Targeted reviews of the quality work at higher education institutions fostering development

NOKUT will soon launch a new round of periodic reviews of the systematic quality work at Norwegian higher education institutions (HEIs). The new methodology ensures targeted reviews that foster development.

Continuity and renewal

Since 2003, NOKUT has carried out three rounds of periodic reviews of HEIs’ systematic development and implementation of quality work. The periodic review of these practices is underpinned by the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ESG).

Prior to the start of the fourth round, NOKUT adjusted and further developed the review methodology using its broad knowledge base and more than 20 years of experience with periodic reviews of HEIs. Further, NOKUT has consolidated its own experience from previous rounds, gathered feedback from the sector and drawn inspiration from quality assurance bodies in other European countries. The reviews still contain an auditory component, but also include elements that focus exclusively on development.

"The goal for this round is for the reviews to be more tailored to the unique characteristics of the institutions and have a greater focus on development than previous rounds. Additionally, we want to reduce the amount of documentation HEIs must submit to NOKUT. The reviews should not just be a check list showing that all requirements have been met, but stimulate further development of the quality work," says Hege Brodahl, Head of the Section for Higher Education in the Department of Accreditation and Supervision.

Grouping, knowledge sharing and co-operation

Several elements in NOKUT's periodic reviews have worked well in previous rounds and these will be continued in the fourth round. This includes dividing institutions that have traits in common into groups that will undergo reviews in the same time frame.

"We see that institutions in a group benefit from each other's experiences, which strengthens both learning and cross-collaboration. NOKUT is focused on supporting and facilitating a culture of sharing which is unique to Norway," explains Brodahl.

There are several factors to consider when deciding the order of the different groups, such as how long it has been since the last review, applications for institutional accreditation, etc.

The higher education sector is dynamic, and as of today there are a total of 48 institutions that will undergo NOKUT's reviews in the years 2025 to 2032. Eight years is a long time for a sector that is constantly evolving, with institutions merging or changing institutional categories (becoming accredited as a university college or university). New players offering higher education will also most likely emerge.

Preparations for the first group

There are five institutions in the first group that will undergo NOKUTs review in 2025. These are Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Nord University, University of South-Eastern Norway and VID University College. NOKUT notified them in August 2024 and held a meeting as early as September 2024 to inform about the new methodology and brief them on the proposed changes to the regulations initiated by the Ministry of Education and Research.

Timetable, transparency and predictability

NOKUT is open about the timetable for when the various institutions will be reviewed and how the institutions are grouped. The purpose is to elicit transparency, predictability and to stimulate co-operation between the institutions. There may of course be unavoidable adjustments to the timetable. Any such changes will be conveyed directly to the institutions in question.

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