Responsibility, impartiality, analytical skills, effective communication, time management skills, quick-orientation: these and other qualities should be possessed by the student experts to be included in the accreditation processes.
ANQA launched another training course for student experts of the "Students’ Voice" project, with students from five Armenian HEIs taking part.
At the beginning of the course, students shared their perception of quality education.
It was emphasized that the education satisfying students should be competitive in the labour market, ensure the acquisition and further development of practical professional skills.
Meri Barseghyan, coordinator of the "Students’ Voice" project, provided the students with the core aspects and goals of the accreditation process to the students. It was emphasized that:
- ANQA is a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). Accreditation awarded by ENQA holds equivalent recognition in the European Education Area as accreditation awarded by any other ENQA member.
- The RA’s State Accreditation Criteria and Standards align with international criteria, as they are based on international guidelines.
It was noted that not all countries involve students as experts in the accreditation process. Attaching importance to the students’ interests and viewpoints, ANQA strives to evaluate the educational processes from the student perspective as well. For this purpose, one of the expert panel’s members is a student with equal authorization as the other panel members.
Career and professional development opportunities for students who become student experts were also presented.
During the upcoming month, the student experts will study the State Institutional Accreditation Criteria and Standards, relevant legislation and regulatory documents, as well as familiarize themselves with the peculiarities of the student experts’ work and their role in the accreditation process. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded a certificate, added to the pool of student experts and later participate in the accreditation processes.
Let us note that ANQA’s "Students' Voice" project was launched in 2011. During 13 years, training courses for student experts were organized, engaging 1300 students from the HEIs and VET institutions. 109 students participated in the accreditation processes of the HEIs and VET institutions. Furthermore, five members from the project became members of the European Students’ Union, involving in the accreditation processes of foreign HEIs.