WELCOME TO OFFICIAL SITE OF QFORTE PROJECT


QFORTE – Enhancement of Quality Assurance in Higher Education System in Moldova
Reference number (618742-EPP-1-2020-1-MD-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP)
This Project is funded with support from European Commission with in Erasmus+ programme.

Enhancement of Quality Assurance in Higher Education System in Moldova


Acronym: QFORTE

Type of the project: National/Structural project
Total Budget: € 992.363,00
Project`s period: 15/11/2020 – 14/11/2023 (36 months)

Coordinating institution: Moldova State University


Message from the Rector of the Moldova State University, the coordinating institution of the structural project Enhancement of Quality Assurance in Higher Education System in Moldova - QFORTE (618742-EPP-1-2020-1-MD-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP) implemented with the support of the ERASMUS+ funded by the EU

Dear rectors, lectors, students and partners of the QFORTE project,

The concept of quality assurance in higher education formulated by the Bologna Declaration as a premise for the achievement of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is one of the basic priorities of the reforms in our country.

The establishment of a solid quality assurance system in the Republic of Moldova higher education institutions will continue to be an important guarantee that the study programmes offered by higher education institutions meet the highest standards in terms of quality, education and research, the quality of education being an indispensable condition for improving the employment, social cohesion and economic competitiveness.

Being based on rigorous international standards, which comprise the entire portfolio of Bologna Process issues, the concept of higher education quality insurance is one of the main priorities of the academic community in the Republic of Moldova in the near future in order to ensure a high degree of international transparency which is meant to allow the recognition of university qualifications in the European Higher Education Area.

• The implementation of higher education reforms concerning the internal and external quality assurance requires a substantial effort from all actors in the process of developing a culture of quality throughout the national education system.

• At this stage, substantial efforts have been made in the field of external quality evaluations of undergraduate and master's degree programs, but the process of external quality evaluation has not started for institutional accreditations so far.

• The QFORTE project fits perfectly into the initiated reforms by involving many educational actors, such as rectors and vice-rectors, deans and vice-deans, heads of departments, internal and external quality assurance structures, students.

• QFORTE will seek to ensure that university policies are taken into consideration at national-level policy discussions on internal and external quality assurance. It will also support its members in developing internal quality assurance systems and aims to promote the institutional quality culture.

The key activities of the QFORTE project are expected to result in:

- international institutional accreditation of five national universities;

- improvement of the methodology of external quality assessment for institutional accreditation;

- external quality assessment of joint higher education programmes based on the European experience in the field;

- development of quality guidelines;

- enhancing the capacity of internal quality assurance structures;

- promotion of the national quality culture.

I am firmly convinced that quality assurance leads to mutual trust, increased mobility and the proper functioning of the recognition of qualifications and diplomas within the EHEA, and the QFORTE project will make a key contribution to promoting the culture of quality at the national level.


Igor ȘAROV,
Rector, PhD, Associate Professor


QFORTE SUMMARY:

The quality of European education and of higher education in particular has been identified as one of the key factors, which will allow Europe to succeed in a global competition. In 2003, in Berlin, the Ministers for higher education stated that the primary responsibility for quality assurance lies with higher education institutions. Further, various policies and action lines have been developed to improve quality; among other initiatives, European degree structures have been revised, the mobility of students and teachers is encouraged, and transparency and comparability of qualifications is promoted.

Improving the quality of teaching and learning has been at the heart of the Bologna Process reforms and continues to be of crucial importance for the further implementation of these reforms. The growth in interest in rankings, as well as recent student protests further illustrate the need for universities to reiterate their continued commitment to improving the quality of teaching and learning.

Quality assurance is the QFORTE project`s key areas of activities. QFORTE will seek to ensure that the views of the university sector are taken into account at national-level policy discussions on internal and external quality assurance. It also will support its members in developing internal quality systems and aims to promote institutional quality cultures.

The project's key target groups are the representatives of the ministries responsible for higher education; representatives of the Agencies for Quality Assurance, Bologna promoters at national level; heads and senior managers of universities. The secondary target groups are directors of QA departments, Bologna coordinators in HEIs and QA operational staff.


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