External Quality Assurance (EQA) in higher education serves as a vital mechanism to ensure and enhance the quality and standards of academic institutions. This process involves independent evaluations conducted by external agencies or authorities, distinct from the institution being evaluated. These evaluations contribute to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in higher education, fostering public trust and confidence in the quality of educational provision.
The University of Malta (UM) perceives internal and external quality assurance not only as complementary but as working in synergy, to acknowledge succesful practices and identifying aeas for ongoing advancements and growth.
During the academic year 2022/2023, the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) conducted an External Quality Assurance (EQA) audit. It is important to note that this audit evaluates the institution based on 11 standards outlined by the MFHEA, aligning with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG, 2015).
As part of this process, UM presented a Self-Assessment Report (SAR) which was compiled by the Quality Support Unit (QSU) in collaboration with a significant number of colleagues from across UM. The SAR provided a detailed and evidence-based narrative of UM’s enhancement journey since its first EQA audit in 2015.
Self-Assessment Report (January 2023) [PDF]
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EQA is the External Quality Assurance Audit by the MFHEA that the University is required to undertake, normally every five years. EQA ensures that the University is compliant with relevant national regulations, whilst providing vital external insight on the effectiveness of its IQA procedures. The EQA audit may be at institutional or programme level. The first EQA audit of the University that took place in April 2015 was an institutional quality audit. Further information on the EQA parameters is provided in this leaflet published by the MFHEA.
EQA audits are based on the principles and Standards of the National QA Framework published by the MFHEA, and are undertaken according to an EQA Manual of Procedures published by the MFHEA.
The University of Malta embarked on the cyclical external quality assurance since 2015 under the auspices of the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), previously known as the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE). The MFHEA carried out its first External Quality Assurance Audits among the main public further and higher education institutions in Malta in 2015 following its launching of the National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education .
The University of Malta was the first Higher Education Institution to undergo an External Quality Assurance (EQA) audit in Malta. This was a pilot, but fully-fledged external quality assurance audit and was undertaken within the context of an ESF-funded project in which the UM was a partner, namely ESF Project 1.227 ‘Making Quality Visible’. The MFHEA’s EQA report (2015) is published online and this was followed-up by a desk- based report in 2016 which is also available online .
Believing in the importance of periodic EQA exercise and to fulfil its obligations in addressing the National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education the UM Quality Assurance Committee invites renowned QA experts to contribute to the raising of awareness of QA and quality culture in Higher Education.
In this line of thought, the QAC, through the Quality Support Unit, commissioned a panel from the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) International to conduct an institutional gap analysis of UM against the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) and the National Internal Quality Assurance Standards established by the MFHEA.
A QAA panel conducted a gap analysis which offered the opportunity to analyse internal quality assurance systems and identify where further development and capacity-building were needed. The gap analysis was an opportunity for UM to critically evaluate the degree to which it was likely to meet the ten (Part I) ESGs and the National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education.
This exercise was beneficial for UM to identify current good practices and areas for further enhancement while discussing with professional experts on possibilities of how these areas may be addressed. UM intends to maintain this good practice of inviting international experts from well-known accreditation agencies to conduct regular EQA and to spread awareness on quality assurance and accreditation in higher education.
Furthermore, the QAC agreed that it would be beneficial for UM to subscribe to the QAA’s International Associate Membership. Such international membership aims to build an international community of higher education institutions committed to excellence in quality assurance and enhancement.
Apart from the MFHEA EQA and the QAA EQA, the University has been committed to externality in its IQA processes at various levels including the following:
This approach of externality that necessitates the presence of recognised experts on the UM’s boards, committees and governing bodies ensures the objectivity of the evaluation and provides critical judgement of the process and determines how it compares to other similar processes in the country.
