By Goran Đaković, ENQA Head of Agency Reviews, Milja Homan, ENQA Project and Reviews Officer, and Alexis Fábregas Almirall, ENQA Project and Reviews Officer
Agency reviewers are at the heart of ENQA Agency Reviews. Drawing on their expertise, they help assess whether quality assurance agencies meet the ESG, while also supporting those agencies in strengthening their practices. At the same time, by participating in multiple reviews, reviewers build a deep understanding of ENQA’s processes and methodology, making them invaluable contributors to the ongoing enhancement of ENQA’s agency review methodology. Over the past weeks, the ENQA Secretariat’s reviews team has been especially active, hosting a series of activities dedicated to supporting and engaging with agency reviewers.
Spread across three online half-day sessions in September, the 2025 ENQA Training of Agency Reviewers brought together quality assurance professionals, academics and students interested in joining the pool of reviewers.
Combining presentations, preparatory assignments, and practical exercises, this training aims to provide experts with the necessary knowledge on the use of the ESG 2015, the ENQA Agency Review process, and compliance assessment. Participants are also briefed about the expectations regarding reviews and reports of key actors in the process such as the ENQA Agency Review Committee or the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR). This training is normally organised on a yearly basis, and participation is a prerequisite for experts to be involved in ENQA Agency Reviews.
Building on feedback from previous participants, this year’s edition placed an even stronger emphasis on active learning. Participants were asked to complete preparatory work before each session and were given more time for discussion. New features included the use of an interactive social learning platform and case studies. The response was very positive:
“It enabled peer learning through the exchange of ideas with trainees from diverse backgrounds. As well as equipping me with the necessary knowledge and skills for external reviews through theory, testimonies and role plays, it encouraged me to reflect on my own agency’s training methodology”
Sophie Guillet, Head of the Cooperation Unit, Department for European and International Affairs, HCERES, France“The training was very interesting. It gave me an opportunity to explore ESG in greater depth and to hear the perspectives of other experienced participants and presenters”
Jakub Brdulak, General Secretary, PKA, Poland
The ENQA Secretariat will carefully analyse the feedback from this edition to continue improving the training for agency reviewers.
However, it was not only new reviewers who kept the team busy. On 2 and 3 October, ENQA organised the latest edition of its seminar for experienced reviewers, kindly hosted by the Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA) in Warsaw, Poland.
The seminar gathered reviewers who have previously taken part in ENQA Agency Reviews and who wish to continue their involvement. The event was aimed at keeping their knowledge up to date and exchanging experiences. It was also an opportunity to reflect on possible improvements to ENQA’s processes and methodology. Adopting a practical approach, this year’s edition aimed at gathering their feedback on potential changes being introduced to the ESG as part of their revision and the feasibility of redefining the levels of compliance used in the assessment scale with the aim of bringing greater clarity to both experts and agencies.
The activities described above are part of ENQA’s broader efforts to expand and maintain its pool of experts. In addition, the Secretariat also communicates regularly with reviewers to keep them informed of new developments and offers targeted training for specific roles, such as panel chairs or secretaries. External quality assurance in the EHEA is built on the concept of peer review. ENQA’s work to train its reviewers supports trust and integrity of the whole process and we are extremely grateful to the commitment and professionalism that the reviewers bring to the agency review activities.