On January 16, 2025, an online meeting was held between representatives of NEAQA and the Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (SAAHE). The NEAQA delegation was led by Prof. Nebojša Zdravković, Director of NEAQA, accompanied by the Chief of Staff and colleagues from the International Cooperation Department.
The discussion took place in a constructive and friendly atmosphere, focusing on the experiences of the Slovak agency in the process of achieving full membership in the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). Particular emphasis was placed on the preparation of the self-assessment report, as a key element of this process. Representatives of SAAHE shared their experiences, highlighting challenges and best practices, as well as the importance of involving all relevant stakeholders, especially students and representatives of industry, whose contributions were crucial to the success of the process.
Additionally, SAAHE’s experiences from the first phase of the SEQA-ESG project were presented, which proved invaluable for aligning with the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG). As NEAQA is currently participating in the second phase of this project (SEQA-ESG2), the information and recommendations shared will provide significant support for our preparations for full ENQA membership.
The Director of NEAQA expressed his gratitude to the representatives of SAAHE for their openness and valuable advice, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for the further development of the quality assurance system in higher education in Serbia. During the meeting, an agreement was reached to strengthen relations between the two agencies, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding. This agreement will be formalized during NEAQA’s upcoming visit to Bratislava, planned for 2025.
NEAQA extends its appreciation to the Slovak colleagues for the constructive exchange of experiences and looks forward to continuing this successful collaboration.