International partnerships are a key pillar of QAA’s strategy. We have close relationships with quality agencies and governments around the world, as well as the British Council, and other sector bodies in the UK and internationally. These relationships are crucial to supporting all of QAA’s international activity.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland (DENI) and Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) have worked in close partnership with QAA for many years in creating, maintaining, and strengthening quality arrangements that are bespoke to the Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh higher education systems. Over that time, QAA has consistently delivered high quality work that meets the needs of the nations, operating in collaboration with the sector and applying its expertise and experience. We have confidence in QAA as a valued and internationally respected quality assurance agency and look forward to continuing to work with QAA in the future.
Joint statement by SFC, DENI and HEFCW - January 2023
Our approach to international engagement
QAA works to strengthen the global reputation of UK higher education wherever it is delivered and to ensure that students and learners experience the highest possible quality of education. Our international engagement supports the:
- promotion and maintenance of quality and standards in higher education
- enhancement of teaching and learning, including the identification of good practice
- provision of information and publication of reports on quality and standards in higher education
- provision of advice to governments
Memoranda of Understanding
We hold over thirty Memoranda of Understanding with quality agencies across the globe. These agreements highlight the strength of our international work and outline our commitment to collaboration. If you are interested in partnering with QAA or wish to find out more about our international partnerships, please contact QAAGlobal@qaa.ac.uk
Albania
The Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education (ASCAL)
ASCAL is an independent body that monitors and evaluates the quality of higher education in the Republic of Albania based on their State Standards on quality assurance and other standards and guidelines in the international and European Higher Education Area.
Armenia
National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance Foundation (ANQA)
ANQA is an independent organisation founded by the Republic of Armenia’s government in 2008 with the goal of supporting tertiary-level institutions to create a quality culture in accordance with Armenian legislation.
Azerbaijan
The quality of education in the Republic of Azerbaijan have been entrusted to TKTA under the Ministry of Education.
TKTA is in the process of institutional formation and development of an expanded roadmap of its activities for organising the processes of assessing the quality assurance of educational institutions of all levels of education.
Bahrain
The Education and Training Authority (BQA)
BQA is an independent government body launched to support Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and the National Education Reform Project. It is mandated to review the quality of education, manage the National Qualifications Framework, and conduct the national examinations.
Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC)
BAC is the authority to enhance and ensure the quality of higher education in Bangladesh.
Bulgaria
The National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA)
NEAA is a statutory body for evaluation, accreditation and monitoring of the quality in higher education institutions and scientific organisations. Their mission is to encourage higher education institutions in assuring and enhancing the quality of education they offer by sustaining high academic standards and good education traditions.
Chile
National Accreditation Commission (CNA)
CNA is a public and autonomous agency focused on promoting, evaluating and accrediting quality of Chilean higher education institutions, as well as their undergraduate and graduate programmes. It operates by committing to the principles regulating the Chilean higher education system, based on values of excellence, transparency, and diversity.
China
China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE)
CEAIE is China’s nationwide not-for-profit organisation conducting international educational exchanges. It is committed to promoting collaboration between Chinese and foreign institutions and ensuring and enhancing the quality of cooperative operations.
Cyprus
Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA)
CYQAA is the independent authority of Cyprus responsible for safeguarding standards in higher education and supporting the continuous improvement and upgrading of higher education institutions and their programmes of study.
Georgia
National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE)
NCEQE has been operating as the sole national external quality assurance agency in Georgia since 2010, covering all levels of formal education from pre-school to higher education.
Indonesia
The National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (BAN-PT)
BAN-PT was established in 1994 and is the sole national independent agency that accredits higher education institutions and study programmes which have not been included in the scope of Independent Accreditation Agency in Indonesia.
Ireland
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
QQI deliver quality assurance of higher and further education institutions and providers. They also look after the National Framework of Qualifications.
Japan
The National Institution for Academic Degree and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE)
NIAD-QE is a statutory body that evaluates activities at universities and colleges. They also contribute to the
development of higher education and have published an Overview of the Higher Education and Quality Assurance Systems in Japan.
Kazakhstan
The Independent Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (IQAA)
IQAA’s mission is to contribute to the improvement of quality of educational organisations and their competitiveness at the national and international
levels through quality culture development.
Montenegro
Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education (ACQAHE)
ACQAHE is the leading state body for quality assurance in higher education. They are in charge of managing the process of evaluation of higher education institutions and study programmes in line with the European Standards and Guidelines.
Morocco
National Agency for Assessment and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Scientific Research (ANEAQ)
The ANEAQ is the quality assurance agency for higher education in Morocco.
Netherlands
The Dutch Department of the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherland and Flanders (NVAO)
NVAO is a quality assurance agency that safeguards the quality of higher education in the Netherlands and Flanders.
Philippines
The Commission on Higher Education Education (CHED)
CHED is a government regulatory agency covering both public and private higher education in the Philippines.
Romania
The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS)
ARACIS is an autonomous public institution responsible for externally evaluating the quality of higher education in Romania. Their mission is to contribute to the continuous enhancement of higher education quality at the national level, as well as within the European Higher Education Area.
Slovakia
The Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (SAAHE)
SAAHE is the independent public body for quality assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions in Slovakia. Their mission is to contribute to the enhancement of higher education quality in Slovakia within the framework of ESG.
Taiwan
The Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan, Taiwan (Republic of China) (HEEACT)
HEEACT conducts higher education quality assurance evaluations to assist universities in contributing to society
through the pursuit of quality education as well as research.
Thailand
The Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment, Kingdom of Thailand (ONESQA)
ONESQA oversee the external quality assessment of all education institutions in Thailand. It also develops qualified
educational management system and administration for all education institutions, as well as providing training to certify external assessors.
Tunisia
Tunisian Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation in Higher Education and Scientific Research (ATEA)
ATEA was established in 2022 under the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. They are responsible for the evaluation and accreditation of institutions, programmes, and research units.
Ukraine
The National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAQA)
NAQA is a permanent collegial body authorised by the Law of Ukraine ‘On Higher Education’ to implement the state policy in the field of
higher education quality assurance.
United Arab Emirates
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)
KDHA is responsible for the growth, direction and quality of private education and learning in Dubai. They also regulate foreign providers operating in the free
trade zones of Dubai.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Authority (RAKEZ)
RAKEZ is responsible for free zone and non-free zone licences for investors in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
USA
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
AACSB is a global non-profit association that connects educators, students and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders.
Uzbekistan
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations (MHESI)
MHESI is the representative body of the state power that controls the fields of higher, secondary, special and professional education and science and innovation in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Viet Nam
Viet Nam Education Quality Management Agency (VQA), Hanoi
VQA is the Viet Nam government agency responsible for reviews, at institutional or programme level, of post-secondary education institutions and post-secondary quality assurance agencies.