QAA internationally

QAA takes a leading role in international developments in standards and quality. We enjoy a close relationship with international quality assurance agencies, monitoring and reporting on advances around the world.

Our overseas reviews

Many UK institutions offer their higher education programmes through partnership links with organisations abroad. Institutions are responsible for the academic standards of their awards, whether delivered inside or outside of the UK. As part of our work, we review the partnership arrangements that UK higher education institutions have made with organisations in other countries to deliver UK programmes.

It is important to note that it is not QAA’s role to review or accredit partner institutions outside the UK. We do, however, provide guidance for UK higher education institutions for selecting partners and agents through our Code of practice. Please see our reviews section for overseas audit reports.

Our work in Europe

In 2008, QAA was externally reviewed to assess the level of its compliance against the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), in order to reconfirm membership of the European Association of Quality Assurance Agencies (ENQA) for a further five years. We were found to be fully compliant in 14 of the 16 standards and substantially compliant in the other two. Further details are in the report.

ENQA is the umbrella organisation for quality assurance agencies in the European Higher Education Area and is one of the main actors in the Bologna Process. Fiona Crozier, Assistant Director, Development and Enhancement at QAA, is currently a member of the ENQA Board and Peter Williams, our former Chief Executive, is the former ENQA President.

Our work around the world

QAA is a member of the International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) and Norman Sharp, former Director of QAA Scotland, is a member of the INQAAHE Board. We also have observer status at the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN) and jointly organised a pre-conference workshop at the 2010 APQN conference.

We also have links with partner agencies around the world through Memoranda of Understanding and Cooperation.

Memoranda of Understanding

Higher Education and Training Awards Council, Dublin, Ireland - Memorandum | Website	National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation, Tokyo, Japan - Memorandum | website
Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council of Higher Education, Pretoria, South Africa - Memorandum | Website	Danmarks Evalueringsinstitut Copenhagen, Denmark - Memorandum | Website

Memoranda of cooperation

Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, Hong Kong - Memorandum | Website

Further information

For further information about our international activity, please contact Carolyn Campbell on 01452 557044 or email international@qaa.ac.uk

If you have a complaint against a UK university or college, please see our Complaints in HE section or email complaints@qaa.ac.uk or phone 01452 557050 for further advice.

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Below is a list of partner organisations that students may wish to visit for further information about international work in higher education.

Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN)
Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENETWORK)
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
ENIC-NARIC
European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA)
International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE)
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
UK Higher Education Europe Unit
UK Higher Education International Unit
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

For details about recognised bodies in the UK, please see www.dcsf.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees