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.
Finland has been a Governmental Member of EQAR since 2015.
Focus of external quality assurance
Institutional audits.
Can higher education institutions choose a suitable EQAR-registered agency?
Generally yes, but based on a specific national regulations.
Eligibility criteria for foreign agencies: none
Conditions for the agencies’ work: agencies must follow the Finish methodology (including the six main audit targets and four point scale criteria). See below the audit manual for the quality systems.
Recognition of review outcomes : treated in the same way as the evaluations carried out by the national QA agency (FINEEC).
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
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.
