An overview of ASCAL’s institutional role, its mission to ensure quality, and its activities supporting higher education in Albania.
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education was established by a decision of the Council of Ministers. nr. 109, datë 15.02.2017 / english versionchanged by Decision Nr. 825, date 24.12.2021 and Decision nr. 526, date 31.07.2019 / english versionfrom the reorganization of The Public Agency of The Higher Education which was established by a decision of the Council of Ministers nr. 303, date 01.07.1999 and pursuant to the law nr 80/2015, on higher education and scientific research.
ASCAL Role.
ASCAL is the only institution in the Republic of Albania responsible for monitoring and assessing the quality of higher education. This is carried out based on the national quality standards, as well as the relevant standards and guidelines for quality assurance within the European Higher Education Area and internationally.
Working Principles
ASCAL operates independently, impartially, and transparently in carrying out its activities. The Agency conducts preliminary quality assessments, external evaluations, as well as analytical and comparative assessments of higher education institutions (HEIs), study programs, and fields of study.
ASCAL Mission
- Quality assurance in higher education through objective and independent external evaluation.
- Maintaining quality standards.
- Promoting and improving the quality of higher education institutions and the study programs they offer.
ASCAL’s Activities
- External quality assessment for the initial and periodic accreditation of higher education institutions and the study programs they offer.
- Monitoring and assessing academic quality and compliance with quality standards of institutions and the programs they offer, prior to the initial accreditation assessment and thereafter.
- Preliminary assessment for the establishment and/or reorganization of higher education institutions and study programs, upon the request of the ministry responsible for education.
- Preliminary assessment and recognition of study programs offered at accredited Albanian higher education institutions by foreign higher education institutions from one of the European Union member states, the United States of America, Canada, or Australia.
- Periodic assessment, every three years, of the quality of teaching in higher education institutions and its continuous monitoring through the National Student Survey, in accordance with its guidelines.
- Assessment of internal quality assurance systems (auditing) in higher education institutions, in accordance with its guidelines and the standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area.
- Thematic, analytical, and comparative assessments of higher education institutions and/or study programs, in support of higher education policies, either autonomously or at the request of the ministry responsible for education.
To fulfill its mission, ASCAL relies not only on the applicable legal acts, but also on the Quality Code and its internal regulations.
ASCAL is part of the European quality assurance area, cooperating with all stakeholders in this field and being an associate member of ENQAmember with full rights of CEENQAmember with full rights of INQAAHEASCAL also has successful collaborations with QAA and CHE.