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News from the Board, 7 September 2009 (15. Oct. 2009)

The ENQA Board met in Paris on 7 September 2009 and discussed the following main topics: the preparation for the General Assembly (GA) 2009, current European Commission funded activities, ENQA Regulations, E4 and the European Register of Quality Assurance Agencies (EQAR), external reviews of ENQA member agencies and associate and affiliate matters.

Preparation for the General Assembly 2009
The Board discussed and decided upon the draft agenda for the 2009 General Assembly

The Board agreed on the topics for the working group sessions. For the second breakout session focused on elaborating an implementation plan of priorities for ENQA in 2010 (supported by the ENQA Position Paper), it was decided that participants should be made aware that the outcome of the discussion will have a direct impact on the short and mid-term planning of the ENQA agenda. Following this second breakout session, participants will be invited to suggest topics for the two future ENQA events to be organised in 2010, within the final plenary session of the first day of the Assembly.

The Board noted that there were nine candidates for the three vacant ENQA Board posts. These candidates for election to the Board would be invited to give a brief presentation of themselves before the elections are held. Additionally, to promote transparency, it was agreed that there will be a brief overview of the current Board member mandates.

The Board decided to allow the GA to decide on the location of the Secretariat, while provided with all necessary and relevant documentation.

Current European Commission funded activities
The Board noted the programme of the upcoming ENQA workshop: “Quality Assurance in e-Learning” hosted by NAHE, Sigtuna, Sweden, 7-8 October 2009.

The Board noted and discussed the programme for the upcoming Training of Experts for Agency Reviews to be held on 22-23 October, 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.

E4 and European Register of Quality Assurance Agencies (EQAR)
The Board noted that the EQAR Register Committee had prepared a useful and explanatory report on the decision-making process and interpretation of the ESG by EQAR. It will soon be made available to participants for the EQAR General Assembly.

The Board was informed that the programme for the EQAF 2009 had been finalised and the EQAF Steering Committee would meet on 8 September, 2009 to discuss and select papers.

ENQA Regulations
The Board discussed the two amendment proposals to the ENQA Regulations, which will thus be presented to the GA.

ENQA-coordinated and nationally coordinated reviews
The Board agreed to reconfirm full membership to EUA Institutional Evaluation Programme (EUA-IEP) after careful scrutiny of their review report.

The Board agreed to reconfirm full membership to Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) after careful scrutiny of their review report.

The Board agreed to grant full membership to the National Accreditation Agency of the Russian Federation (NAA) after careful scrutiny of their review report.

The Board agreed that ENQA will coordinate the external review of the Agence de l’Evaluation de la Qualité de l’Enseignement Supérieur (AEQES).

The Board agreed that ENQA will coordinate the external review of the European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE).

Associate and Affiliate issues
The Board agreed to grant Associate status in ENQA to the British Accreditation Council (BAC).

The Board agreed to grant Affiliate status in ENQA to the European Council for Business Education (ECBE).

Upcoming events
Fourth European Quality Assurance Forum "Creativity and Diversity: Challenges for quality assurance beyond 2010", Copenhagen, Denmark, 19-21 November 2009.

For further information on ENQA events, please see here.

For further information on ENQA associated events, please click here.

The next Board meetings will take place on 27 and 29 September 2009 in Barcelona, Spain.