Within the framework of the project “Supporting European Quality Assurance Agencies in meeting the European Standards and Guidelines (SEQA - ESG)”, the President of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), Mr. Douglas Blackstock and the Director of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), Mr. Colin Tuck, also accompanied by the Project Coordinator Mr. Alexis Fabregas, paid a visit to Tirana on September 1 and 2, 2022.

The purpose of this visit was to learn about the progress made by the Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education (ASCAL) in relation to the alignment with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

In this context, meetings were held with the Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Evis Kushi, Head of ASCAL, Mrs. Xhiliola Bixheku and the staff of the Agency, as well as with the Chairperson of the Accreditation Board, Mrs. Shqiponja Telhaj and the Member of this Board, Mrs. Darinka Piqani.

In the meeting held with the ASCAL staff, Mrs. Bixheku briefly introduced the attendees to the journey of the Agency and the challenges that have been encountered in its daily work. The meeting continued with a presentation of the main reforms implemented by ASCAL and the remaining obstacles on the road towards compliance with the ESG.

Mrs. Bixheku reconfirmed to Mr. Blackstock and Mr. Tuck that ASCAL, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sports, is working to implement in the shortest possible time the legal reforms necessary to adapt the national legislation to the European standards.

The President of ENQA praised ASCAL's progress in improving and maintaining quality in higher education and encouraged the agency to continue its efforts towards ENQA membership.