EQAR: the AERES is recognised at European level
By obtaining admission to the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), less than 5 years after its foundation, the AERES has been recognised by the official European body founded within the framework of the Bologna Process.
During its meeting on 13 May 2011, EQAR decided to add the AERES to the European register of evaluation and quality assurance agencies for higher education. The AERES is hence recognised at European level by the official body instituted in London in 2007 by ministers for higher education from the member countries of the Bologna Process.
After examination of the external evaluation report submitted by a committee of international experts, EQAR concluded that the AERES complies with European requirements for quality assurance in higher education ("Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area" - ESG) adopted at Bergen in 2005.
The European recognition of the AERES was of significant importance for the agency and the institutions it evaluates. This was the first addition to the European register of an agency that evaluates both research and training programmes, and reinforces the credibility of the French system of research and higher education. This registration also provides the AERES with international visibility with regards to evaluations that it may conduct at the request of institutions or authorities in other countries.
The AERES is an independent public body that conducts the evaluation of higher education institutions, research units, training programmes and degrees.
"I am fortunate to take on the duties of President of the AERES as it obtains this mark of European recognition. This testifies to the quality of work carried out by the AERES since 2007.
Conferring additional credibility on the agency, this addition to the EQAR register also commends the originality of the AERES evaluation method, both in research and training programmes; the "integrated evaluation" method that also contributes to providing additional consistency to the system of higher education and research in France."
Didier Houssin
