The Phexcel project aimed to test the feasibility of a quality label for professional higher education excellence, involving seven partners and active from October 2013 to December 2015. Key outcomes include a comprehensive report on quality tools, a draft quality framework for PHE excellence, and a feasibility analysis for the quality label. The project also included steps for research, creation, validation, and recommendation of the quality framework, along with stakeholder consultations and pilot evaluations.

1. phexcel – Testing the Feasibility of a Quality
Label for Professional Higher Education
Excellence
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

2. • background
• partners
• outcomes
• activities
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

3. Background
• Goals
• identify elements specific to PHE in quality tools
• define concept of PHE excellence
• recognise excellence in PHE
• Context
• recent development of numerous labels
• specificity of PHE vis-à-vis academic HE
• Challenges
• relevance of labels vs common ESG framework
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

4. Background
• Lifelong Learning Programme support
• 1 October 2013 – 31 December 2015
• 7 partners
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

5. Partners
EURASHE • Lifelong European Learning Association Programme of Institutions in support
Higher Education www.eurashe.eu
AEC Association Européenne des Conservatoires www.aec-music.eu
• 1 October 2013 – 31 December 2015
ELIA European League of Institutes of the Arts www.elia-artschools.org
SPACE • 7 partners
SPACE Network For Business Studies and Languages www.space-eu.info
KICMT Knowledge Innovation Centre Malta www.kic-malta.com
JG Jagiellonian University www.uj.edu.pl
UNOTT University of Nottingham www.nottingham.ac.uk
FINE European Federation of Nurse Educators www.fine-europe.eu
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

6. Outcomes
• Report on quality tools for professional higher education: current
landscape of quality tools used in PHE in Europe
• Briefing papers on PHE excellence: basis for development of the
quality framework for PHE excellence
• Draft Quality Framework for PHE excellence: result of work of
expert group discussions
• Piloting protocol & Operational guide for institutional review:
instructions on how to conduct the 4 pilot evaluations based on
the quality framework
• Piloting report: analysis and outcomes of the 4 pilot evaluations
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

7. Outcomes
• EU Validation Seminar: validation by EU-level stakeholders of the
draft quality framework
• Report on Feasibility Analysis on a Generic Quality Label for PHE
Excellence: outcomes of evaluation and validation process
• Quality Framework for PHE Excellence: final quality framework
based on consultations
• Implementation roadmap: recommendations on feasibility of a
quality label for PHE excellence
• Conference: presentation of the quality framework and
recommendations
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

8. Activities
• 4 steps
• research quality labels
• create a quality framework
• evaluate and validate the quality framework
• recommendations
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

9. Activities
1) Research Quality Labels
• December 2013 – June 2014
• map quality tools
• create a typology
• perform a gap analysis
• Report on Quality Tools for Professional Higher Education
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

10. Activities
2) Create a Quality Framework
• May 2014 – January 2015
• Expert Group
• describe PHE excellence
• define indicators for PHE excellence
• select a methodology for PHE excellence quality reviews
• Briefing Papers on PHE Excellence
• Draft Quality Framework for PHE excellence
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

11. Activities
3) Evaluate and Validate the Quality Framework
• December 2014 – June/July 2015
• piloting protocol
• Operational Guide for Institutional Review
• 4 pilot reviews
• analysis and conclusions into piloting report
• public consultation on draft quality framework for PHE
excellence
• EU Validation Seminar: Consultation with key stakeholders
• market analysis
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

12. Activities
4) Recommendations
• July/August 2015 – November 2015
• preparation of a menu of options
• Report Feasibility Analysis on a Generic Quality Label for
PHE Excellence
• finalise quality framework for PHE excellence
• prepare an implementation roadmap
• conference
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

13. Thank you for your attention!
More information at
http://phexcel.eurashe.eu
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu

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This project has been funded with support from the European
Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any
use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Professional Higher Education Excellence www.phexcel.eurashe.eu