Global Presence
EAHEA has regional chapters and a presence in several regions of the world, which support its international accreditation process.
The chapters work to establish and strengthen quality standards for traditional and non-traditional educational institutes and corporations in their regions. They draw on experts who know the dynamics of the regional education and business systems and have the knowledge needed to serve the fields concerned.
Each chapter organizes seminars, webinars, workshops, panels, conferences and expos that help EAHEA serve educational institutions and other stakeholders in its region.
Scope of Work
The European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA) is an independent, non-profit quality assurance organization that works internationally to support the development and enhancement of higher education systems. Its core area of work is external quality assurance, which includes institutional and program-level accreditation, quality audits, the certification of educational standards and academic recognition.
EAHEA’s quality assurance processes follow a structured and transparent approach. They typically include a self-assessment by the institution, an external peer review, site visits (virtual or physical) and a final decision by an independent accreditation panel. The processes are based on internationally recognized quality assurance principles and place emphasis on improvement, transparency, fairness and the engagement of stakeholders.
In addition to its core quality assurance work, EAHEA carries out the complementary activities set out in its Articles of Association (Articles 1.4 and 1.5). These include organizing international conferences, workshops and webinars; supporting the professional development of academic staff and administrators; promoting best practice in teaching, research and governance; and publishing quality-related resources and research. EAHEA also cooperates with governmental and non-governmental bodies and provides advisory services on educational quality policies and frameworks.
Institutions That May Be Accredited
EAHEA provides institutional accreditation to organizations whose primary function is education, and to organizations that offer education as an identified institutional objective within their operations, such as in-service corporate training. Institutions that offer programs at locations other than their main headquarters may also be included, under specified conditions and controls. EAHEA can accredit education and training organizations and programs worldwide. Institutions that may be eligible for accreditation include:
- Universities and higher education institutions
- Educational, vocational and avocational institutions
- Public or private colleges and schools
- Distance learning centers and online courses
- Trade and professional associations, and their training programs
- Private career and business schools
- Corporate training departments
- Intensive language programs
- Religious organizations and ethical societies
- For-profit or non-profit agencies, associations and organizations
- Public affairs and cultural societies
- Social service, volunteer and personal development organizations
The conditions and steps of accreditation are described on the Accreditation Eligibility and Accreditation Process pages.