The European Approach was adopted by EHEA ministers in 2015. As a political commitment made in the Bologna Process, and not a legally binding agreement or treaty, it requires implementation at the national level. Depending on the country, legislative changes at different levels may thus be required to make the European Approach effectively available to higher education institutions.
The map below shows the EHEA countries in which the European Approach can be used by some or all higher education institutions. Please consult the information on each country for specific requirements, conditions or restrictions.
Please note that the map only shows those higher education systems in which institutions have a right to use the European Approach at their own choice, and this is laid down in official documentation. In some cases, institutions might also be able to use the European Approach on the basis of an individual, case-by-case agreement with their government or national quality assurance agency. Such arrangements are beyond the scope of this map.
Denmark has been a Governmental Member of EQAR since 2008
Focus of external quality assurance
Accreditation of higher education institutions;
Accreditation of programmes, until the higher education institution has achieved institutional accreditation.
Can higher education institutions choose a suitable EQAR-registered agency?
Yes, Danish higher education institutions are able to choose an EQAR-registered agency for the accreditation of Danish education programmes offered abroad and the accreditation of professional education programmes offered by transnational providers.
The Accreditation Council may decide to also use an EQAR-registered quality assurance agency, other than the Danish Accreditation Agency for the preparation of the accreditation reports.
At the request of a higher education institution, the Accreditation Council may accept an accreditation report from another internationally recognised quality assurance agency.
Eligibility requirements for foreign agencies: EQAR registration
Condition for the agency's work:
for accrediting Danish higher education institutions or programmes or Danish education programmes offered abroad: the agency can use its own criteria.
for accrediting professional programmes offered by transnational providers: the agency has to follow the guidelines from the Danish Ministry and any other further requirements defined by the Danish Accreditation Council.
for all other accreditation procedure in Denmark: the agency has to follow the rules of procedure including criteria for institutional accreditation.
Yes, the European Approach is available to all higher education institutions.
Joint programmes can be accredited by all “internationally recognised” agencies. If an agency is registered on EQAR, it is automatically considered “internationally recognised”; otherwise, it has to prove this in an individual procedure to the Danish authorities.
European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes available to all higher education institutions (either through recognition of single external quality assurance procedure for programmes or by virtue of HEIs being self-accrediting)
European Approach available to some higher education institutions or only under specific conditions
European Approach not available to higher education institutions in the country
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