Main documents for mutual recognition
The following documents contain agreements and principles which facilitate mutual recognition of accreditation results and decisions.
The mutual recognition agreements can be found here.
Code of Good Practice (2004)
The Code of Good Practice lays down a set of standards and good practices regarding the member accreditation organisations of ECA. The Code additionally serves to support the internal quality assurance policies of ECA's members.
- Download the Code of Good Practice
(PDF / 174.7 KB)
Principles for the Selection of Experts (2005)
The selection of external experts is of key importance for any external quality assurance procedure. ECA members have agreed on a set of principles. These encompass among others the rules and regulations of the member agencies; transparency; authority; independence; confidentiality and objectivity.
- Download the principles
(PDF / 148.8 KB)
Joint Declaration concerning the Automatic Recognition of Qualifications (2005)
This Declaration is also called the Vienna Sententia. Members of ECA and the corresponding ENIC-NARICs of their countries signed this document in 2005. In it they lay down the preconditions that have to be met to start recognising each other's qualifications automatically.
- Download the Vienna Sententia
(PDF / 361.8 KB)
Principles for accreditation procedures regarding joint programmes (2007)
In order to increase mutual trust and transparency, the members of ECA have agreed on the following principles regarding accreditation procedures for joint programmes.
- Download the principles
(PDF / 33.7 KB)
Principles regarding learning outcomes in accreditation procedures (2009)
The members of ECA agree that learning outcomes have to be taken into account during any assessment procedure in higher education. This contributes to the mutual recognition of accreditation decisions.
In order to increase mutual trust and transparency, the members of ECA concur that accreditation procedures should take into account an agreed set of principles.
- Download the principles
(PDF / 57.3 KB)
Recommendations for mutual recognition of institutional evaluations (2009)
In June 2009 ECA members agreed on a set of recommendations for agencies with a view to the enhancement of mutual recognition of institutional evaluations(acreditations, audits or assessments).
- Recommendations for institutional evaluations
(PDF / 33.1 KB)
About ECA

The European Consortium for Accreditation in higher education (ECA) has been established in Córdoba in November 2003 and renewed in Kraków in June 2008.
Click here to read more about the ECA agreement and results.
Publications

ECA regularly publishes position papers and reports.
Qrossroads

Qrossroads presents information regarding quality assured and accredited higher education in Europe. This information is published by European quality assurance and accreditation agencies.
TEAM II Project

The main objectives of TEAM II are to develop a European methodology for single accreditation procedures of joint programmes, to explore recognition of these programmes and to extend the electronic information tool, Qrossroads.
Click here to visit the TEAM II website
News

Click here to consult the latest ECA News.
Events

Through the year ECA organises various conferences and seminars.
