Cyprus has been a Governmental Member of EQAR since 2008.
Focus of external quality assurance
Programme and institutional accreditation (decision granting permission for the institutions or programmes to operate).
Programme and institutional evaluations.
Can higher education institutions choose a suitable EQAR-registered agency?
Yes, all higher education institutions may choose an external QA agency for programme or institutional evaluations except private universities with initial licence of operation. The first evaluation (accreditation and certification procedures) can only be carried out by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education.
Eligibility requirements for foreign agencies: EQAR registration otherwise prior consent needs to be obtained from the Cyprus QA agency.
Condition for the agency's work(e.g. criteria to be used): own criteria
Recognition of review outcomes : final decision is to be taken by the Cypriot Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education based on the outcomes of the external QA activity carried out by the EQAR-registered agency.
Further information/regulations: Article 5 of the law for ”The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education" (2015).
Countries recognising EQAR-registered agencies as part of the national requirements for external QA
Countries recognising foreign agencies based on their own, specific framework or requirements
Countries not open to external QA evaluation by a foreign QA agency
1 All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, on this site shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation’s Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.