About Us

ABOUT US

European Association for Higher Education Advancement (formerly European Agency for Higher Education and Accreditation),the legal acronym "EAHEA", is a non-governmental, independent, and international quality assurance, rating, certification, and accreditation association working to improve the quality assurance standards of educational organizations globally, especially in Europe. With its global network of experts, EAHEA grants accreditation to universities, colleges, schools, educational institutes, vocational institutions, distance learning centers, online courses, and corporations; and grants professional certification to professionals, qualified individuals, instructors, and students.

Regional accreditation bodies have dutifully evaluated education providers on a regional scale and granted them Primary Accreditation. However, the rapid growth of globalization calls for a global entity that can evaluate them against internationally proven standards of education and grant them an internationally recognized Secondary Accreditation. EAHEA provides international and independent accreditation to the education providers to serve as secondary accreditation, enhance the entity´s regional accreditation, and assure stakeholders that the educational program, policies, and procedures of the institute, university, and school are up to the international standards of quality. EAHEA´s International Accreditation represents an education provider´s commitment to delivering quality that is on par with global standards.

EAHEA also offers international accreditation services to small, medium, and large-scale educational corporations. EAHEA´s international accreditation for educational corporations ensures that the organizations are operating according to international principles and standards of quality. It assures the business community´s confidence and trust in the business structure, management, and performance. It also provides international recognition of the business and quality practices globally.

Mission & Vision

The mission of the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA) is to support the advancement of higher education institutions by providing independent, transparent, and enhancement-led external quality assurance services. In accordance with Articles 1.4 and 1.5 of our Articles of Association, EAHEA promotes collaboration, professional development, the development of accreditation standards, and evidence-based evaluation practices.

We are committed to ensuring educational quality through institutional and program-level accreditation, stakeholder engagement, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange. EAHEA´s mission is carried out with respect for academic freedom, diversity, and integrity, contributing to the overall improvement and global recognition of higher education systems.

EAHEA envisions a globally interconnected higher education landscape where quality, innovation, and inclusivity define the foundation of academic excellence. Our vision is to be a trusted international partner in promoting a culture of continuous improvement and quality enhancement in higher education, aligned with global best practices and ethical standards.

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Meaning of Logo & Emblem

EAHEA´s logo features a single-headed eagle, facing left, with its wings fully spread, talons extended outward, and stylized fringes beneath its wings. The eagle holds a flame in its beak, symbolizing eternal vigilance and enlightenment. This noble creature stands as a timeless emblem of strength, protection, independence, and vision.

The left-facing head represents respect for heritage and accumulated wisdom, while the outstretched wings signify readiness, authority, and a broad protective reach. The talons pointing outward reflect balance and the ability to uphold integrity in all directions. The decorative fringes beneath the wings evoke tradition and cultural depth, and the flame embodies the pursuit of knowledge and truth.

Throughout history, the eagle has been a symbol of power, clarity, and leadership across many civilizations. But, at EAHEA, we adopt the eagle not only as a historic symbol but also as a reflection of the EAHEA´s mission: To safeguard academic excellence, promote independent and reliable accreditation, and elevate institutions through visionary leadership and global standards.

EAHEA´s logo is more than a visual identity — it is a commitment to uphold the highest ideals of education, transparency, and international trust.

The EAHEA logo and emblem, featuring the single-headed eagle, is a registered trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO),and all rights of use and reproduction are exclusively reserved by EAHEA.

Area of Operation

Although its name includes "European", EAHEA operates internationally and its operation area is not restricted to Europe. It can grant accreditation and provide services to institutions worldwide. It has a global network of partner agencies and experts, allowing it to adapt its services to different educational contexts.

Transparency and Accountability

As a legally established not-for-profit organization (association),EAHEA adheres to principles of transparency and accountability. It publishes information about its governance structure, financial statements, accreditation procedures, and decisions on its website. Also, it is subject to regular audits and reviews by independent bodies to ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Financial Sustainability

As a not-for-profit membership organization (association),EAHEA is sustained by fees. EAHEA must remain sustainable and responsibly manage its finances. Financial sustainability means EAHEA can keep the organization afloat and keep its dedicated service to scholarly communications running. Please visit the Service Fees page for more details.

Legal Structure & Mandate

The European Association for Higher Education Advancement MTÜ (EAHEA) is a non-profit association legally established and registered in Tallinn, Estonia, operating under Estonian private law. According to Article 1.4 of its Articles of Association, EAHEA is mandated to foster collaboration and networking among higher education institutions, promote best practices, and support the development of accreditation and certification standards within the education sector.

EAHEA is empowered to conduct external quality assurance activities, including institutional and program-level evaluations, through standard-setting, peer review, consultation, and the development of educational standards (Article 1.4.3 and 1.4.4). Furthermore, as specified in Article 1.5, EAHEA actively collaborates with both governmental and non-governmental bodies, provides expert guidance to institutions, organizes research and events, and operates both locally and globally to support the advancement of higher education.

This mandate is embedded in the founding statutes of EAHEA and is carried out autonomously and independently, in accordance with international quality assurance principles and in the interest of promoting transparency, improvement, and academic excellence.

EAHEA, which concentrated only on "Institutional and Programmatic Accreditation" in the field of "Higher Education" between 1997 and 2020, started to provide quality assurance, standard setting, rating, certification, training, event, consultancy, as well as accreditation services due to the requirements seen over the past years, as of 2021. Because the name of EAHEA was inadequate and limited to only one area (higher education and accreditation),it was necessary to change the name "European Agency for Higher Education and Accreditation" and it was re-registered as "European Association for Higher Education Advancement" by Tartu County Court, Estonia in March 2024. In this way, EAHEA continues to serve under the new name which covers all areas it serves.

Regional/Global Recognition

EAHEA is recognized by various national and international bodies in the Europe, America, Asia, and Africa areas. This recognition affirms its legitimacy and credibility as an accreditation agency. Its accreditation programs and standards are widely accepted and respected by institutions and stakeholders in the higher education sector. EAHEA is listed in various global databases. For example;

Europe, Estonia Ministry of Justice: Certificate | Verification
Europe, Estonia Tax and Customs Board: Certificate | Verification
United Nations NGO Branch: Certificate | Verification
United Nations Global Compact: Letter | More Info
Union of International Associations: Certificate | Verification
Research Organization Registry (ROR): Certificate | Verification
Government of India, Ministry of Enterprises: Certificate | Verification
Government of Delhi, Department of Labour: Certificate | Verification
European Union Intellectual Property Office: Certificate | Verification
European Union Funding and Tenders Portal: Certificate | Verification
International Trade Mark Registration: Certificate | Verification

EAHEA - European Association for Higher Education Advancement MTÜ´s some legal registration details are;

Estonia Ministry of Justice, Association (NGO) Registration Number is 80637958
Estonia Tax and Customs Board, Value Added Tax (VAT) ID is EE102723104
European Union Intellectual Property Office, Registration Number is 018607334
European Union Funding and Tenders Portal, Participant Number is 875872171
Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Organisation, Registration Number is E10376750
Government of India - Ministry of Enterprises, Registration Number is WB-03-0046724
Government of Delhi - Department of Labour, Registration Number is 2024003929

Legal Notice and Disclaimer: EAHEA grants accreditation to educational institutes, vocational institutions, distance learning centers, online courses, and corporations; and grants certification to professionals, qualified individuals, instructors, and students. EAHEA can´t give any titles or degrees to the accredited institute´s students, or can´t give authorization about the diploma, work, opening an office, etc. Also, EAHEA does not control or oversee the documents, certificates, diplomas, titles, degrees, rights, and authorizations issued/given by the accredited institution. All rights and legal liabilities of these belong to the institution that carries out the transaction. EAHEA periodically checks the educational quality of the institution and the up-to-date curriculum of the course/program and reports to the relevant institution. EAHEA is a registered trademark in the European region and, operates internationally as a non-governmental, private, and independent accreditation, certification, quality assurance, and rating association in the field of higher education. EAHEA does not have a direct relationship with the European Union, EU Member Countries, and EU Institutions and does not operate as a sub-institution (or any legal identity) of these institutions/countries. All directives and regulations on this website belong to EAHEA and have been created by examining the higher education systems of all developed countries. Written, visual, and audio content on the website is not associated with the European Union or the institutions and organizations operating under the EU and does not include their views, opinions, and decisions.

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