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Kindly note that the 2025 European Quality Assurance Forum will be held from Wednesday to Friday, instead of the usual Thursday to Saturday format of previous years.
The European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) provides a platform for discussion, professional development and exchange of experiences among the main stakeholders in quality assurance (QA). The Forum will be of interest to rectors and vice-rectors responsible for QA, QA officers in higher education institutions, students, QA agency staff and researchers working in higher education or the QA field.
This year’s Forum, entitled ‘QA in times of crises - Ensuring stability, autonomy and international cooperation in higher education’, will combine sessions about European policies and trends, research, and practical case examples related to the Forum theme and more generally about current developments in quality assurance.
Forum objectives
Quality assurance can play a crucial role in equipping the higher education sector to face rapid and dramatic shifts in political, economic and technological landscapes, alongside other societal transformations. In recent years, QA has provided fundamental guidance through uncertainty, acting as a stabilizing force and ensuring the continuity of quality education and research. To maintain and strengthen this role, QA systems must be agile, responsive and forward-thinking.
This means implementing flexible and adaptive approaches that can quickly adjust to crises and emerging challenges. It also means maintaining quality education that allows universities to ensure stability while continuing to innovate. Ultimately, the ability of QA systems to adapt to shifting landscapes will determine how effectively universities can continue to educate, innovate and contribute to society in a rapidly changing world.
EQAF 2025 will reflect on the role of QA in upholding public education as a shared societal asset and promoting academic values to ensure higher education continues to be a foundation for progress and development. It will explore new policies, innovative methodologies and tools allowing QA to promote institutional autonomy and effective governance amidst disruption and external pressures. Participants will also discuss how QA can sustain the spirit of international academic cooperation within and beyond the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), even in the face of closures or restrictions in different national contexts.
© Bielik István
Dear guests, interested parties, and colleagues,
On behalf of Corvinus University of Budapest, I warmly welcome you to Budapest for the upcoming European Quality Assurance Forum this autumn.
Hosting such an important event is a great honor for our university and our city. EQAF plays a key role in advancing quality assurance in higher education across Europe, promoting collaboration, innovation, and shared standards. We deeply value this mission and are proud to support it.
Corvinus University is committed to academic excellence and continuous development, aligning closely with EQAF’s goals. We look forward to engaging with experts, sharing insights, and contributing to discussions that will help improve quality assurance and student experiences.
Budapest, with its rich culture and dynamic academic community, offers an inspiring setting for this event. We hope you will enjoy both the program and the unique atmosphere of our city.
We wish you a successful and productive forum and look forward to welcoming you in person.
Warm regards,
Bruno van Pottelsberghe Rector, Corvinus University of Budapest
© László Mudra, Corvinus University of Budapest
This event is co-hosted by Corvinus University of Budapest and The Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB).
Corvinus University of Budapest is Hungary’s leading university in the field of economic and social sciences. Currently, about 10,000 students study at Corvinus, including 2,000 international students. The institution maintains close relationships with more than 200 partner universities worldwide. Corvinus regularly achieves high positions in international higher education rankings: with its Masters in Business and Management, it was ranked number one in the region in the 2019 Eduniversal Ranking while with its Masters in Management and Leadership programme, it has been ranked among the 100 best business schools in the world year after year by the Financial Times since 2005. Corvinus University of Budapest is the only university in the field of economic sciences in Hungary that has two international institutional accreditations (AMBA and AACSB). Corvinus is also active in the field of sustainable development as a member of PRME, leading the Central and Eastern European Chapter.
MAB (The Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB) is a national-level, independent body of experts tasked with the external evaluation of the quality of educational and related research activities and the internal quality assurance systems of higher education institutions in Hungary, started its operation in 1994. MAB has extensive international cooperation and partnerships with multiple international organisations: MAB is a full member of ENQA and CEENQA; affiliate member of EUA; founding member of GAIN and the V4QA Forum; signatory of CoARA; registered agency on EQAR. MAB is recognised by NCFMEA and WFME. Its scope of activity comprises the accreditation and re-accreditation of higher education institutions, the evaluation of new and operating degree programmes, doctoral schools, new higher education vocational programmes, new higher education institutions applying for operating licences, and university professorial applications.
The agency’s mission statement, quality assurance policy and comprehensive strategic goals are available on MAB’s website.
Many consider Budapest, the capital of Hungary, to be the ‘Queen of the Danube’ as the Danube connects Buda, with its hills to explore, and Pest, with its bustling city life, providing a beautiful view of the bridges and historical buildings. The coast of the Danube is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Heroes’ Square, Buda Castle, a 19th-century Cave Church, and stunning Danube bridges are among the city’s most well-known attractions. Situated in the heart of Europe, the city’s unique atmosphere, including historical architecture, lovely parks and ruin pubs, enchants tourists from all over the world.
The University’s three buildings on the bustling Pest side of the River Danube boast a breathtaking location. Our Gellért campus on the Buda side is a 20-minute walk or a short tram ride away from the main site across Liberty Bridge, offering a peaceful environment in a leafy location. Students benefit from:
© Ervin Lukas on Unsplash
We have now reached full capacity for EQAF2025. We hope to see you at EQAF2026.
The event organisers aim to ensure that all members who desire to attend EQAF can participate. However, in order to guarantee a balance between country and institution representations, the organisers may have to restrict attendance. Priority will be given to those who register early. Additional registrations will not be accepted once the event is full, even if this occurs before the registration deadline. A maximum of four attendees per institution will be accepted.
Early bird registration deadline: 29 September 2025
Overall registration deadline: 21 October 2025
To check whether your institution is a member, please consult the corresponding directories below:
EUA members ENQA members and affiliates EURASHE members ESU members
GROUP REGISTRATION:
Members of ENQA, ESU, EURASHE, or EUA who register a group of five participants are eligible for a 15% discount and one free student place—provided a student is included in the group. Each institution may register up to 5 participants, including the free student.
To register as a group, select the organisation you are a member of (ENQA, ESU, EURASHE, or EUA) and proceed by filling in the information of your group.The discount and free student spot will only be confirmed after submitting the completed ''EQAF Student Certificate'' back to eqaf@eua.eu
Note: EUA reserves the right to refuse the free student's entry if the Student Certificate is not provided. This offer only applies if you bring a student.
STUDENTS:
Student fee (to benefit from this fee, you must):
PAYMENT:
Payment: Payment must be made upon receipt of confirmation and prior to the Forum, either by bank transfer or credit card. The participant assumes full responsibility for paying all bank charges associated with the payment.
The registration fee includes attendance at the Forum, access to the event app, admission to coffee breaks and lunches at the Forum, and to the networking reception. The name badge issued to you on registration is required for admission to the sessions, lunches and coffee breaks, as well as the social programme. You are kindly requested to wear your name badge at all times.
The Optional Forum Dinner which will take place at the InterContinental Budapest on Thursday 13 November is now fully booked. If you wish to be added to a waiting list, please email eqaf@eua.eu
© InterContinental Budapest
CANCELLATIONS:
Substitutes will be accepted at any time provided that EUA is informed of the change. Cancellations or changes must be sent in writing to the following email address: eqaf@eua.eu.
LIABILITY:
Neither EUA nor Corvinus University of Budapest will be liable for any losses, accidents or damage to persons or objects, regardless of the cause. Participants and companions attend the conference and all related events at their own risk and responsibility.
CONTACTS: EUA EQAF Coordination Team For enquiries regarding the programme, please contact: Cecilia Biaggi Policy and Project Officer Tel: +32 2 230 55 44 Email: eqaf@eua.eu
For enquiries regarding registrations and general information, please contact: Gemma Fagan Events Officer Tel: +32 2 230 55 44 Email: eqaf@eua.eu
For local information, invoices, or credit card payments, please contact:
Zsolt Attila Tari Event Coordinator
E-mail: eqaf@uni-corvinus.hu
Opening plenary
Building and fostering resilience in higher education: the role of QA
Parallel sessions
Promoting academic excellence through quality assurance
Upholding autonomy and integrity in challenging times
Empowering higher education institutions through strategic and foresighted QA
Integrating sustainability into QA: enabling universities to tackle the environmental crisis
International academic cooperation: sustaining the spirit of the EHEA through quality assurance
Alliances as a test-bed for the European Union
Closing plenary From crisis to innovation: Strengthening higher education through agile QA
Workshops:
Workshop 1: Scientific Method in Quality Assurance: Gateway to Transparency or Threat to Data Protection? Pegi Pavletić, University of Rijeka
Workshop 2: Quality assurance and academic freedom, Caroline Tovatt, Martin Bergman, Maria Wikse, Swedish Higher Education Authority
Workshop 3: Proactive and Agile External Quality Assurance in the Age of Generative AI, Marie Gould, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
Workshop 4: QA Under Pressure: Designing Agile Systems for Uncertain Times, Ayşegül Kozak Çakır, Ümit Kocabıçak, Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC)
Workshop 5: Toward Integrated Internal Quality Assurance for Joint Programmes: The SEA-EU Experience, Fernando Perez-Peña, María de Andrés and Manuel Arcila Garrido, University of Cadiz; Thorbjørn Aakre and Monica Brobak, Nord University
WORKSHOP 6: Enhancing the student voice in the transforming landscape of higher education – Independent student submissions and other strategies to engage students in institutional reviews, Charlotte Elam and Ali Al-Soufi, Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ)
WORKSHOP 7: Evaluating and Enhancing Student Partnership and its role in institutional resilience: practical steps to establishing an effective approach to student engagement and partnership within the quality assurance and enhancement arena, Eve Lewis, Ali McDade, Megan Brown, Student Partnerships in Quality Scotland (sparqs)
WORKSHOP 8: „What Do Students Really Say?” – Analysing Open-Ended Course Feedback with the Help of AI, Beata Udvari and Zsolt Szántó, University of Szeged
WORKSHOP 9: Co-Piloting Quality: Building Resilient QA Practices Across Borders, Angela Kipf, Mara Noblet, Nicole O'Neill, FOREU4ALL Quality Assurance Topical Group
WORKSHOP 10: Students as Evaluators: Building Peer-Led Quality Networks in Practice, Ann Gvritishvili, International Black Sea University; Gaga Gvenetadze, Tbilisi State University
Papers are available in the Publications section under "conference papers."
The supported project is being implemented within the framework of the Kisfaludy Tourism Development Program.
