Agency for Science and Higher Education

Overview

The Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE), known in Croatian as Agencija za znanost i visoko obrazovanje (AZVO), is Croatia's national public institution responsible for ensuring and enhancing the quality of higher education and scientific research. Established in 2005, ASHE operates as an independent agency dedicated to the continuous improvement of the Croatian higher education and science sectors. Its mission encompasses the development and implementation of external quality assurance procedures, accreditation of higher education institutions and study programs and the recognition of foreign qualifications. Through these efforts, ASHE contributes to the positioning and recognition of Croatian higher education and science within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the European Research Area (ERA).

History and Legal Framework

ASHE was founded in 2005 by the Government of Croatia through a decree aimed at establishing a specialized institution to oversee the evaluation and accreditation processes in higher education and science. The legal framework guiding ASHE's operations includes the Act on Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education (Official Gazette 45/09), which defines its responsibilities and ensures its full independence in conducting external quality assurance activities. This legal foundation aligns ASHE with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG), reinforcing its role as the sole national body authorized to carry out external evaluations in Croatia's higher education and scientific sectors.

Mission, Vision and Objectives in Higher Education

ASHE's mission is to foster the continuous development of quality assurance in higher education and science, aiming to permanently improve the quality of higher education institutions and scientific organizations. Its objectives include:

• Conducting external quality assessments of higher education institutions and scientific organizations.
• Accrediting higher education institutions and study programs based on national legal criteria and international standards.
• Recognizing foreign higher education qualifications to facilitate academic and professional mobility.
• Promoting the integration of Croatian higher education and science into the European and global academic communities.

Through these objectives, ASHE contributes to the enhancement of the quality and international competitiveness of Croatian higher education and research.

Governance, Structure and Independence

ASHE operates as a public, independent agency under the Croatian government. Its governance structure includes an Accreditation Council responsible for decision-making in accreditation procedures and various expert panels that conduct evaluations and assessments. The agency's independence is safeguarded by legislation, ensuring that its operations are free from external influence and aligned with the principles of transparency, accountability and academic freedom. This structure enables ASHE to carry out its mandate effectively and uphold the integrity of the quality assurance processes in Croatian higher education and science.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation in Higher Education

ASHE is the sole national body authorized to conduct external quality assurance activities in Croatia's higher education and scientific sectors. Its accreditation and evaluation procedures include:

• Initial Accreditation: Assessing new higher education institutions and study programs to ensure they meet national and international quality standards.
• Re-accreditation: Periodically evaluating existing institutions and programs to ensure continuous compliance with quality criteria.
• Thematic Evaluations: Conducting targeted assessments on specific areas of higher education and research to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Cross-Border Evaluations: Evaluating joint study programs offered by Croatian and foreign institutions to ensure they meet quality standards.

These procedures are conducted in accordance with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015), ensuring that Croatian higher education institutions align with European best practices.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

ASHE actively participates in international quality assurance networks and projects, enhancing its credibility and fostering collaboration with global counterparts. Its international memberships include:

• ENQA: European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.
• EQAR: European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education.
• INQAAHE: International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education.
• CEENQA: Network of Central and Eastern European Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education.
• ECA: European Consortium for Accreditation.

These memberships enable ASHE to stay abreast of international developments in quality assurance and contribute to the global dialogue on higher education standards.

Current and Future Impact on Higher Education

ASHE's ongoing initiatives aim to further enhance the quality and international competitiveness of Croatian higher education. Current and future impacts include:

• Implementation of the Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Science (OG 151/22): This legislation regulates internal quality assurance and quality enhancement of higher education institutions and research institutes, external quality assessment and the organizational structure and competences of ASHE.
• Participation in European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Projects: ASHE is involved in projects like "Quality Assurance in Higher Education," funded by the ESF+ Efficient Human Resources national programme 2021–2027, aimed at improving quality assurance systems in higher education.
• Development of New Quality Assurance Models: Through projects like SKAZVO (Improvement of Quality Assurance and Enhancement Systems in Higher Education), ASHE is working on developing new models for external quality assurance in Croatian higher education.

These efforts are expected to strengthen the alignment of Croatian higher education with European standards and enhance its global recognition.

Summary

The Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE) plays a crucial role in ensuring and enhancing the quality of higher education and scientific research in Croatia. Through its independent operations, comprehensive accreditation and evaluation procedures and active participation in international networks, ASHE contributes to the continuous improvement and global positioning of Croatian higher education and science.

FAQs

• What is the role of ASHE?
  ASHE is responsible for conducting external quality assurance activities, accrediting higher education institutions and study programs and recognizing foreign qualifications in Croatia.
• When was ASHE established?
  ASHE was established in 2005 by the Government of Croatia.
• What are ASHE's main functions?
  ASHE's main functions include conducting initial and re-accreditation procedures, thematic evaluations and cross-border evaluations of higher education institutions and study programs.
• Is ASHE internationally recognized?
  Yes, ASHE is a full member of several international quality assurance networks, including ENQA, EQAR, INQAAHE, CEENQA and ECA.
• How does ASHE contribute to Croatian higher education?
  ASHE contributes by ensuring that higher education institutions meet national and international quality standards, thereby enhancing the quality and global competitiveness of Croatian higher education.

Organization Name

Agency for Science and Higher Education
Agencija za znanost i visoko obrazovanje

Acronym

AZVO

Year of Establishment

2005

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

ENQA full member, listed in EQAR

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Donje Svetice 38/5
Zagreb
10000 Grad Zagreb Croatia

Phone

+385 (1) 6274 800

Fax

+385 (1) 6274 801

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Agency for Science and Higher Education's Facebook page

X (Twitter)

Agency for Science and Higher Education's X page

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Not available

Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

Agency for Science and Higher Education's Wikipedia article

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 Croatian higher education-related organizations and authorities.

Find top-ranked Universities in Croatia.

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