The full interview can be found on the TA3 website (in Slovak).
The Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (SAAHE), established six years ago, has reached a significant milestone in the quality assurance of education. According to Douglas Blackstock, President of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), the Slovak Agency not only meets European quality standards but has also become an example for other countries seeking to improve their accreditation systems.
“Your agency went through a very rigorous evaluation process, which included academics, students, and other professionals. The results confirmed that the Slovak higher education system is credible and meets European quality standards and guidelines,” Blackstock said. Under the leadership of Robert Redhammer, Chair of the Executive Board of the SAAHE, Slovakia has become the fastest-integrating country in the field of quality education in Europe. “Our agency helps universities set up internal processes to ensure the quality of education is continuous. We are already seeing the first results – many schools have reviewed their programmes and introduced new mechanisms for quality improvement,” said Redhammer.
Example for the Czech Republic
The Slovak agency is one of the few institutions in Central and Eastern Europe that met all the requirements and became a full member of ENQA. Blackstock highlighted that Slovakia can inspire countries like the Czech Republic, which still are working to meet these standards. “Slovakia has shown that it is possible not only to meet European requirements but also to create a credible system that is recognised across the academic space from Ireland to Kazakhstan,” Blackstock added.
Challenges for the future
Although Slovakia has made significant progress, it still faces challenges in the area of brain drain. According to statistics, one in six Slovak university students study abroad, with many no longer returning home. The Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education wants to reverse this trend by increasing the competitiveness and attractiveness of education at Slovak universities. “The key is not only to offer education that meets international standards but also actively communicate these qualities. Slovak universities must improve their reputation management and marketing to be able to compete not only regionally, but also globally,” Redhammer stressed.
Slovakia on the quality map
Thanks to the Agency’s achievements, Slovakia is now firmly anchored on the map of European academic space. The accreditation system has become the basis for further development of higher education, which has the potential to attract not only domestic but also foreign students. “The Slovak Accreditation Agency is an example of how systematic work and international cooperation can bring concrete results. I believe that Slovakia will continue to be an inspiration for other countries,” Blackstock concluded. With the new tools that Slovak higher education institutions have acquired, opportunities open up for further improving education, expanding cooperation with European universities, and strengthening the competitiveness of Slovak graduates in the global labour market.
