ENQA Leadership Development Programme

The ENQA Leadership Development Programme is designed to provide an intensive European peer-learning experience for high-potential professional staff in ENQA member and affiliate quality assurance agencies. It is a unique opportunity for QA agencies to offer their staff targeted training in an international environment.

Aims and activities

The Leadership Development Programme aims to:

Gain up-to-date information on key developments in the European Higher Education and the opportunity for analysis and discussions on the impact these have on QA and the work of agencies
Enhance their understanding of leadership skills and competences in the specific context of QA agencies, including the complexities of stakeholder cooperation
Expand their professional networks through exchange with colleagues in similar positions from across Europe, and to work together between seminars in project groups on a small-scale, focused project related to European quality assurance and quality enhancement
Visit three European QA agencies and learn from their leaders and ENQA Board members.

Editions

ENQA Leadership Development Programme 2026

ENQA Leadership Development Programme 2025

ENQA Leadership Development Programme 2024

ENQA Leadership Development Programme 2023

ENQA Leadership Programme 2021-22

ENQA Leadership Programme 2019

ENQA Leadership programme 2018

Publications

ENQA Leadership Development Programme 2025 Project Group Reports

Reflections from past editions

“For us, the ENQA Leadership Development Programme stands out for its strong emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. Our approach fosters an environment where professionals can explore their leadership styles, enhance teamwork, and expand their professional networks. A key strength of the programme is the open exchange of experiences and insights on navigating major developments in higher education and their impact on quality assurance. We take great pride in facilitating this experience, and the warm hospitality of our host agencies further enriches the programme."

The LDP offered a valuable forum for structured discussions on leadership and higher education, tailored specifically to the work of QA agencies. The most beneficial aspects were this contextualisation and the opportunity to engage with colleagues across agencies, enabling us to understand our shared challenges, learn from different approaches, and build a network I expect to draw on in the future. The project component was also particularly rewarding, allowing our group to research and present recommendations on a relevant QA topic, ultimately leading to ENQA publishing the reports we produced during the programme.

“I found the LDP both enjoyable and insightful for several reasons. It deepened my understanding of QA, particularly in relation to the dynamics and current trends in higher education. The emphasis on leadership and effectively managing internal QA processes was especially valuable. Additionally, it was a great experience connecting with professionals from across Europe who share a passion for QA and higher education, as well as exploring new places and learning about different QA agencies. I highly recommend this programme for anyone looking to expand their knowledge, explore new locations, and build meaningful connections!”

“Although it took some work and personal arrangements to attend 3 seminars in other countries, the richness of the experience was more than worth the effort. The LDP provides a compact and usable high amount of information, reflection and connections in a relaxed, fluid, and almost seamless way. The added value for my professional and personal development has already become apparent in the last few months since the end of the programme, but I have the feeling that it will become even more evident in the years to come.”

“I would like to highlight two particularly valuable aspects: The discussion and reflection on different leadership styles that took place in the three seminars, as well as the discourse encouraged by the seminar leaders around the discussion of what “leadership” means. Here, the exchange with the other participants was just as valuable and important. Hearing how colleagues from all European agencies work daily broadened our horizons and brought a great deal of mutual understanding.”