Novi Sad hosted the fourth and final SEQA-ESG2 peer-learning workshop on 27–28 May 2025 under the title “Agile for the Future: QA Agency as a Learning Organisation.” The workshop was organised by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), in cooperation with National Entity for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education (NEAQA) and took place at Hotel Pupin.
This event marked theconcluding workshop in a series of four peer-learning workshops held within the SEQA-ESG2 (Supporting European QA Agencies in meeting the ESG 2)project, funded under the ERASMUS+ initiative to support reforms in the European Higher Education Area. The previous three workshops were successfully held in Belgrade, Serbia (in May, 2024)and twice in Brussels, Belgium (in October and November, 2024).
The Novi Sad workshop focused on exploring how quality assurance (QA) agencies can operate as learning organisations, capable of systematically collecting data, analysing results, engaging in self-reflection, and continuously improving their practices. Particular attention was paid to three key ESG standards:
- Standard 3.6 – Internal quality assurance and professional conduct,
- Standard 3.4 – Thematic analysis, and
- Standard 2.1 – Consideration of internal quality assurance.
Participants engaged in a rich programme of expert presentations, interactive sessions, and collaborative exercises. The first day featured insights from Dan Derricott (University of Warwick, UK), Sandra Bezjak (ASHE, Croatia), and Padraig Walsh (former CEO, QQI, Ireland), followed by a “World Café” session, where agencies presented posters outlining their key challenges and exchanged practical solutions in rotating discussion groups.
The second day turned the focus to Standard 2.1 and how external QA can effectively support internal QA mechanisms within higher education institutions. Presentations were delivered by experts from Ireland, Latvia, and Croatia, providing a comparative view of national experiences and solutions. The workshop concluded with а interactive group exercise, where participants worked together to analyse selected standards from Part I of the ESG and reflect on their implementation.
As the final event in the SEQA-ESG2 project, the workshop successfully capped off a series of peer-learning opportunities aimed at building capacity, sharing good practices, and strengthening alignment with the ESG among European QA agencies. It affirmed the importance of agility, reflection, and collaboration in supporting continuous quality enhancement in higher education across the EHEA.
