The European Quality Assurance Forum is a yearly event co-organised since 2006 by the European University Association (EUA), the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) and the European Students’ Union (ESU). The Forum is expected to gather about 400 people from across Europe and beyond. They include academic and administrative staff from higher education institutions, representatives from quality assurance agencies, university leaders, researchers in higher education, students, governmental representatives, etc. Participants take advantage of this platform to discuss their current quality assurance (QA) practices, network with colleagues, and get information about the latest policy developments in Europe. The plenary sessions are complemented by parallel sessions during which papers, specific topics or projects are discussed.

2013 European Quality Assurance Forum

The European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) provides a unique platform for the higher education and quality assurance (QA) communities to monitor, shape and anticipate developments in the field. The main purpose of the Forum is to foster a dialogue on QA that bridges national boundaries and leads to a truly European discussion on QA in higher education, and to create a common European understanding of QA through discussions and networking among different stakeholder groups.

Through a mix of plenary and parallel sessions, the 2013 EQAF, entitled “Working together to take quality forward”, will combine practice-oriented or research-based discussions that will take place in the paper sessions and workshops with presentations of current developments in quality assurance.

Forum objectives

Recent studies show that European quality assurance has taken huge steps forward in the past decade: both institutions and quality assurance agencies have developed sophisticated processes that aim to assure and enhance the quality of European higher education. However, it is also widely recognised that while processes are in place, there is still need for further work in developing the engagement of the whole academic community in quality, as well as communication and cooperation with other stakeholders. This year the Forum will therefore specifically explore how both individuals and organisations can better understand the role that quality assurance can play in their daily lives, get engaged and work together to take quality forward.