The document proposes a 5 pillar structure for a licensing, accreditation and quality assurance framework for further and higher education in Malta. The 5 pillars include institution licensing, institution accreditation, program accreditation, quality audits, and accreditation agencies. Institution licensing would involve different categories and quality standards. Institution accreditation would distinguish between self-accrediting and non-self accrediting status. Program accreditation would cover further/higher, foreign, and professional programs. Quality audits and an accreditation agency body are also recommended.

2. NCHE recommendations on Licensing, Accreditation and Quality Assurance for Further and Higher Education in Malta Presented by Jacques Sciberras to the Chevening Alumni Association 11 th April, 2008 Malta.

8. Institution License Institution Accreditation Programme Accreditation Quality Audits Accreditation Agencies The NCHE highlights the urgent need for a License, Accreditation and Quality Assurance Framework, and proposes a 5 pillar structure

9. Institution License University carries specific criteria for use of such title and license. Education Institution provides accredited education programmes and awards qualifications in Malta. Education Centre provides accredited education programmes but cannot award qualifications. Competent authority issues licenses and monitors or intervenes on compliance issues. License Category Higher Education Centre Further Education Institution Further Education Centre Higher Education Institution University

11. Institution License Institution Accreditation Accreditation The process by which a (non-)governmental body evaluates the quality of a higher education institution as a whole or of a specific educational programme in order to formally recognize it as having met certain predetermined minimal criteria or standards. The result of this process is usually the awarding of a status (a yes/no decision), of recognition, and sometimes of a license to operate within a time-limited validity. (OECD)

12. Institution License Institution Accreditation Self Accrediting status: the ability and repute to accredit its own qualifications and only be subjected to external quality audits. Non Self Accrediting status: the requirement to seek external accreditation for programmes and qualifications by an Accreditation Agency. University/Institution/Centre/HE or FE the status depends on staff profile, type of programmes and qualifications, resources, etc. Accreditation Agency accredits an institution as capable of delivering certain types of educational programmes and awarding qualifications. + Level: Self Accrediting Non Self Accrediting Institutional Accreditation Higher Education Centre Further Education Institution Further Education Centre Higher Education Institution University

13. Institution License Institution Accreditation Programme Accreditation Further/Higher Programme: locally awarded qualifications, accredited in Malta. Foreign Approved Programmes: programmes delivered locally and recognised locally as awarded by a foreign institution and accredited under a recognised foreign accreditation body. Qualification NQF mapping: information regarding the recognised NQF level of the qualification that will result from the programmes delivered and the inclusion in an MQC qualifications register. Accreditation Agency accredits a programme and its qualification in terms of quality and level for official recognition purposes. Higher Education Programme + Qualification Level: Further Education Programme Approved Foreign Programme Programme Accreditation Professional – NQF Levels 5-8 Higher – NDF Levels 6-8 Further – NQF Levels 1-5

16. Institution License Institution Accreditation Programme Accreditation Quality Audits Accreditation Agencies Process Step 1: Provider seeks programme accreditation and subsequently institutional accreditation

17. Institution License Institution Accreditation Programme Accreditation Quality Audits Accreditation Agencies Process Step 2: Provider obtains institutional license to operate and provide specific courses in specific categories Step 1: Provider seeks programme accreditation and subsequently institutional accreditation

18. Institution License Institution Accreditation Programme Accreditation Quality Audits Accreditation Agencies Process Step 3: Provider undergoes external quality audits every 5 years to assess the accreditation status of both its programmes and the institutional as a whole Step 2: Provider obtains institutional license to operate and provide specific courses in specific categories Step 1: Provider seeks programme accreditation and subsequently institutional accreditation

19. Institution License Institution Accreditation Programme Accreditation Quality Audits Accreditation Agencies Process Step 4: Accreditation Agencies feed the public with information of the outcomes of accreditation and quality audits and make quality improvement recommendations to the institutions and policy makers Step 3: Provider undergoes external quality audits every 5 years to assess the accreditation status of both its programmes and the institutional as a whole Step 2: Provider obtains institutional license to operate and provide specific courses in specific categories Step 1: Provider seeks programme accreditation and subsequently institutional accreditation

20. MQRIC MQC NCHE Qualifications

21. Institution License Institution Accreditation Programme Accreditation Quality Audits Thank You [email_address] Accreditation Agencies