Institutional assessment

The AEQES wishes to make its assessment methodology evolve towards a mixed approach, where the programmatic part would be revised, and a new Institutional part would be added. Regarding the latest, the AEQES has launched a pilot phase to find the best possible methodology and has called the higher education establishments for application to be part of this test phase. This pilot phase will happen between 2019 and 2023 and should show what the is best possible method to evaluate the institutional level.

17 establishments were selected to take part in the pilot phase. Together, they represent a great sample of the different forms of education, geographical repartition and of the different quality assessment systems. These establishments are now in the first phase of self-assessment and to do so, they rely on the ESG, the European guidelines for quality assessment.

The UNamur makes part of the chosen universities that are taking part in the pilot phase in Federation Wallonia-Brussels.

This phase intends to test different methodologies, but also to define a perimeter of assessment and an object of assessment. Indeed, the methodology should be able to assess the quality of processes put in place in the Institutions to work properly, but also evaluate its global management. Therefore, the objective is big and complex.

The different steps of the institutional pilot phase of AEQES

As it is still a pilot phase, there is no established guidelines on how to proceed. Therefore, the participant establishments decided to base their evaluation on the existing steps of the program assessments, which rely on the ESG.

 

 

  •  Each institution submits a self-assessment report to the AEQES, introducing the institution and presenting its strengths and weaknesses.
  • A first experts visit is organized (which can last 2 to 3 days depending on the establishment).
  • These experts hand over a preliminary report.
  • The institution has the right of reply and can underline factual mistakes in the report.
  • The experts submit their final report and give a global note on suggested improvements.
  • Then, they make a transversal analyze.
  • Based on the experts’ recommendations, the institution designs an action plan.

The PILOT PHASE AT UNAMUR

The UNamur stands as candidate for taking part into the co-construction of the adapted methodology.

Several dates were set up for the institution to meet the deadlines of the pilot phase.

  • 15th October 2019 : sending the self-assessment report to the AEQES.

  • 3rd, 4th and 5th February 2020: the experts visit appointed by the AEQES in the University within the frame of the institutional assessment. The visit was a success and showed to the experts the dynamism and management of our university.
  • 14th July 2021: receipt of the final report from their experts and their recommendations.

The UNamur decided to adopt a collaborative approach relying on 9 different work groups made of more than 40 members of the Institution (administrative, academic, scientific staff, managers, vice-rectors, deans). Thanks to this approach, the university was able to design an action plan that met the recommendations made by the experts after their on-site visit.

You will find the action plan hereunder, which was published on 31st May 2022, and is in line with the rectoral committee’s strategy and compliant with our values, missions, respectful of our employees and compatible with our capabilities.