Study visit within “Strengthening Institutional Capacities of the Agency for Quality Assurance in Education” Project

On October 23-27, a study visit to Ireland was held within “Strengthening Institutional Capacities of the Agency for Quality Assurance in Education” project funded by the European Union.

The aim of the study visit was to get acquainted with the Qualifications system in Ireland, its experience in Quality Assurance and participate in ENQA General Assembly.

During October 23-24, the participants held meetings with Quality and Qualifications Ireland and City of Dublin Education and Training Board and visited Technological University Dublin. The study visit covered overview of external quality assurance for Higher Education and Further-Vocational Education and Training, external quality assurance in practice and capacity development, thematic analysis of Quality Assurance Reports, recognition of prior learning, legal, institutional and financial aspects of Quality Assurance Process in Further Education and Training, digitalization of Quality Assurance Process, analysis of collected data on Quality Assurance, cooperation with other institutions (public & private) on quality assurance.

On October 25-27, the participants held meetings on the margins of General Assembly to achieve full membership of the Agency for Quality Assurance in Education in ENQA and exchanged previously signed by the parties Memorandum of Understanding with Ukrainian national quality assurance agency NAQA for strengthening partnership. The participants of the study visit were three representatives of the Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and one representative of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education.

This project is implemented under the Financing Agreement (Education for Employment in Azerbaijan) between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union. “Education for Employment in Azerbaijan” (ENI/2018/041-537) Annual Action Programme 2018 is financed under European Neighbourhood Instrument. The specific objective of the project is to improve the capacities of the Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (TKTA), to develop and introduce new mechanisms on accreditation of education institutions, quality assurance processes at all educational levels, recognition of prior learning, as well as recognition of foreign qualifications in accordance with advanced European experience. The project covers activities in five directions including, strengthening regulatory framework and capacities of the TKTA on accreditation, quality assurance, supporting TKTA to apply for full ENQA membership, improving communication function and strengthening research and analytics capacity of TKTA.