Unlocking the potential of Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education to trigger Employability

November 30, 2023 (Thursday)
15:00 – 16:30 CET/UTC+1

Online (via Zoom)

This INQAAHE Talks discussed on how both Internal and External Quality Assurance can serve as powerful tools in bridging the gap between tertiary education and the workforce.

The quality of tertiary education exerts a profound influence on the overall quality of the labor force and, consequently, bolster social and economic growth within a country and globally.

Aware of the disparity between the labor market and the tertiary education system, the Tertiary Education sector has taken actions. Over recent decades, TEIs have aligned their programs with the dynamic demands of the job market (professionalization of academic programs, internships and career counseling, support to entrepreneurship, learning outcomes-based curricula…). Furthermore, many TEIs aim to become catalysts for regional development, through business incubators, collaborative laboratories or applied research.

It is also evident that the relationship between Tertiary Education and employment continues to pose a challenge for numerous systems and institutions. Quality assurance has been steadily assuming a growing role in this transformation, with the potential to further enhance graduates’ employability and align Tertiary Education with the developmental requirements of societies.

The INQAAHE Talks specifically focussed on how QA has equipped the Tertiary Education Sector to better connect with employment, namely:

• How QA can empower tertiary education institutions to fulfill their universal mission and respond to the ever-changing job market needs;
• How External QA Agencies (EQAP) can adapt their standards and methodologies to better align with the tertiary education mission operating in an ever-shifting landscape of employability;
• How Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) has paved the way for this transformative connection between Tertiary Education and Employability;
• Which synergy between internal and external QA could create an environment where programs turn students into prime candidates for the job market and spearhead their entrepreneurship?

An engaging INQAAHE Talks tailored for our community. Be part of the dialogue on:

• The significant strides taken in IQA to connecting Tertiary Education with employability with Michaela Martin (UNESCO-IIEP).
• How QA Commons (USA) has adapted to better serve the needs of university universities and employers in the United States.
• Students’ expectations and their pivotal role in shaping QA, with the Global Student Forum (GSF).
• Gain insights from 20 years of AQU Catalunya‘s graduate tracking surveys and how the results can be used to enhance employability.

The following speakers joined us in this session:

Dr. Michaela Martin

Michelle Deasy