On November 27-29, the German Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programmes (AQAS) and the Cologne University of Technology hosted the third and final seminar of ENQA Leadership Development Programme 2024, bringing together leading quality assurance specialists from the European Education Area. Varduhi Gyulazyan, head of ANQA’s Institutional and Programme Accreditation Division, was among the participants.
The seminar addressed the leadership, change management, and quality assurance, particularly in the context of modern challenges like the integration of digital tools and AI. The participants had the opportunity to explore the internal quality assurance system of the Cologne University of Technology, visit AQAS, learn about the German external quality assurance system, and engage in a leadership interview with Doris Herrmann, managing director for Strategy, Process and International Affairs, head of the International Division of AQAS. The four small groups formed as part of the project also shared their study outcomes.
Varduhi Gyulazyan, together with her teammates from Norway, Italy, Lithuania, and Serbia, presented the outcomes of the research on “Use of digital tools, including AI in higher education and quality assurance”, which was led by Axel Aerden, managing director at NVAO Flanders.
As part of the research, V. Gyulazyan used ChatGPT-4 and Microsoft Copilot tools to analyze the benefits and risks of integrating AI into QA processes, as well as the AI potential to ensure the consistency and reliability of expert panel reports.
The seminar also offered an opportunity for collaboration and exchange of knowledge to address common quality assurance challenges.
Launched in 2018, the ENQA Leadership Development Programme is designed for high-potential professional staff in member and affiliate quality assurance agencies. The Programme aims to enhance participants’ leadership skills and competences in the specific context of QA agencies, expose them to up-to-date information and reflection on key developments in the European Higher Education Area and promote international cooperation.
Varduhi Gyulazyan’s participation in this prestigious programme was made possible thanks to the scholarship from the H. Hovnanyan Family Foundation.