Quality Assurance in Higher Education

Quality assurance in higher education in North Macedonia is based on external and internal evaluation mechanisms defined by national legislation.

External quality assurance

External quality assurance is carried out by the Agency for Quality in Higher Education, in accordance with the Law on Higher Education.

The Agency coordinates the work of the Accreditation Board and the Evaluation Board, which are responsible for accreditation and evaluation procedures.

Accreditation is required for higher education institutions and study programmes. It ensures that institutions and programmes meet defined quality standards before being approved. Higher education institutions cannot operate or offer study programmes without prior accreditation.

External evaluation includes periodic assessment of higher education institutions and their activities, focusing on teaching, research and institutional performance.

Internal quality assurance

Higher education institutions are responsible for establishing and implementing internal quality assurance systems. They establish internal systems and procedures for monitoring and improving the quality of teaching, research and other activities.

Internal evaluation is carried out through self-evaluation processes and is linked to institutional development and quality improvement.

Recent developments

Recent policy developments include the preparation of new legislation on quality assurance in higher education, which is currently under public consultation. These developments aim to further strengthen the quality assurance framework.

Sources: Law on Higher Education; Agency for Quality in Higher Education.

Responsible Bodies

The quality assurance framework is managed by two primary autonomous bodies established under the Law on Higher Education:

• National Council for Higher Education and Research: The highest autonomous expert body that monitors the development of HE and its compliance with international standards. It consists of 15 members (professors, MANU members, business community, and students) elected by the Parliament.

• Agency for Quality in Higher Education: An independent legal entity comprising two separate boards:

  Accreditation Board: Responsible for institutional and program accreditation.

  Evaluation Board: Responsible for the periodic external assessment of institutions.

  Note: To ensure operational independence, members of the National Council or management structures (Rectors/Vice-rectors) cannot serve on these Boards.

Approaches and Methods for Quality Assurance

Accreditation Procedures

Accreditation is a mandatory precondition for the operation of any Higher Education Institution (HEI).

• Program Accreditation: Study programs for the first, second, and third cycles are accredited for a period of 5 years (re-accreditation for the third cycle occurs every 3 years).
• Mentorship: The Accreditation Board also accredits mentors for doctoral studies based on strict scientific criteria (e.g., published scientific papers in referent publications).

External Evaluation

The Evaluation Board conducts an external assessment of HEIs every 5 years based on the institution's self-evaluation report.

• Expert Commissions: Evaluation is carried out by commissions that include foreign experts (from ENQA member agencies) and students to ensure objectivity. The Agency maintains official registers for these experts, updated through regular open calls (most recently in December 2024).

Internal Quality Assurance and Self-Evaluation

HEIs are legally required to perform a self-evaluation every 3 years.

• Student Involvement: Mandatory surveys with students regarding the quality of teaching and staff are an integral part of the self-evaluation process.
• Transparency: All HEIs are obliged to publish their self-evaluation reports and accreditation decisions on their official websites.

University Ranking

National university ranking is a compulsory undertaking conducted every 3 years for all registered universities and independent scientific institutes.

• Methodology: Performed by an external legal entity with international experience.
• Impact: The law restricts the provision of third-cycle (doctoral) studies only to those institutions ranked among the top performers on the national list.

References:

Ministry of Education and Science, Accredited Higher Education Institutions in the Republic of North Macedonia available at: https://mon.gov.mk/page/?id=2047