Representatives from around sixty European quality assurance organisations gathered in Brussels on 22–24 October for ENQA's Assembly 2025 and 25th anniversary. During the annual meeting, a new chair of ENQA was elected, the future of quality assurance in higher education was discussed as well as the work to revise the European standards for quality assurance (ESG).

Between 22 and 24 October, representatives from around sixty European quality assurance organisations gathered in Brussels to participate in ENQA's Assembly and 25th anniversary. From Sweden, UKÄ's Director General Martin Norsell, Head of the Department of Quality Assurance Rikard Lingström and Ulf Hedbjörk, coordinator of ENQA at UKÄ, participated.

During the anniversary, a retrospective was made of ENQA's development since its inception in 2000, and it was discussed how the organisation should continue to drive and shape the future of quality assurance in European higher education. A fundamental idea will continue to be diversity and enhancement in the international field of higher education.

New Chair elected

One of the main items on the meeting agenda was the election of a new board for ENQA. After the member organisations voted, it was clear that Cristina Ghitulica (Aracis) will take over the chairmanship from Douglas Blackstock, who has led ENQA since 2021. Furthermore, Bryan Maguire (QQI and member of UKÄ´s International Advisory Committee) was also elected as a new member of the Board of Directors and Kristin Vinje (Nokut) and Patrick Van den Bosch (VLUHR) as two new Vice Chair.

´It is very positive that we now have a Nordic representative as Vice Chair of ENQA´, says UKÄ's Director General Martin Norsell.

Focus on ESG and AI

A central point of the programme was the revision of the ESG (Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area), the common European standards and guidelines that ENQA has developed together with other actors in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The work to revise the ESG is ongoing and the new standards are expected to be ready in 2027.

The role of the ESG in a global context was discussed in a panel of quality assurance representatives from Asia, South America and Africa, highlighting how the ESG and European quality assurance can serve as international reference points and inspiration.

Another seminar addressed artificial intelligence in quality assurance – an issue that has become increasingly topical. Participants shared experiences and views to support ENQA in developing principles for the responsible use of AI in higher education quality assurance.

Cooperation within ENQA is important for the development of the Swedish quality assurance framework

´The discussions at the meeting, particularly those related to the ongoing revision of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG), show that UKÄ is well aligned with developments´, comments Rikard Lingström, Head of the Department of Quality Assurance.

ENQA validates UKÄ's external review report

As part of UKÄ's ongoing process for continued membership in ENQA and registration on EQAR, important progress has been made. After ENQA's review panel visited UKÄ in the spring, ENQA has taken into account UKÄ's factual accuracy check of the experts' report.
In connection with the General Assembly, ENQA's internal quality assurance body, the Agency Review Committee (ARC), met and decided to validate the final review report. The report forms a central basis for UKÄ's application for renewed membership in ENQA and continued registration on EQAR.

´It is a relief that the external review report has now been validated by ENQA. It is an acknowledgment for everyone who has contributed to our work that we are on the right track with UKÄ's application for renewed membership in ENQA´, says UKÄ's coordinator Ulf Hedbjörk.

Read the full content for ENQA's General Assembly 2025 and anniversary.