Ba & Ma programmes at the Specialised Higher Education Institutions: initial accreditation advice and re-accreditation advice

General info

An initial accreditation advice is an assessment of the potential quality of a new Bachelor’s or Master’s programme. A re-accreditation advice assesses the realised quality of an existing Bachelor’s or Master’s programme. NVAO bases its accreditation advice on the assessment of the (potential or realised) programme quality by a panel of independent experts.

For this, the panel studies the application dossier (self-evaluation report) with a SWOT analysis of the programme. During a site visit, the panel engages in discussions with the management of the specialised higher education institution, staff responsible for the programme, teaching staff, students from the specialised higher education institution or the programme, and representatives from the professional field.

The quality of a programme is demonstrated through six assessment areas: i) Organisation, strategy and sustainability of the specialised higher education institution, ii) Aims and objectives of the programme; iii) Admission, evaluation, certification; iv) Implementation of the programme, v) Research and vi) Quality assurance measures.

These assessment areas determine the scope of the investigation conducted in the light of the assessment. The six assessment areas are detailed in assessment criteria.

If applicable, the panel verifies whether the programme meets the regulations with respect to the admission of graduates to corresponding offices or professions.

NVAO’s conclusion, consisting of advice to the Minister and the underlying assessment report, is forwarded to the Ministry of Research and Higher Education. The Minister then takes the accreditation decision. 

You can find the accreditation regulations in the Luxembourg legislation here.