Today, at the College of Vocational Studies of Information Technology (ITS) in Belgrade, during a ceremony where graduating students of the Secondary School for Information Technology received certificates for their successfully completed professional practice, the first presentation by NEAQA intended for high school students was held.
With this event, NEAQA officially launched a series of training sessions and presentations in secondary schools, aiming to help young people understand the importance of accreditation and learn how to recognize accredited higher education institutions and study programmes.
NEAQA was pleased to accept the invitation from ITS to take part in this closing event for graduating students. Representatives of the agency delivered a short lecture introducing key concepts related to accreditation and quality assurance in higher education:
- what NEAQA is and what it does;
- what it means for a higher education institution or study programme to be accredited;
- how long accreditation lasts and what it ensures;
- how students can independently verify accreditation status in the NEAQA’s Guide for Students;
- what role students have in quality assurance.
Through an illustrative example inspired by the IT sector (the process of launching an app), students were shown how accreditation works, with emphasis on predefined and legally prescribed standards that must be met for a higher education institution to start operating and enrolling students in study programmes. Otherwise, the diplomas awarded would not be considered valid.
NEAQA plans to continue organizing such activities in other secondary schools across Serbia, with the aim of empowering young people to make informed decisions about their future education and to recognize the importance of quality in higher education.
