Φορέας Διασφάλισης και Πιστοποίησης της Ποιότητας της Ανώτερης Εκπαίδευσης

The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (Greek: Φορέας Διασφάλισης και Πιστοποίησης της Ποιότητας της Ανώτερης Εκπαίδευσης, commonly abbreviated ΔΙΠΑΕ or CYQAA) is the sole legally designated independent authority in the Republic of Cyprus responsible for safeguarding and enhancing the quality of higher education. Established in November 2015, CYQAA oversees institutional and programme accreditation, external evaluation, and continuous academic improvement in accordance with European Standards and Guidelines (ESG).

Legislative Basis and Establishment

CYQAA was legally constituted by Law No. 136(I)/2015—titled «Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education and the Establishment and Operation of an Agency for Related Matters Law of 2015»—and its subsequent Amendments (notably Laws 47(I)/2016, 35(I)/2019, 54(I)/2020, 132(I)/2021 and 174(I)/2024). The Council of Ministers appointed the Agency’s inaugural governing board on 5 November 2015, marking its official commencement. It formally replaced previous evaluation bodies such as the Council of Educational Evaluation and Accreditation, the Advisory Committee on Higher Education, and the Evaluation Committee for Private Universities.

Mission and Objectives

CYQAA’s central mission is to advance quality, equity, and transparency in Cypriot higher education by fostering internal quality cultures in institutions and ensuring compliance with international benchmarks. Its core objectives include:

• Conducting external evaluation of institutions, academic departments, and programmes;
• Managing institutional and programme accreditation valid for five years with provisions for renewal;
• Evaluating cross‑border and franchised programmes offered in Cyprus or by Cypriot providers abroad;
• Advising the Minister of Education and national authorities on higher education policy, governance, and quality matters;
• Promoting Cyprus as a regional hub for quality higher education aligned with ENQA and EQAR standards.

Governance and Organisational Structure

Governed by a Council appointed by national authorities, CYQAA’s leadership includes a President, Vice‑President, and up to nine voting members. Members are selected to reflect academic expertise, institutional experience, public accountability, and student representation. An Executive Secretariat manages daily operations, stakeholder communication, and implementation of policy decisions.

Quality Assurance Responsibilities

CYQAA administers both external and internal quality assurance processes:

• Institutional Evaluation: Comprehensive review of governance, financial stability, academic staffing, student support, research strategy, and infrastructure.
• Departmental Evaluation: Assessment of individual academic departments for quality and sustainability.
• Programme Validation: External evaluation of new and existing undergraduate and graduate programmes, including cyclical reviews every five years.
• Cross‑Border Education Oversight: Quality assessment of programmes offered under franchising, joint degrees, or delivered abroad by Cypriot institutions, and recognition of foreign providers operating in Cyprus.

Accreditation Role and Procedures

While CYQAA does not directly issue degrees, it holds statutory accreditation authority. Accreditation decisions are based on expert committee evaluation reports and a formal Council decision. Accredited status is typically granted for up to five years, after which institutions or programmes must reapply. Accreditation may include conditional approvals requiring remedial action plans and follow-up reviews. The American University of Cyprus, for example, received institutional accreditation usable until 2025–26 after meeting required benchmarks.

Role in the Higher Education System of Cyprus

As the national accreditation body, CYQAA occupies a pivotal role in Cyprus’s higher education system. Membership in both public and private universities is contingent on the accreditation status of their programmes. Approval of new study fields, transnational campus presence, and institutional licences all depend on CYQAA evaluation. It supports academic freedom, academic integrity, and institutional autonomy while promoting transparent standards aligned with national and European regulations.

Compliance with European Standards and International Registration

CYQAA operates in full compliance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), maintaining ESG‑based criteria in its evaluation instruments. It is a registered agency with the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) since 1 February 2019, and its registration was successfully renewed in April 2024 with validity until January 2029. CYQAA is also a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), contributing to policy dialogue and cross‑border QA initiatives.

Transparency, Reports and Data Management

The Agency publishes evaluation criteria, institutional and programme evaluation reports, accredited institution and programme lists, and Council decisions via its public website. These documents are accessible to students, governments, professional bodies, and international partners, strengthening trust and accountability. CYQAA also maintains an internal database for monitoring progress on recommendations and accrediting decisions.

Collaboration with Domestic and International Partners

CYQAA collaborates closely with other national authorities and international quality assurance agencies. It maintains formal cooperation agreements (for instance with QAA UK) to share expertise on cross‑border delivery, transnational education, and QA enhancements. Domestically, it advises the Ministry of Education, stakeholder bodies, professional regulators, and student associations to align Cyprus’s higher education with European norms and global developments.

Impact on Institutions, Programmes and Students

CYQAA’s accreditation and evaluation processes offer multiple benefits:

• Institutions gain credibility and international recognition of their qualifications.
• Programme improvements are driven by peer‑reviewed action plans and internal reflection.
• Students benefit from improved learning outcomes, increased transparency, and better recognition of degrees domestically and abroad.
• Employers, professional bodies and policymakers gain confidence in academic standards, institutional governance and programme content.

Challenges and Reform Agenda

The Agency contends with several institutional and policy challenges:

• Adapting quality assurance processes to digital and hybrid learning models, micro‑credentials, and rapid innovation in teaching.
• Balancing institutional autonomy and religious or corporate identity with public accountability and ESG compliance.
• Maintaining consistent standards across an expanding higher education sector with diverse providers and cross‑border activity.
• Strengthening internal quality cultures to reduce over‑reliance on external evaluation.

Future Directions and Strategic Initiatives

CYQAA’s strategic outlook includes:

• Modernising evaluation instruments to cover digital provision, micro‑credentials, and joint degrees;
• Enhancing collaboration with European quality assurance networks on research, innovation and mutual recognition frameworks;
• Expanding stakeholder engagement by involving employers, professional bodies and students more deeply in QA processes;
• Strengthening analytical capacity through data collection, graduate outcome surveys and long‑term institutional performance tracking;
• Improving visibility of Cypriot higher education as a quality-driven, internationally aligned sector.

Conclusion

The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA/ΔΙΠΑΕ) is central to advancing the integrity, quality and credibility of Cyprus’s higher education system. Its legislated authority to evaluate and accredit institutions and programmes, its full compliance with ESG, and its international registration with EQAR and membership in ENQA position it as the national agency that bridges domestic academic quality with European and global expectations. By combining robust QA mechanisms, public transparency, and strategic partnerships, CYQAA ensures that Cypriot higher education institutions meet standards essential for student success, academic mobility, and public trust at home and abroad.

Organization Name

Φορέας Διασφάλισης και Πιστοποίησης της Ποιότητας της Ανώτερης Εκπαίδευσης

Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education

Acronym

CYQAA
ΔΙΠΑΕ

Year of Establishment

2015

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

World Federation for Medical Education;

Affiliations or Memberships

European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR); European Association for Quality Assurance (ENQA); International Network for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Higher Education (INQAAHE); European University Association (EUA); European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN); Global Academic Integrity Network (GAIN)

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Lemesou Avenue, 5
Lefkosia
2112 Northern Cyprus Cyprus

Phone

+357 (22) 504 340

Fax

+357 (22) 504 392

Higher Education Institutions evaluated/accredited by The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education

Avgorou

• Public School of Higher Vocational Education and Training - MIEEK (Branch Avgorou)

Frankfurt, Germany

• European University Cyprus - School of Medicine (Branch Frankfurt, Germany)

Larnaca

• Public School of Higher Vocational Education and Training - MIEEK (Branch Larnaca)

Limassol

• Philips University
• University of Limassol
• Public School of Higher Vocational Education and Training - MIEEK (Branch Limassol)

Nicosia

• ACC Akademia College
• Aigaia School of Art and Design
• American University of Cyprus (AUCY)
• ARTE Music Academy
• CBS - College of Business Studies (Nicosia)
• Cosmos Open University
• Cyprus Forestry College
• European Institute of Management and Finance (EIMF)
• European University Cyprus - School of Dentistry
• FreshArt College
• Mediterranean Institute of Management
• Mesoyios College
• Public School of Higher Vocational Education and Training - MIEEK (Branch Nicosia)
• The Philips College
• The Police Academy
• Absolute Institute of Technical Education (ΑΙΤΕ)–(MIEEK)

Pafos

• American University of Beirut Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) Pafos
• Cyprus University of Technology - Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship (Branch Paphos)
• Neapolis College
• Pafos Innovation Institute - Ceased Operation 01-09-2022
• Public School of Higher Vocational Education and Training - MIEEK (Branch Pafos)

Paralimni

• Public School of Higher Vocational Education and Training - MIEEK (Branch Paralimni)

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Not available

X (Twitter)

Not available

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Not available

Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

Not available

Unlock your University's potential: spotlight your Institution on UniRank for leads, local recognition and branding. Enquiry now to feature your University here.

Explore other Cypriot higher education-related organizations and authorities.

Find top-ranked Universities in Cyprus.

Search for courses and scholarships with the uniRank World Universities Search Engine.