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Republic of North Macedonia Republic of North Macedonia
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Agency for Quality in Higher Education

The mission and activities of the Agency for Quality are to implement the system for quality assurance, assessment, development and enhancement of higher education, namely to maintain quality standards and promote and improve the quality of higher education institutions and their study programmes (in accordance with the accepted standards and procedures of the guidelines applied by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education).

The Agency for Quality implements the system for quality assurance, assessment, development and enhancement of higher education through the bodies of the Agency:

    • the Higher Education Accreditation Board (hereinafter: the Accreditation Board), and
    • the Higher Education Evaluation Board (hereinafter: the Evaluation Board).

The implementation of the mission and activities of the Agency for Quality is fully oriented and organised toward the consistent application of:

  • the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia,
  • the Law on Higher Education,
  • the National Programme for Higher Education,
  • the National Programme for Scientific Research Activity,
  • the Law on Scientific Research Activity,
  • the Law on the National Qualifications Framework,
  • the Law on Recognition of Professional Qualifications,
  • the Decree establishing the scientific research fields of the International Frascati Classification,
  • the Decree on the standards and criteria for financing higher education,
  • the Decree on the standards and criteria for financing scientific research activity,
  • the Rulebook on the norms and standards for establishing higher education institutions and conducting higher education activities,
  • the Rulebook on the content of study programmes,
  • the Rulebook establishing professional and scientific titles,
  • the Rulebook on the norms and standards for establishing scientific institutes and conducting scientific research activity,
  • the established list of electronic journal databases (provided for by the Law on Higher Education),
  • the established list of relevant national and international events at which artistic performances are taken into account for the accreditation of mentors (provided for by the Law on Higher Education),
  • priority areas and programmes for scientific research and technological development,
  • programmes and projects for international cooperation, as well as other acts relating to higher education, international agreements signed by the state and government policies in the field of education.

On the basis of clear criteria, accurate and reliable data and evaluation results, the Agency for Quality prepares analytical reports on the higher education system, according to one or more aspects or indicators.

The Agency for Quality cooperates with higher education institutions in the country and institutions associated with them, professional organisations, labour-market-related institutions and student organisations in order to exchange information and expertise, actively involving them in the Agency’s activities.

The Agency for Quality cooperates with the network of quality assurance agencies in the European Higher Education Area and with agencies operating internationally.

Through its official website, the Agency for Quality informs the wider public about the status of higher education institutions, accredited study programmes, accredited units of higher education institutions, scientific institutes and their decisions authorising commencement of operation, ranking results, as well as other relevant records and data available in the database.

 

INTERNAL ORGANISATION OF THE AGENCY FOR QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

 

The Agency for Quality in Higher Education (AQHE) is an independent professional body headquartered in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia.

AQHE was registered in the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia on 16 January 2020.

The bodies of the Agency for Quality are:

    • the Higher Education Accreditation Board,
    • the Higher Education Evaluation Board, and
    • Director of the Agency for Quality in Higher Education.

The Director of the Agency is appointed by the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia.

The Director of AQHE:

    • represents the Agency for Quality in Higher Education;
    • ensures implementation of the decisions and rulings of the Higher Education Accreditation Board and the Higher Education Evaluation Board;
    • is responsible for the material and financial operations of AQHE;
    • ensures the legality of AQHE’s operations;
    • issues decisions authorising the commencement of first- and second-cycle study programmes;
    • and performs other duties determined by the Law on Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 82/2018) and by a general act.