Report 2010: 2 R

Quality assurance audits at eight higher education institutions in 2009

This report presents the results of audits of quality assurance procedures at

• Borås University College,
• Dalarna University College,
• Gotland University College,
• Gävle University College,
• Halmstad University College,
• Kristianstad University College,
• Skövde University College and
• University College West.

The panel of assessor concluded that all the higher education institution fulfilled the requirements of the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education for approval of their quality assurance procedures. Two institutions, Gävle University College and Halmstad University College, have attained the higher level of A, which means that their quality assurance procedures are excellent. Borås University College, Dalarna University College, Gotland University College, Kristianstad University College, Skövde University College and University College West attained the next level of B, which means that their quality assurance procedures are acceptable but that some areas should be improved. None of the institutions were therefore ranked at level C and considered to have failed to attain an acceptable level. All eight institutions received recommendations on how they could improve and continue to develop their quality assurance procedures.

The decision made by the National Agency on the basis of the report was in complete agreement with the panel's proposals. The audit has shown numerous examples of quality assurance procedures that function effectively. Gävle University College has adopted a long-term approach in its work on its three-year quality assurance programme since 2002. Halmstad University College has a decentralised quality assurance programme that is organised with the assistance of a very active quality council. At the same time the National Agency can determine that there are variations in the degree to which quality assurance systems have been developed different institutions. Some have made little further progress in the establishment of comprehensive systematic quality assurance procedures since their systems were audited during the period 1998—2002. The National Agency notes, however, that all the institutions are working actively to establish or maintain quality assurance systems and that there is recognition both among their administrations and other members of the staff of the significance of systematic quality assurance procedures. The National Agency views this development positively and hopes that when this round of audits is completed the institutions will take over responsibility for continued external evaluation of these systems.