For more information in English about NVAO and the accreditation of our university of applied sciences we refer to 'Qrossroads'. Qrossroads is a project of the European Consortium for Accreditation supported by the European Commission and aims at providing information regarding quality assured and accredited higher education in Europe.
Thematic reviews
Artevelde UAS organises thematic reviews from a cross-cutting approach. Here, all study programmes and the other involved entities are assessed in one specific aspect by an external committee. Thematic reviews take place every two years.
In recent years, the focus has been on the themes 'sustainability', 'student participation', 'research', and 'internationalisation'. The first coming thematic review takes place in 2025.
Artevelde UAS Institutional review
Institutional review
In the academic year 2022-2023, the next institutional review of Artevelde UAS takes place. An institutional review assesses whether a higher education institution creates education policy qualitatively, including the way the institution is responsible for the quality of its study programmes.
An external committee carries out this review on behalf of the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). The institutional review is mandatory for universities and universities of applied sciences and is carried out every six years.
Institutional review committee
The independent committee is composed of the NVAO and counts at least five members, among which one student. The names of the members that are already known are Cis Van Den Bogaert (chairperson), Ineke van Oldeniel, Katrien Van Valckenborgh, and Mieke Beckers. The name of the student committee member is not yet known.
Course of the institutional review
At this moment, Artevelde UAS is drawing up the ‘Critical reflection’. That is a crucial element in the institutional review. The document essentially answers the question of how Artevelde UAS guards the quality of its education within the relevant social and international context, and how it involves stakeholders and external peers and experts. Artevelde UAS submits the critical reflection in September 2022 to the NVAO.
The next important step is a dialogue with the committee. That goes in two stages. First, there is an exploratory location visit (in November 2022) in which the committee gets to know the institution. Then, the committee members draw up a research proposal, with respect to the advanced location visit (in March 2023).
Next, the committee draws up an assessment report. And finally, the NVAO makes a decision, based on this report. A positive outcome of the institutional review leads to an extension of the accreditation deadlines for the programmes of the institution that went through a complete accreditation period before.
The outcome of previous institutional review
The previous institutional review of Artevelde UAS took place in 2016. The outcome was positive.
Programme reviews
At Artevelde UAS, every accredited bachelor, advanced bachelor, and associate degree programme gets a programme review every six years.
In a programme review, a study programme presents itself thoroughly and receives feedback on the quality of its education from an external and independent committee.
The visit of the committee takes three days. The committee will definitely meet the following conversation partners: programme managers, educational supporters, lecturers/staff members, students, and alumni/professional field.
The committee does not give a quantitative score, but a global qualitative assessment with strengths and growth opportunities.
Erasmus Charter
The university of applied sciences has acquired the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education for the full duration of the new Erasmus+ Programme (2021-2027). The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) provides the general quality framework for European and international cooperation activities a higher education institution may carry out within the Programme.
The award of an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education is a pre-requisite for all higher education institutions located in an eligible country and willing to participate in the learning mobility of individuals and/or cooperation for innovation and good practices under the Programme. The Charter is awarded for the full duration of the Programme.
Questions?
Contact Vera Pletincx
Head of the Department Quality Assurance
09 234 91 31 - vera.pletincx@arteveldehs.be