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Procedure for the re-accreditation of higher education institutions

reakreditacija hodogram EN

1. Adopting the Plan of re-accreditation

By 30 June of each year, the Agency defines an annual plan of re-accreditation for the following year, publishes it on ASHE website and informs the included higher education institutions. A higher education institution included in the annual plan of re-accreditation may, within a period of 15 days, request a postponement for the next academic year, providing a valid reason is given. The final decision on the postponement is issued by the Accreditation Council.

Apart from the annual plan, the re-accreditation of a higher education institution can be conducted at the request of the minister of science and higher education, or at the request of a higher education institution.

2. Appointment, composition and criteria for the selection of expert panel members

The expert panel members are selected on the basis of a public call, published on the Agency website, from the database of experts maintained by the Agency, on the basis of recommendations from other agencies for quality assurance of science and higher education, by directly contacting potential reviewers.

An expert panel headed by the panel chair participates in the re-accreditation of a higher education institution, which is appointed by the Accreditation Council. An expert panel consists of five members (including the panel chair); however, by way of exception, a larger panel can be appointed if the evaluated HEI carries out study programmes in multiple fields. One or several members of the panel are appointed who will replace panel members in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Composition of an expert panel:

  • Four university teachers or researchers from research institutes (in the re-accreditation of a university or university constituent);
  • Two college professors or persons appointed to the grade of senior lecturer holding the academic degree of Doctor of Science / PhD, or Master of Science (in the re-accreditation of a polytechnic or college).

At least one, but generally two of the above mentioned university teachers or researchers from a research institute / college professors or senior lecturers should be employed at a higher education institution or a research institute outside the Republic of Croatia. Alternatively, one expert from the business sector or a professional field closely related to the field in which the evaluated institution delivers study programmes may be included in the expert panel in place of one university teacher or a researcher i.e. a college professor or a senior lecturer.

  • An expert panel includes one student from a scientific field in which the evaluated institution delivers study programmes.

Criteria for the selection of expert panel members

  • Expert panel members should possess appropriate competencies in relevant areas in which the evaluated institution carries out its activities, be recognised for their teaching/research excellence, and have good international visibility.
  • A panel chair should have good knowledge of higher education quality assurance, be experienced in conducting quality assurance procedures and have an appropriate managerial experience in higher education.
  • A student member of the expert panel should be recognized for his/her academic excellence (high GPA) and the continuity of studies, and have the fundamental knowledge in the area of higher education quality assurance.
  • The panel members are expected to have good command of the English language, good oral and written communication skills, be able to work in a team environment and agree to all set protocols, procedures and deadlines.
  • The panel members are independent in their work and do not represent their respective institutions.
  • Panel members shall adhere to the principles of impartiality and objectivity.
  • Panel members should not be in a conflict of interest.
  • The panel members shall maintain the confidentiality of information obtained during the re-accreditation procedure.
  • Panel members shall sign a Confidentiality and Non-conflict of Interest Statement.

3. HEI’s complaint about the composition of an expert panel

The Agency submits the Decision on the Appointment of Members of the Expert Panel to the higher education institution. HEI has the right to object to the composition of the expert panel, in which case it shall submit the objection within 7 days from the date of receipt of the Decision.

If a HEI submits its objection to the composition of an expert panel, and the Accreditation Council decides that the objection is reasonable, new panel members shall be appointed within 30 days.

Objection to the composition of an expert panel does not affect set deadlines for the submission of the self-evaluation report and other documents.

4. Self-evaluation and data entry into the information system (MOZVAG database)

The Agency organizes a one-day workshop on drafting a self-evaluation report for HEIs included in the plan of re-accreditation.

The Agency shall, in writing, notify each higher education institution included in the plan of re-accreditation on the deadline by which the higher education institution shall submit the self-evaluation report.

The self-evaluation report is drafted in line with the Standards for the evaluation of quality, as stipulated by the Act on Quality Assurance, Ordinance on the Content of a Licence and Conditions for Issuing a Licence for Performing Higher Education Activity, Carrying out a Study Programme and Re-Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions (Official Gazette, 24/10) and the Ordinance on Conditions for Issuing Licence for Scientific Activity, Conditions for Re-Accreditation of Scientific Organisations and Content of Licence (Official Gazette 83/10).

The change of data in the MOZVAG database shall not be possible after the self-evaluation report is submitted.

The self-evaluation report is drafted in Croatian and English, and has a maximum of 100 pages.

The higher education institution is obliged to place the notification of the re-accreditation procedure and instructions from the Agency on their bulletin board and homepage of their website; the instructions contain information regarding confidential communication on issues related to the evaluated higher education institution.

Only the coordinator has access to data, and provides the information to the members of the expert panel who signed a Confidentiality and Non-conflict of Interest Statement.

The self-evaluation report should be adopted by a competent body of the evaluated higher education institution. The self-evaluation report of a HEI is signed by the dean of the institution, and submitted to the Agency in written and electronic form (on a USB flash drive or CD), in Croatian and English.

The Agency shall submit the self-evaluation report to all members of the expert panel.

The expert panel shall examine the self-evaluation report and all additional documentation, and draft comments on the identified advantages and disadvantages of the evaluated HEI, and possible outstanding issues to be addressed during the site visit.

If the higher education institution underwent any type of evaluation in the past, the Agency shall submit a report thereon to the expert panel.

After the self-evaluation report is submitted, the Agency agrees on the details of the site visit, including the site-visit protocol, with the higher education institution and expert panel members.

The higher education institution shall, once a year, and not later than on 1 November of the current year, update the information on its teachers, students and study programmes in the MOZVAG database, which forms an integral part of the analytics.

Tables related to assessment areas 2, 3 and partly 4 (the part related to teachers) are mostly reporting tables that are generated based on data entered into the MOZVAG database for each academic year. Tables related to the assessment area 5 and partly the assessment area 4 (the part related to resources and finances) are completed in the re-accreditation procedure, during the drafting of the self-evaluation report.

The MOZVAG database is locked on the day the self-evaluation – containing analytics tables – is submitted. If any new evidence and information is presented to the expert panel during the site visit, the expert panel shall take them into account in grading the standards and drafting the final report. The MOZVAG database shall remain locked until the final decision is reached by the Accreditation Council.

5. Training of expert panels

Before the site visit, all members of expert panels shall undergo a training where they are informed on tasks, procedure and purpose of re-accreditation.

Expert panel members are required to submit a preliminary report that will briefly review each standard according to the available evidence (self-evaluation report and other documents of the higher education institution) at least 3 days prior to the training, or write down what further evidence is needed for an objective opinion to be delivered. The coordinator gathers the preliminary reports, which the expert panels shall discuss during the site visit.

One day before the site visit, the expert panel shall meet at a location specified by the Agency. At that meeting, the coordinator shall outline the tasks and duties of each member of the expert panel and present the Croatian and European documents relevant for the quality assurance procedures in science and higher education. The main issues that should be discussed during the site visit shall also be identified.

On the day of training, members of the expert panel shall elect a panel chair.

6. Site visit to a higher education institution

A site visit to a higher education institution may last from 1 to 3 days, or exceptionally longer, which is determined by the Agency, in agreement with the members of the expert panel and the higher education institution. The site visit is carried out according to a predefined protocol that is submitted to the higher education institution and members of the expert panel no later than one week prior to the site visit.

A coordinator, a translator, and if necessary, assistant coordinators shall accompany the expert panel in the site visit to a higher education institution. Upon approval of the Director of the Agency and the evaluated higher education institution, independent observers may also participate in a site visit, provided that they sign the Confidentiality and Non-conflict of Interest Statement.

The obligatory parts of every site visit protocol are meetings with HEI management, representatives of the teaching and non-teaching staff, students, representatives of employers, business sector and partner institutions, as well as a tour of the facilities (lecture halls, libraries, laboratories, student administration office, IT classrooms, facilities for practical work, etc.). Representatives of civil society and/or professional associations can also be invited to the meeting with the expert panel, if necessary.

A site visit to a higher education institution ends with an exit meeting with HEI’s management, in which the panel chair or a panel member appointed by the chair informs HEI’s representatives of the panel’s observations during the site visit. Panel’s observations and findings shall not be discussed during the exit meeting.

The panel members may not accept any gifts from the evaluated HEI, before, during or after the site visit.

7. The Report and Standards for quality assurance

Standards for the evaluation of quality are an integral part of each report.

The report is based on the information submitted by a higher education institution and the findings obtained during the site visit.

The report should also include recommendations for improvement. The report is prefaced by a summary. In general, the report shall not be longer than 50 pages (without the appendices).

On the last day of the site visit, all members of the expert panel participate in drafting of the preliminary report, which contains a grade of each standard / assessment area, passed jointly by all panel members.

An expert panel agrees on the final version of the report via e-mail.

A panel chair submits the final report to the Agency within 30 days from the end of site visit. If the same expert panel carries out two or more re-accreditation visits, the deadline for the submission of a final report can be extended to 60 days.

ASHE coordinator reviews the final report and ensures that all the quality standards have been assessed. If a coordinator establishes that the report needs amendments, the final report with an explanation is returned by e-mail to the panel chair and all panel members for completion. The panel chair shall submit the finalised version of the report within 7 days.

The final report of the expert panel and the official statement from the HEI (if any) shall be submitted to the Accreditation Council.

Before adopting the opinion, the Agency shall submit Croatian and English version of expert panel’s final report to the evaluated higher education institution. The higher education institution may, within 15 days* from the day of receipt of the final report, submit comments to the final report, stating objections and/or providing clarifications that only and exclusively refer to factual inaccuracies or obvious mistakes made in the report.  

HEI’s comment on the final report of an expert panel

Before adopting an opinion, the Agency shall submit Croatian and English version of expert panel’s final report to the evaluated higher education institution. Higher education institution may, within 15 days from the day of receipt of the final report, submit comments to the final report, stating their objections and/or providing clarifications only and exclusively related to factual inaccuracies or obvious mistakes made in the report.

8. The opinion of the Accreditation Council and the decision-making procedure

Following the re-accreditation procedure carried out, and based on the final report of the expert panel and comments from the higher education institution (if any), the Accreditation Council shall render an opinion to:

  • Issue a confirmation on the fulfilment of conditions for performing higher education and/or scientific activities, or parts of activities;
  • Deny a license for performing higher education and/or scientific activities, or parts of activities;
  • Issue a letter of recommendation for the period up to three (3) years, in which period the higher education institution should make the necessary improvements.

The Accreditation Council shall pass an opinion on the outcome of the re-accreditation procedure based on the expert panel’s report containing the quality grade and comments from the higher education institution, by adhering to the following rules:

  • If any of the assessment areas is graded as unsatisfactory level of quality, the outcome of the re-accreditation procedure may be the issuance of a letter of expectation*** or a denial of the licence;
  • If any of the assessment areas is graded as minimum level of quality, the outcome of the procedure may be the issuance of a letter of expectation***;
  • If all assessment areas are graded as the satisfactory level of quality or high level of quality, the outcome of the procedure may be the issuance of the licence.

***

If the Accreditation Council determines that a letter of expectation should be issued to the HEI, it shall define a deadline for the implementation of improvements (follow-up). The maximum deadline for the implementation of improvements is three years, depending on the type of deficiencies identified. If significant deficiencies are identified which seriously put at risk the quality of delivery of study programmes, a letter of expectation with a deadline up to one year shall be issued. If a longer period is necessary for eliminating the identified deficiencies, which are not so significant as to put at risk the quality of delivery of study programmes, a letter of expectation with a deadline of two or three years shall be issued, depending on the opinion of the Accreditation Council. A letter of expectation can also include the suspension of student enrolment within a set period, especially in cases when significant deficiencies are identified in the delivery of study programmes, which put at risk the achievement of the planned learning outcomes, or if the learning outcomes have not been appropriately defined.

9. A higher education institution’s objection to the opinion of the Accreditation Council and the Complaints Committee

After the opinion of the Accreditation Council is submitted to the higher education institution, the institution has the right to file a written objection to the Accreditation Council’s opinion within 15 days* from the date of receipt of the opinion.

An objection may be filed on grounds of substantial violations of the accreditation rules, which have or could have affected the Accreditation Council’s decision.

New facts or evidence that was not presented during the site visit cannot be presented in the objection procedure.

The Complaints Committee comprising three (3) members, at least one being a legal expert, shall decide on the objection. Two (2) alternate Committee members are also appointed.

The members of the Committee shall be appointed for a term of three years.

Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Agency’s Management Board, following a proposal of the Rectors’ Conference and the Council of Polytechnics and Colleges, under the following conditions:

  • Experience in internal quality assurance in science and higher education;
  • Experience in external quality assurance in science and higher education (for example, as member of an expert panel in an external evaluation) and/or managerial experience in higher education and science;
  • Experience in higher education and science in an international context (for example, work on international research projects, participation in evaluation procedures abroad, study or work abroad);
  • Excellence in respective professional field (publications, awards, appointment into managerial and representative bodies);
  • High ethical standards and adhering to the principles of academic integrity;
  • Excellent knowledge of Croatian and European legal framework and the context of quality assurance in higher education and science;
  • Excellent command of English;
  • Knowledge of the methods of evaluation of higher education institutions and scientific organizations;
  • Experience in cooperation with European higher education bodies (E4 group) and work experience/cooperation with other complaints bodies will be considered as an advantage.

The Committee members are independent in their work and do not represent their respective institutions. In reaching decisions, the Committee members shall adhere to principles of impartiality and objectivity.

The Committee members shall not be in any conflict of interest and shall sign a Confidentiality and Non-conflict of Interest Statement.

The composition, term and manner of work and decision-making of the Committee, as well as other related issues, are defined in detail by the Rules of Procedure of the Committee.

The Committee shall reach decisions on the basis of relevant re-accreditation procedure documentation, and shall adhere to the principle of independence.

The Committee shall pass an opinion on the objection within 30 days* from the day of its submission.

The Committee may request additional explanations from the coordinator and/or panel chair, if needed to render an informed opinion on the objection.

The Committee’s opinion shall include a rationale.

The Committee’s opinion shall be submitted to the Accreditation Council.

The Accreditation Council shall discuss the Complaints Committee’s opinion, reach the final decision and submit it to the Agency for the purpose of adopting the accreditation recommendation. In such a case the Accreditation Council’s opinion is final and the higher education institution is not allowed to submit another objection.

10. Accreditation recommendation of the Agency

Following the procedure of re-accreditation, and based on a prior opinion of the Accreditation Council, the Agency shall provide an accreditation recommendation to the minister to:

  • Issue a confirmation on the fulfilment of conditions for performing higher education and/or scientific activities, or parts of activities;
  • Deny the license for performing higher education and/or scientific activities, or parts of activities;
  • Issue a letter of expectation with the deadline for resolving deficiencies of up to three years.

The accreditation recommendation also includes a quality assessment of a higher education institution, and recommendations for quality improvement.

11. Follow-up in case of issuance of the letter of expectation

A higher education institution shall keep account of the deadline for removing deficiencies set in the letter of expectation. No later than three months prior to the deadline identified in the letter of expectation, a higher education institution shall submit a report on the improvements made to the Agency, in Croatian and English, in writing and in an electronic form (on a USB flash drive or CD). The Accreditation Council shall examine the report and decide if a higher education institution has implemented recommendations for improvement and eliminated deficiencies identified during the re-accreditation procedure.

If necessary, the Accreditation Council may instruct the panel or part of the panel to re-visit the higher education institution, in order to establish the extent to which the deficiencies were eliminated. The expert panel’s report is then submitted to the higher education institution, which has the right to file a complaint, in accordance with Item 10.

The panel’ report and HEI’s comments thereof, if any, shall be submitted to the Accreditation Council, which, taking into consideration all documents arising from the re-accreditation procedure, makes an opinion on the following:

  • Issuing a confirmation on the fulfilment of conditions for performing higher education and/or scientific activities, or parts of activities;
  • Denial of license for performing higher education and/or scientific activities, or parts of activities
  • In such a case, the Accreditation Council cannot adopt another opinion on the issuance of a letter of expectation.

12. Action plan and recommendations for improvement

In case a certificate on the fulfilment of conditions for carrying out activities of higher education and/or scientific activity or part of activity was issued to a higher education institution following the re-accreditation procedure, the higher education institution shall:

  • Adopt a five-year action plan within 6 months* from the day of submission of the certificate, for the purpose of quality improvement in accordance with the recommendations of the expert panel, and submit it to the Agency;
  • Report on the implementation of the action plan to the Agency two years after the adopted action plan*, and update the information on the conditions of the study programme delivery in the MOZVAG database accordingly.

The report on the implementation of the action plan should describe the manner and the extent to which the recommendations for improvement stated in the expert panel’s report have been implemented. The action plan and the report on the implementation thereof shall be submitted to the Agency in written and electronic form (on a USB flash drive or CD), in Croatian and English. The analytics from the MOZVAG database is an integral part of the report on the implementation of the action plan.

The Agency shall deliver the action plan and the report on the implementation thereof to the Committee for the follow-up procedure, which will submit their opinion to the Accreditation Council after examining the documents. The opinion is discussed at the Accreditation Council session and sent to the higher education institution following its adoption.