HAHE

The Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) was established in 2020 as the successor to Greece's Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency, which had operated since 2006. The Authority is an independent body with full administrative and operational autonomy and a legal supervision by the Minister of Education. It is governed by its President and Supreme Council. Quality assurance is managed by the Evaluation and Accreditation Council.

HAHE is a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).

History of HAHE

The Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency (HQA) was established by Law 3374/2005 in 2005 as the guardian of quality assurance in higher education. The Agency officially began its operations in 2006 following the nomination of its members and its constitution as a body. In its original composition, the Plenary involved the President and twelve members.

Furthermore, the HQA, a) has completed the compilation of the HQA’s Register of Experts, which today includes 4,000 Greek and foreign academics (professors, researchers, etc.) appointed to quality assurance committees (evaluation, accreditation etc. and b) has supported the procedures for the election and promotion of teaching and research staff members in institutions of higher education, in response to the demands of academic units for the selection of electors according to the regulations in Article 19 of Law 4009/2011, according to which the foreign members from among the electors are selected from the HQA’s Register of Independent Experts.

During the period 2016-17, the HQA proceeded in its internal reorganization, the development of directorates into organizational units and staff renewal. In 2017, the Agency put into operation the National Information System for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, collected and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data of higher education institutions and developed key performance indicators for higher education.

In 2018, the HQA began the process of academic accreditation of the Internal Quality Assurance Systems and study programmes of higher education institutions.

Vision-Mission-Values

VISION

HAHE seeks to play a pivotal role in the evolution and advancement of Higher Education and to promote and sustain high quality in universities and their academic units. It aims to function as a trusted intermediary between public universities and the Ministry of Education.

MISSION

The mission of HAHE is threefold:

Contribution to the formation and monitoring of the national strategy for higher education Allocation of state funding to Higher Education Institutions (HEls) based on annual assessment Quality assurance including evaluation and accreditation of HEls and their study programs (SP).

 

Collaboration: HAHE supports the exchange and sharing of know-how with its stakeholders, in order to support quality assurance.

Continuous improvement: HAHE is committed to constantly evaluate and enhance the quality of its operation at all levels and to comply with the European Standards and Guidelines

HAHE aspires to support universities in their continuous effort to improve their educational and research activities and to increase their international visibility and status.

To fulfill its mission, HAHE maintains an integrated information system for the collection and management of higher education data (NISQA) and cooperates with international agencies and networks that are active in any domain related to its mission.

VALUES

Integrity: HAHE must act with professionalism and a high sense of responsibility in the performance of its duties, as well as with impartiality and objectivity in its decision-making.

Accountability: The Authority operates in full transparency, therefore, all its actions and decisions are publicly available.

Respect: HAHE recognizes the universities independence and diversity.

 

Responsibilities

• Quality Assurance
• National Strategy for Higher Education
• Allocation of state funding to HEIs
• Promotion of Centers of Excellence

Quality Policy

Quality Policy

The Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) has the mission of ensuring high quality in higher education.

To carry out its mission and achieve its goals, HAHE implements a specific Quality Policy, summarized as follows:

ΗΑΗΕ is committed in creating and maintaining an internal quality assurance system and the availability of the necessary resources as well as the implementation of the necessary measures to achieve the promotion of its mission and vision for the high quality of Higher Education, as specified in its strategic plan.

The purpose of the internal quality assurance system of HAHE is the design, organization, implementation, monitoring, and improvement of standards, procedures, criteria, and indicators suitable for the accreditation of the quality of Internal Quality Assurance Systems and the Study Programs of the country’s universities.

The standards, procedures, and criteria issued by HAHE are in line with national legislation and the European Standards and Guidelines of the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015).

HAHE monitors and improves the quality of its operations through commonly defined processes, procedures, and systems included in the relevant quality manual. The quality manual includes the following 10 processes: quality policy, resource management, quality targeting, template development and revision, external quality assurance organization, measurement, analysis and improvement, communication with institutions, disclosure of information, progress monitoring activities and continuous improvement, organization of external quality assurance, and the certification of HAHE.

HAHE collects and analyzes data and information from the implementation of quality assurance activities in universities, based on which it may proceed to systemic decisions that improve standards, criteria, and procedures.

The goals set in its strategic plan, as well as within its action plan, are a point of reference for all the Authority’s operations. In addition, the Authority sets measurable and objective goals for quality. These objectives are established and evaluated in terms of their degree of achievement in the context of the review of the internal quality assurance system.

As part of its systemic review, the Authority is constantly reviewing and improving the features of its services, as much as possible, as well as the effectiveness of the relevant processes.

The members of the Supreme Council, the Evaluation and Certification Council, as well as the Scientific and Administrative Service contribute to the achievement of the Authority’s objectives and are responsible for the performance and results of their work.

HAHE guarantees the transparency of all its activities by establishing accounting mechanisms, the adoption of the Code of Conduct, and the development of a culture of quality.

HAHE is subject to periodic external evaluation every five years, in accordance with the European Standards and Guidelines of the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015). This evaluation decides its subsequent retainment of ENQA membership status and its inclusion in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).

The above quality policy is communicated and considered known to all interested parties and is practiced by all the Authority’s staff.