Measuring what matters - an exploratory study on the Estonian institutional accreditation outcomes.

Autor/inn/en	Lauri, Liia; Udam, Maiki; Murnikov, Valeri
Titel	Measuring what matters - an exploratory study on the Estonian institutional accreditation outcomes.
Quelle	In: Quality in higher education, 32 (2026) 1, S. 58-75Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; gedruckt; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1353-8322; 1470-1081
DOI	10.1080/13538322.2025.2604395
Schlagwörter	Akkreditierung; Qualitätssicherung
Abstract	Institutional accreditation reports provide an overview of the strengths and areas for improvement of higher education institutions, analysed by international experts based on predefined quality standards. The aim of this study was to identify cross-standard themes from accreditation decisions that offer insights into the general strengths and development needs of Estonian higher education, as well as to draw conclusions about the functioning of the external quality assurance system itself. A mixed-method research design was employed. Content analysis revealed eight categories describing strengths and nine categories describing areas for improvement. Notable strengths included digital solutions and activities aimed at societal impact. The categories for areas of improvement highlighted the need for better engagement of higher education community members, the development of a shared understanding and improved documentation. The analysis demonstrated that the accreditation system effectively addresses the quality assurance systems of higher education institutions, focusing on goal-orientation, self-evaluation, stakeholder engagement and learner-centred approach. (HRK / Abstract übernommen).
Erfasst von	Hochschulrektorenkonferenz, Bonn
Update	2026/4