This spring, international accreditation committees visited Tallinn University and the Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences. Based on the reports of the assessment committee, the assessment council of the Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency adopted decisions to accredit both universities for seven years on 9 June. Both were also awarded the EKKA quality label.<\/p>\n
The committees included managers of institutions of higher education, consultants and specialists from the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States, Finland, the Netherlands, Macedonia, Lithuania and Estonia.<\/p>\n
In the case of Tallinn University<\/strong>, the committee acknowledged its high level of internationalisation, including its large share of foreign lecturers. Several fields are at an internationally high level in the university according to the committee \u2013 the specialties of Asian cultural studies and film, for example, and educational innovation. In the coming years, the committee recommends focussing on structural updates in order to promote interdisciplinarity and ensure a uniformly high level in the quality of studies. It also recommends determining the focal points of research and development activities which are based on the university\u2019s current strengths, and finding opportunities to include doctoral students in research groups.<\/p>\n According to Tiit Land, rector of Tallinn University<\/strong>, institutional assessment was a good way of analysing the university\u2019s activities and obtaining constructive feedback from experienced experts. \u201cOur external assessment took place at a really good time for the university, because we\u2019re putting together the development plan for the next period and comprehensive self-assessment will create the right foundations for our activities in the coming years,\u201d he said. \u201cThe committee\u2019s recommendations came as no surprise \u2013 we\u2019d reached the same or very similar conclusions in our self-assessment. For example, the committee felt our strength lay in our open international environment and the future specialties we offer. They suggested we focus on interdisciplinary action. I\u2019m glad to be able to say that focusing activities has been central in our preparation of our new development plan period. I\u2019m sure the senate will approve the new plan for the university for 2015-2020 at the end of the year, which sets the goal of developing specific interdisciplinary focus areas.\u201d<\/p>\n In the case of the Estonian Entrepreneurship University for Applied Sciences<\/strong> the committee highlighted that all of its studies are guided by practical and applied education, which conforms to the current needs of companies and employers, and the flexible forms of study at the university, which enables students\u2019 needs to be met. Its support systems for research and education activities and its user-friendly study information system were also praised. In the future, the committee recommends paying attention to analysing the needs of society and the job market when planning research and development activities and creating research groups in cooperation with specific sectors (such as design, IT and media). Ways should also be found to support student mobility.<\/p>\n According to rector Krista Tuulik<\/strong>, the process of institutional accreditation is highly valuable from the point of view of the further development of the institution. \u201cThe areas for improvement highlighted by the committee are very useful to us in planning our further activities and developing our quality culture,\u201d she said. \u201cFull accreditation means a greater sense of security for students, too .\u201d<\/p>\n All Estonian institutions of higher education must undergo institutional accreditation at least once every seven years. All such institutions in the country will have undergone accreditation by the end of 2016. The purpose of external assessment is to support the development of strategic management and quality culture in these institutions.<\/em><\/p>\n Further information:<\/p>\n Heli Mattisen<\/p>\n Director<\/p>\n heli.mattisen@archimedes.ee<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This spring, international accreditation committees visited Tallinn University and the Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences. Based on the reports of the assessment committee, the assessment council of the Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency adopted decisions to accredit both universities for seven years on 9 June. Both were also awarded the EKKA quality label. The…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n