On Thursday, March 13, the Agència Valenciana d’Avaluació i Prospectiva (AVAP) hosted a progress visit from two experts representing the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA): Fiona Crozier and Henning Schäfer. Fiona Crozier is a higher education quality assurance consultant with extensive experience in international organizations, while Henning Schäfer is the Managing Director of the German agency ZEvA (Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency Hannover).
This progress visit is part of the ENQA review process and takes place two to three years after the final external review report has been completed. The purpose of this visit is not to assess AVAP’s level of compliance with European Standards and Guidelines (ESGs) or to evaluate how the agency has followed the recommendations of the ENQA expert panel. Instead, it aims to provide a strategically driven dialogue focused on improvement. The visit creates a valuable opportunity for the agency to reflect on key challenges, opportunities, and priorities.
A Structured and Enriching Work Program
The progress visit was held at AVAP’s offices in Valencia and featured a comprehensive work agenda. Throughout the day, the experts met with AVAP’s leadership.
The agenda included:
- Initial Meeting: Presentation of the AVAP team and an introductory session on the agency’s key priorities and challenges.
- Stakeholder Engagement Evaluation: Analysis of AVAP’s strategies to strengthen relationships with universities, students, and other entities.
- Internationalization: Exploration of collaborations with other agencies and participation in international networks and projects.
- Institutional Independence: Discussion on AVAP’s organizational structure changes and challenges related to economic sustainability.
- Regional Thematic Analyses: AVAP’s plans and activities regarding thematic studies and collaborations with other agencies.
- Conclusion Session: Summary of key findings and benefits gained from the visit.
Beyond the formal meetings, the program also included a special cultural experience, allowing the experts to witness an authentic Valencian tradition: attending a mascletà.
A Commitment to Continuous Improvement
AVAP would like to express its gratitude to ENQA for its willingness to make this visit as productive and enriching as possible, as well as to the experts for their approachability and valuable insights. Their deep knowledge and experience have been incredibly useful in strengthening the agency’s development.
This progress visit has represented a key opportunity for AVAP to reinforce its role as a quality assurance agency in higher education and to continue advancing in its process of continuous improvement. The exchange of ideas with ENQA experts has enabled AVAP to strengthen its commitment to transparency, independence, and academic excellence in the Valencian Community.
