for Higher Education in the Republic of Slovenia, i.e. eVŠ
(of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology) (2011)
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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE no. 3: Establishment and development of the quality assurance system of SQAA
SQAA must become a trustworthy and professionally credible counselling body in the field of quality standards development and achievement
(teaching and research excellence) in the Slovenian higher education and higher vocational education
CONCRETISATION OF ACTIVITIES FROM 2011 TO 2013 (CONTINUOUS)
continuous monitoring of quality standards of higher education and higher vocational education institutions (external evaluations) and study programmes
(accreditations of institutions, of programmes, external evaluations, extraordinary external evaluations)
stimulating a self-evaluation system and counselling in the development of quality processes in higher education and higher vocational education
stakeholders
provision of professional support of appropriate quality in the conduct of accreditation procedures
professional counselling to higher education institutions in establishing and developing the internal quality system
continuous education and training of experts for quality assessment and external evaluation
encouraging the stakeholders to be included in the Register of Experts, particularly in shortage fields (e.g. certain areas of social sciences)
continuous education and training of technical assistants at the Agency, domestic and international; implementation of expert traineeships and
exchanges with foreign agencies
analysing the achievement of quality standards of higher education institutions and international comparison of the achieved results – self-evaluation of
SQAA as the grounds for admission to international associations (ENQA)
participation of SQAA in international associations and cooperation with quality assurance agencies for higher education; active inclusion in international
networks in the field of quality assurance and development in higher education and higher vocational education
participation of SQAA in international projects in the field of quality (JOQAR – Joint Programmes: Quality Assurance and Recognition of Degrees Awarded
– conducted by ECA (European Consortium for Accreditation) and coordinated by the NVAO (Quality Agency for the Netherlands and Flanders))
establishing a comprehensive information system to support SQAA operation
improvement of the e-application system and technological grounds for all types of accreditation procedures (autumn 2011)
initialisation of transparent process schemes for all procedures (autumn 2011)
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5. Protocol of updating the strategy
1.
At the annual strategic workshop, the objectives achieved shall be reviewed and the success of
all SQAA bodies evaluated.
2.
In accordance with the changes of the internal and external environment and the objectives
achieved, the existing strategy shall be revised and amended accordingly.
3.
The implementation (action) plan of achieving strategic objectives, which is a part of the
annual business plan of SQAA and arises from the outlined strategic orientations of SQAA, shall
also be updated annually.
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