EQUAM-LA
EQUAM-LA Plenary Meeting in Madrid
The second plenary meeting of the European Commission’s EQUAM-LA project (Enhancing quality management & recognition in Latin American universities to underpin the Latin American Higher Education Space), which aims to develop quality assurance systems in Latin American universities, with standards similar to those existing in Europe, took place from 16 to 18 November, 2022. The quality assurance agencies of the respective countries have also become involved in EQUAM-LA, bringing the number of institutions participating in the project to 21. Ms Michelle Nelson, Academic Services, represented UCC at the event in Madrid.
The project is now in its final phase, in which each university and the agencies that support them are applying the Toolkit programme to their respective realities. This plenary meeting hosted by the Complutense served to clarify doubts and processes. It also included a visit to ANECA, where they will be introduced to the Interconecta programme. Each university is expected to submit its work by the end of March and after review it will be presented at a meeting to be held in June in Argentina as the culmination of the project.
EQUAM-LA Virtual Study Visits
As partners in the EQUAM-LA Eramsus+ Project, the Quality Enhancement Unit took part in two virtual Study Visits in Madrid and Brussels in March, 2021. The Study Visit to Madrid took place on the 9-10th March and centred around the topic of ‘Good Practices in Quality Assurance’ from both an EU and a South American perspective. QEU participated in this Study Visit, as well as partners from Spain, Belgium and Italy and from partners in South America (Colombia, Argentina, Nicaragua and Panama).
QEU also took part in the Study Visit to Brussels which took place on the 24-25th March. Topics addressed during the virtual visit included ‘Good Practices in Recognition of Foreign Qualifications’ and ‘Good practices in QA and Leadership’. Presentations were given by ENQA, University College Cork, University of Rome and the Ministry of Panama. UCC was represented by Marita Foster, Deputy Director, International Office, who delivered a presention on ‘Internal Procedure for Recognition of Foreign Qualifications’.
EQUAM-LA Kick-off Meeting
The Kick-off meeting of the EQUAM-LA Project was due to be held in Murcia, Spain, but due to the Covid-19 situation, it had to be held online. The Kick-off meeting was held virtually on May 19th 2020.
During this event, partners had the chance to get to know each other and start planning the first steps of the project. In addition, partners presented their motivations and expectations for the project.
EQUAM-LA 'Enhancing QUAlity Management & Recognition in Latin American universities to underpin the Latin American Higher Education Space'
The Quality Enhancement Unit represents UCC as partners in an Erasmus+ Project, entitled EQUAM-LA. The general aim of this project is to improve Quality Assurance in Latin America and to promote an understanding of European tools and standards for quality enhancement and recognition in the LA higher education system. The Kick-off Meeting for this project took place virtually on the Teams Platform on 19th May, 2020, and was followed by project meetings in October and November.
Please see further infortmation in the EQUAM-LA website