The document discusses quality assurance in European higher education. It outlines the purposes of quality assurance, including quality enhancement, accountability, and public information. It discusses the development of quality assurance over time from an initial focus on outcomes to a current emphasis on quality culture and processes within institutions. The document also describes key elements of developing a quality assurance process, including internal and external quality assurance approaches, and the policy context in Europe driving greater cooperation and convergence in quality assurance.