On November 18-19, 2021 Eurasian Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Health Care (ECAQA) participated at the international forum on quality assurance. The event was organized by the E-4 group which is the main stakeholder of higher education in Europe. The E-4 consists of the European University Association (EUA), European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) and European Students’ Union (ESU). The forum is entitled “2021 European Quality Assurance Forum”. The forum speakers were the first leaders and advisers of European quality assurance agencies and professors of higher education institutions.

Speakers and forum participants discussed the importance of building trust in accreditation through the digitization of higher education and the involvement of external stakeholders. Along with interesting discussions, an online platform provided an opportunity to expand the networking for participants from different parts of the world.

ECAQA expresses its gratitude to the European Associations for organizing such a large-scale event that united more than 600 participants.

Asian Pacific Quality Network Newsletter (APQNews) dated June 30, 2021, issue 23, published an article about the webinar "Students’ contribution in quality assurance in higher education'', held on May 18, 2021. The event was initiated by Eurasian Centre for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Health Care and supported by the Asian Pacific Quality Network and Kazakhstan Medical Students’ Association (KazMSA) which is a full member of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA).

The webinar was one of the ECAQA events to expand students’ knowledge on accreditation process and strengthen their role and influence on internal quality assurance process in higher educational institutions and TVET organisations in Kazakhstan. Moreover, the webinar described ECAQA experience on students’ involvement in internal and external process of quality assurance.

The APQNews is a half-year periodical newsletter that shares the news and events in quality assurance across APQN member organisations.

Please, find the article “Students’ QA contribution: ECAQA Vision and Experience'' in the journal attached. [Download]

The non-profit organisation “Eurasian Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Health Care” (ECAQA) signed the memoranda of cooperation with non-governmental organization Kazakhstan Association of Dental Youth (KADY). The purpose of memoranda is to involve students in the accreditation process, quality assurance and the development of dental education.

The mission of KADY is to assist in the implementation of state programs aimed at improving dentistry and planning, organizing, conducting various events (scientific conferences, congresses, conventions, exhibitions, seminars, olympiads, symposia, master classes, etc.) In addition, KADY designs and conducts research and projects in dentistry across the Republic of Kazakhstan.

https://dentist-plus.com/blog/kady

On 18 May 2021, ECAQA hosted a webinar on “Students’contribution in quality assurance in higher education”. The webinar was organised in support of ECAQA partners - Asian Pacific Quality Network (APQN) and Kazakhstan Medical Students’ Association (KazMSA) which is a full member of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA).

The President of APQN, Professor Dr. Jianxing Zhang outlined in her speech the essential role of students in implementing internal and external quality assurance procedures in higher education institutions in the context of APQN international practice. Zhijie Xiang, a graduate student at Yunnan University presented the analysis results and report on students participation in external quality assurance procedures applied by ECAQA. The President of KazMSA, Gapsamet Abdulvahabov shared his views on the mechanisms and tools for quality assurance in higher education. The webinar was attended by 35 leaders representing student organizations of medical universities and research centers in Kazakhstan.

The primary outcome of the online event was a formation of a clear understanding of the role of the student body in internal quality assurance of universities through successful studies, representation in advisory bodies, assessment of educational programs, regular feedback from teachers and independent student analysis of the quality of education, organization of extracurricular work for students, etc.

At the end of the session, ECAQA General Director Saule Sarsenbayeva emphasized the role of students in the external quality assurance procedures in education through participation in expert commissions and the accreditation council. A “Students section” in the ECAQA website contains information and guidance materials on quality assurance procedures.