The International Dimension in Quality Assessment and Quality Assurance

ABSTRACT

Many countries are working on the design of an external quality assessment agency for higher education. Such an agency has to fulfil national needs and expectations. However, higher education is as such international in scope. This paper draws attention to the need for internationalisation of quality assessment. The national frontiers are too narrow for validating our standards. Looking at the situation in Europe, the author discusses the need for a European dimension and makes a proposal for a European Centre for Substantial Equivalence. In the future a European or international quality hallmark will play an important role in student mobility, staff mobility and the mobility of employees.