International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE)

Réseau international des organismes de promotion de la qualité en enseignement supérieur

Contact Details

Main address: Sec: Mr Guido Langouche, NVAO, PO Box 85498, NL-2508 CD, The Hague, Netherlands, Tel: (31 70) 312 23 00, Fax: (31 70) 312 23 01, E-mail: g.langouche (at) nvao.net , E-mail (2): secretariat (at) ingaahe.org

Street Address: Parkstraat 28, NL-2514 JK, The Hague, Netherlands

URL: http://www.inqaahe.org/

Aims

Collect and disseminate information on current and developing theory and practice in the assessment, improvement and maintenance of quality in higher education; promote good practices in the maintenance and improvement of quality in higher education; facilitate research into the practice of quality management in higher education and its effectiveness; provide advice and expertise to assist the development of new quality assurance agencies; facilitate links between accrediting bodies especially insofar as they operate across national borders; assist members to determine the standards of institutions operating across national borders; permit better-informed international recognition of qualifications; assist in the development and use of credit transfer schemes to enhance the mobility of students between institutions within and across national borders; enable members to be alert to dubious accrediting practices and organizations.

Official Relations

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)^* (Consultative Status).

Activities

Organizes biennial conference and biennial members' workshop.

Publications

INQAAHE Bulletin (4 a year); Quality in Higher Education - journal (3 a year).

Members

Centres, institutes and organizations in 77 countries and territories:

• Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa.

• Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America.

• China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan/China, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam.

• Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa.

• Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Included in the above, 3 organizations listed in this Yearbook:

• European Evangelical Accrediting Association (EE AA)^*; European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE)^*; Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA)^*.

UNESCO NGO Section Data

Type of Relation with UNESCOConsultative Status

Admission Date2005

Name and contact details of NGO focal point at UNESCOMs Shen Xuesong
ED/EO/IFE
81082

HistoryDate of creation: 1991 2005 Admission to operational relations (172 EX/40) (172 EX/Dec. 43)

Contribution to UNESCO's programmes INQAAHE facilitates the organization of workshops and scholarships and provides a forum for debate for the network of its agencies while disseminating information on such activities. INQAAHE acts as a focal point for the quality assurance aspects of new forms of higher education that integrate different forms of media. This NGO also organizes seminars and conferences, and publishes a large number of newsletters, documents, journals and books related to higher education initiatives and activities. The Education Sector considers INQAAHE as an important partner for higher education within the framework of the World Conference on Higher Education. This NGO also committed to the objectives outlined in UNESCO’s programme in the area of capacity-building for quality assurance and accreditation in higher education. It established its cooperation with the Education Sector in 1999. In the same year it was granted the status of UNITWIN network partner. Additionally, the Education Sector considers INQAAHE as the only global network in the area of quality assurance. This network plays an important role in the establishment of regional and subregional networks in Asia and the Pacific and the Caribbean. The Secretariat is presently discussing with INQAAHE possibilities for the development of training materials on quality assurance as well as the establishment of a regional network in Africa. INQAAHE actively participated in several OECD/UNESCO joint meetings on Quality Provision in Cross-Border Education and the UNESCO Global Forum in International Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Recognition of Qualifications, Paris, June 2004. INQAAHE has also established links to OECD-Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE), the European University Association (EUA) and The American Communication Association (ACA). In light of the above, the Education Sector recommends the establishment of operational relations with INQAAHE.

Keywords Education,Higher Education,Networks

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