About this area of activity
NOKUT inspects educational activities at all Norwegian institutions offering higher education and vocational education. The monitoring comprises two key components:
- Inspection of the institutions’ internal quality assurance of their educational activities
- Inspection to confirm that the institutions’ courses meet national quality standards.
NOKUT inspections are based on the fact that responsibility for the educational quality rests with the institution offering the course. The authority to carry out inspections is laid down in the Act relating to universities and university colleges and the Act on tertiary vocational education with associated regulations produced by the Ministry of Education and Research. The regulations contain national standards and criteria. NOKUT sets complementary standards and criteria in its own regulations. Together these form the national standard on which NOKUT’s inspections are based.
Almost without exception inspections take place with the use of expert committees. The primary aim is to ensure that educational activities are carried out to a satisfactory standard. The inspections also have a dual function in that NOKUT also gives guidance on how the institution can further develop the quality of its courses and its quality programme.
The Norwegian model for quality assurance of higher education and tertiary vocational education is briefly described below.
The inspection model for higher education assigns institutions to categories with various powers to offer courses on Bachelor, Master and PhD levels. The institutional categories and associated powers are shown in the figure below. The inspection model comprises the following components:
- Inspection of the institutions’ internal quality assurance of their educational activities. This is carried out by way of a periodic assessment of the quality assurance systems at all institutions.
- Inspections to ensure that the institutions’ courses meet national quality standards. This is done in two ways:
1. Accreditation of new courses following applications from institutions that do not have the authority to establish the new course, cf. the figure below.
2. Inspections of established courses. NOKUT may request a report from an institution where there is reason to believe that quality is unsatisfactory in an identified course or programme. This can be followed up with a revision (re-accreditation) process. All courses at all institutions may be revised, including those established on the basis of self accreditation.
The scheme for institutional categories with varying powers allows an institution to apply for institutional accreditation in a different category with extended powers. NOKUT assesses whether the institution meets the standard and criteria for accreditation in the relevant category. The Ministry of Education and Research then determines whether the institution can be transferred to that category. NOKUT may revise institutional accreditations.
The inspection model for tertiary vocational education comprises the following key components:
- Inspection of the vocational colleges’ internal quality assurance of their educational activities. This is achieved by NOKUT’s carrying out an assessment of its quality assurance system. It takes place when a vocational college applies for accreditation of new courses or when NOKUT carries out inspections of established courses, for example.
- Inspections to ensure that the vocational college’s courses meet national quality standards. This is done in two ways:
1. Accreditation of new courses following applications from the vocational colleges.
2. Inspections of established courses. NOKUT may request a report if there is reason to believe that quality is unsatisfactory or may conduct a revision of the accreditation for a certain course. All courses at all institutions may be revised, including those established by a vocational college on the basis of self accreditation, cf. accreditation of specialisms below.
From 2009 vocational colleges may also apply to NOKUT for so-called specialism accreditation. If the vocational college meets the appropriate standards and criteria it is granted authority to establish new courses within the relevant specialism. NOKUT may revise, and revoke, a specialism accreditation.
Strategies for further development
Inspections in general
Inspection methods in higher education
- Evaluation quality assurance systems
The evaluation criteria and evaluation schemes were amended before the secondary assessments were carried out in 2009. The advisory element has been developed further, and this time the institutions can expect more dialogue in the process, increased focus on the benefit of the systems and offers of follow-up seminars. The aim to develop a more consistent inspection model along with the experiences gathered in the first round of assessments may result in some adjustments to the evaluation criteria and evaluation schemes.
- Institutional+ accreditation
NOKUT shall illustrate certain criteria and renew the routines associated with the processing of applications. NOKUT will revise institutional accreditations if developments in the sector warrant it.
- Accreditation of new courses
In consultation with the sector NOKUT shall revise the standards and criteria for the accreditation of courses with the view to simplifying and illustrating aspects that are key to educational quality at the various levels. We will also review the way applications are handled. The introduction of application deadlines will be considered in an attempt to reduce processing times and to allow for more systematic guidance to be given to applicants and experts. Sufficient capacity for application processing shall always be a priority.
- Inspections of established courses
NOKUT shall introduce a new model for the inspection of established courses. These inspections shall change their focus from a random and broad selection of auditing objects to largely serving as a targeted quality control to be launched when there are indications where quality is failing. The model will comprise three steps: i) Annual overall analysis and risk evaluation, ii) Obtaining statements where there is an indication of quality failure or other reason for inspection, and iii) Review of accreditation if necessary after step two.
Inspection methods for tertiary vocational education
- Assessing quality assurance systems
The requirement for quality assurance systems for everyone offering tertiary vocational education was introduced in 2009. NOKUT began an assessment of these systems in autumn 2009. Adjustments may be made as we continue to gather further experience.
- Accrediting new courses
New standards and criteria for courses were introduced in 2009. At the same time we are changing the way applications are processed. Sufficient capacity for processing applications will always be a priority. Adjustments may be made as we continue to gather experience with the new system.
- Inspections of established courses
NOKUT shall launch inspections of tertiary vocational courses that have already been accredited. These will follow the same three-step model described for higher education.
- Specialism accreditation (authority to establish new courses within a given specialism)
NOKUT shall establish a scheme for specialism accreditation whereby vocational colleges can apply for permission to establish new courses within a given specialism.