In 2007-08, NOKUT was evaluated by an international committee. The evaluation concluded that NOKUT clearly meets the requirements set out in the European standards for quality assurance in higher education.
However, several improvements were recommended for NOKUT's activities and the Norwegian system of quality assurance in education in general. The evaluation committee focused particularly on two areas. Firstly, it felt that NOKUT was too focused on quality assurance, and recommended that NOKUT should play a greater role in institutional development. Secondly, it considered that NOKUT should become more flexible and targeted in its use of its tool-box.
Several of the specific recommendations were of a nature that required adjustments to NOKUT's mandate, and in 2009 the Ministry of Education and Research adjusted the laws and regulations that govern NOKUT's operations. The changes to the law placed a greater emphasis on NOKUT's role in institutional development, and NOKUT was given greater flexibility in its quality assurance activities.
The evaluation did not comment much on the recognition of foreign higher education qualifications. However, in 2007 a report on this area pointed out various possible areas for improvement (the Brautaset committee). As a result, NOKUT was tasked with setting up a centre to provide information about the various forms of recognition and authorisation available based on foreign higher education qualifications.
Both the evaluation reports and the Brautaset committee's recommendations were key background documents for the drawing up of NOKUT's strategic plan for 2010-14.
The reports from the evaluation of NOKUT: