External Audits

Re-accreditation of a higher education institution is an external quality evaluation procedure conducted by the Agency for Science and Higher Education every five years at all public and private higher education institutions. The purpose of the re-accreditation procedure is to evaluate and assess the quality of work at our University of Applied Sciences in accordance with the current legal criteria, the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), as well as international trends and examples of good practice. The re-accreditation procedure contributes to ensuring quality at the University and encourages further development and continuous improvement of quality in all areas of institutional activity. In this way, it is ensured that students study at quality higher education institutions that meet the necessary conditions and are focused on the ongoing development of the quality of their work.

Initial accreditation is an external quality evaluation procedure and a mandatory step in launching new study programmes. The initial accreditation procedure is conducted by the Agency for Science and Higher Education with the aim of evaluating and assessing the quality of a new study programme in accordance with legal regulations, the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), international trends, and examples of good practice, with the purpose of ensuring quality and promoting further enhancement of new programmes proposed by the University of Applied Sciences.

Links:

• AZVO https://www.azvo.hr/en/evaluation/re-accreditation/re-accreditation-of-higher-education-institutions/
• Zakon o visokom obrazovanju i znanstvenoj djelatnosti
• Zakon o osiguravanju kvalitete u visokom obrazovanju i znanosti
• AZVO https://www.azvo.hr/wp-azvo-files/uploads/2024/05/Pravilnik-o-provedbi-postupka-reakreditacije.pdf
• AZVO https://www.azvo.hr/wp-azvo-files/uploads/2024/05/Standardi-kvalitete-za-vrednovanje-u-postupku-reakreditacije-visokih-ucilista.pdf
• AZVO https://www.azvo.hr/en/evaluation/initial-accreditation/initial-accreditation-of-studies/
• AZVO https://www.azvo.hr/wp-azvo-files/uploads/2021/12/Standardi_kvalitete_za_inicijalnu_akreditaciju_studija.pdf

Internal Audits

Basic concepts of the internal audit procedure of the quality assurance system in higher education institutions

In the following text, a series of terms and explanations about the internal audit procedure is provided:

1. What is the internal audit of the Quality Assurance System (QAS) and what is its purpose?

• Verification and assessment of the effectiveness and appropriateness of the QAS
• The system’s impact on improving the overall quality of education
• Impact on the development of a quality culture

2. What are the prerequisites?

•  DDrafted and adopted documents: QAS Manual, Quality Policy, Strategy/annual operational plan, Statute, Regulations…
• Defined monitoring mechanisms/indicators
• All stakeholders familiar with the QAS

3. The following items are assessed through internal audits:

•  Appropriateness of the QAS structure and documents
• The system’s impact on the implementation of the quality policy and strategic goals
• Use of reliable information within the system
• Involvement of all stakeholders in the system (students, external stakeholders, administration)
• Cooperation with former students (alumni)
• Transparency of the entire system
• Approval, monitoring, and periodic revision of study programmes
• The link between research activities and the teaching process
• Promotion/improvement of mobility and international cooperation
• Overall resources (usability, adaptability, availability, improvement)
• Quality of teaching staff work and opportunities for further professional development
• Student assessment procedures
• The institution’s impact on regional development and on society as a whole – knowledge transfer and relations with the community (innovation, patents, research centers, projects, awards, professional chambers)
• Cooperation with the professors who were awarded the honorary title of professor emeritus
• Cooperation with the media
• Effectiveness and functioning of the quality assurance system as a whole

4. The process of internal audit of the quality assurance system is carried out at the HEI at least once every two years
5. The audit of the QAS consists of four phases

                I. Phase: Planning of the internal audit of the QAS

• Plan of activities for conducting the internal audit
• Determining the objectives, purpose, and manner of conducting the internal audit
• Working methods of the Committee
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the procedure

              II. Phase: Implementation of the internal audit

• Audit of the HEI’s internal documentation
• Verification of the compliance of QAS documents (Manual, Strategy, SWOT analysis, Regulations, etc.) with legal requirements and internal acts of the HEI
• Interviews with stakeholders
• Analysis of collected evidence and existing documentation

               III. Phase: Report

•  Contents of the report: procedure, audit results, proposals for improvement, implementation deadline, responsibilities
• Adoption of the report
• Management discusses the results
• Responsible persons prepare an activity plan for the proposed improvements

              IV. Phase: Follow-up

• Implementation of the activity plan in the follow-up phase
• Reports on completed activities and analyses of the effectiveness of the implemented activities are submitted to the committee

 Upon receipt of all reports and analyses of the effectiveness of the activities carried out, a follow-up phase report is prepared.