The members of the Bologna Process have identified the need for international quality assurance agencies and the project proponents have identified the existence of a niche for a QA agency dedicated specifically to the private (or non-state) HE sector in Europe. The recent focus on increasing the involvement of private HE institutions in the formation of the European Higher Education Area gives impetus to this initiative. Private HE institutions are in need of a valid avenue toward legitimization in order to become acknowledged participants within the HE community.
PRE-NEPU is a project to be financed under Socrates, which aims at the following:
– Analysis of specific QA needs within European Private (i.e. non-state) Universities;
– Adaptation and Development of existing QA tools for the target group;
– Preparation and pre-establishment of core network of private universities (NEPU) and experts from all European regions, to be expanded later.
There remain questions as to the best approach for such a QA function and agent, and the present project submitted under Socrates is meant to kick-start the discussion on and development of tools for specific quality assurance in private higher education institutions.
