The President of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), Prof. Daniela Cristina Ghițulică, PhD, will pay an official four-day visit to the National Entity for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education (NEAQA) from 4 to 7 May 2026.
This visit represents an event of exceptional importance for NEAQA and the entire higher education system of the Republic of Serbia, bearing in mind ENQA’s role as the umbrella European association in the field of quality assurance, as well as the fact that the visit is taking place at a time of intensive activities by NEAQA aimed at further improving the system and entering the final phase of preparations for regaining full membership in ENQA.
During her stay in Belgrade, the ENQA President will hold a series of meetings with the management and representatives of NEAQA, the expert bodies of NEAQA, representatives of higher education institutions, student organisations, the economy, the qualifications system and relevant state institutions.
The visit of the ENQA President will include a reception with the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, as well as a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation. These meetings will focus on the legislative framework, the development of quality assurance and the further improvement of higher education in the Republic of Serbia in line with European principles and practice.
The programme of the visit also includes dedicated meetings with the NEAQA’s Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance and the Appeals Commission, as well as discussions with representatives of student conferences – the Students’ Conference of Universities of Serbia (SCONUS) and the Students’ Conference of Academies of Applied Studies and Colleges of Serbia (SCAASCS). A special segment of the visit will be dedicated to discussions with representatives of the economy and the qualifications system, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Office for Dual Education and the National Qualifications Framework, and the Agency for Qualifications. The aim of this meeting is to examine the links between higher education, the qualifications system and labour market needs, as well as the role of quality assurance in the development of relevant knowledge, skills and competences.
As part of the visit, a roundtable entitled “Quality Assurance System in the Republic of Serbia in the Context of European Standards” will also be organised, bringing together representatives of higher education institutions. The first part of the roundtable will be dedicated to discussions with the leadership of higher education institutions – rectors, deans, presidents of academies of applied studies and directors of colleges – on the strategic directions for the development of the quality assurance system, institutional responsibilities and the role of higher education institutions in building a quality culture in line with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). The second part of the roundtable will focus on representatives of higher education institutions responsible for accreditation and quality assurance, including vice-deans for accreditation, quality assurance officers and professors who also serve as NEAQA peer-review experts. This part will include a presentation by the ENQA President on the role of ENQA, the ESG framework and current developments in quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area, followed by a discussion with representatives of higher education institutions on the practical application of standards, the legislative framework and the link between internal and external quality assurance.
In addition to official meetings, the programme of the visit includes discussions with NEAQA staff on operational aspects of the agency’s work, ESG implementation and internal processes, as well as a final meeting with the management.
Prof. Daniela Cristina Ghițulică, PhD, is one of Europe’s leading experts in the field of quality assurance in higher education. As ENQA President, long-standing Board member and Vice-President of the Association, Director General of the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS), and an active participant in the Bologna Process, Prof. Ghițulică plays a highly significant role in shaping European policies in the field of higher education and strengthening trust among national systems.
For NEAQA, this visit represents an important confirmation of the activities carried out so far and a clear incentive to continue reforms aimed at strengthening the independence, transparency, consistency and efficiency of accreditation and external quality assurance procedures. At the same time, it confirms NEAQA’s strategic commitment to continuing, in cooperation with higher education institutions, students, the economy, state authorities and European partners, to develop a quality assurance system that is fully aligned with European standards and expectations.
Regaining full membership in ENQA and registration in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) is one of the most important strategic goals of NEAQA and the Republic of Serbia in the field of higher education. Achieving this goal would contribute to strengthening international trust in Serbia’s higher education system, increasing the recognition of qualifications, improving the mobility of students and teaching staff, and further integrating the Republic of Serbia into the European Higher Education Area.