QAA signs agreement with Chile’s National Accreditation Commission (CNA)

QAA is pleased to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chile’s National Accreditation Commission (CNA).

The MoU was signed by Mr Renato Bartet, Executive Secretary of CNA, and QAA's Chief Executive Vicki Stott during the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Conference in Washington DC. This important annual conference brings together quality assurance agencies and stakeholders from around the world to discuss developments in quality assurance under the theme of ‘Quality Assurance Matters’.

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. Like QAA, they are a full member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).

The MoU sets out a framework for collaboration between QAA and CNA, with both agencies agreeing to share information on the respective higher education and quality systems of the UK and Chile, and to explore opportunities for joint working in international accreditation and higher education review activity.

CNA’s Executive Secretary, Mr Renato Bartet, said: ‘For CNA-Chile, bilateral collaboration with internationally renowned agencies is relevant, where unquestionably the work of the QAA stands out. The signing of this memorandum will allow the incorporation of successful experiences carried out in the United Kingdom that will strengthen the Chilean higher education quality assurance system. Additionally, we hope that this mutual cooperation will be valuable for the United Kingdom.’

QAA’s Chief Executive Vicki Stott added: ‘As our first agreement with an agency in Latin America, this MoU is really important to QAA. It is great to sign it here together at the CHEA annual conference in Washington DC, and we look forward to working closely with CNA to build mutual understanding in higher education and quality assurance.’