External Quality Assessment

EQAR
ENQA
WFME
APQR
IREG

European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education EQAR

On June 20, 2017, Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR) by the decision of the Register Committee was included in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR). Since 2005 the EQAR has been a key organization, ensuring the further development of the European Higher Education Area by increasing the transparency of quality assurance and providing information on agencies operating in European countries. Entering the EQAR is the highest achievement and recognition for accreditation bodies. Today, the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education includes 49 agencies from 27 countries. Kazakhstan became the 23^rd country from 48 countries participating in the Bologna Process. Inclusion of the IAAR into the EQAR was one of the strategic tasks of our agency and to obtain this status, IAAR has undergone a multi-stage evaluation of its activities, which is conducted by leading foreign experts. Obtaining the status of a recognized agency is a confirmation of the compliance of IAAR activities with high international standards and evidence of the trust of such an authoritative organization.

Information on accreditation agencies included in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) and the official decision on IAAR registration are available at the following link

Proceed to the EQAR website Decision on Inclusion of IAAR on EQAR IAAR Self-Assessment Report 2016

The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA)

On November 30, 2016, Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR) by decision of the Board of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) received an international European recognition and became the first national accreditation agency that has the status of a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).

In 2021, IAAR successfully passed the second ENQA review. On December 7, 2021, the Board of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) has reconfirmed Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating’s (IAAR) membership in ENQA for the next 5 years.

Membership of ENQA shows that an agency complies with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015). Compliance with the ESG is checked every five years through an independent review by ENQA Review Team.

ENQA was established in 2000 as the European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education to promote European co-operation in the field of quality assurance.

Information on IAAR membership in ENQA is available at the following link

Proceed to the ENQA website Decision on Membership of IAAR in ENQA Certificate on IAAR Membership IAAR Self-Assessment Report 2016 ENQA Agency Review Report 2016 IAAR Follow-Up Report 2018

IAAR Self-Assessment Report 2020 ENQA Agency Review Report 2021

World Federation of Medical Education (WFME)

World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) – is an international organization with the mission to improve the quality of medical education across the world through the introduction of high scientific and ethical standards, which include 6 Regional Associations for Medical Education. International activities to improve the quality of medical education began in 1984 with the International Programme for the Modernization of Medical Education.

WFME works closely with the World Health Organization, the World Medical Association, UNESCO and UN profile agencies, the Medical Education Associations and medical schools in Europe and other important organizations from different countries, including the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR).

On December 14, 2017, the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating, recognized by many world associations on education quality assurance, has been awarded yet another high status of the WFME recognition, which continues to confirm the compliance of the IAAR activities with high international standards. IAAR is the first organization from the CIS countries recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education, which gives the right to conduct international accreditation of medical organizations and programs.

Passing accreditation in the IAAR by medical education organizations in accordance with international standards contributes to the achievement of the national goal - increasing the competitiveness of the graduates and growth of the export potential of the educational sector.

Asia-Pacific Quality Register APQR

Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR) passed an independent assessment for inclusion in the Asia-Pacific Quality Register (APQR)

In June 2020, Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR) by decision of the Board of the Asia-Pacific Quality Register (APQR) was included in Asia-Pacific Quality Register (APQR) for 5 years.

The AGM of the Asia Pacific Quality Network APQN has endorsed a proposal for the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Quality Register APQR in 2012. APQR is a register of external quality assurance agencies in the Asia-Pacific region. An independent external review by peers is the backbone of the APQR.

Purpose of AQPR:

Serve as a quality hallmark and qualification to accredit HEIs/programmes
Provide a basis for mutual recognition of cross‐border operations of Quality Assurance Agencies
Offer a reference to global stakeholders on trustworthy external Quality Assurance Agencies in in the Asia-Pacific Region

The Quality Assurance Agencies who have been registered and accepted onto APQR by the on-site review panel can accredit international HEIs/programmes in guidance/cooperation along with APQN.

More information on APQR is available at the following link

Proceed to the APQR website IAAR Self-Assessment Report for APQR APQR Desk Review Report Certificate on Inclusion of IAAR on APQR

The IREG Seal of Approval

Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR), in order to obtain recognition and the right to use the “IREG Approved” Seal, passed an international audit of the IREG Observatory.

In January 2020 IAAR recived the decision and become the first and only organization in Central Asia which successfully passed the international audit of the IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence and was awarded the IREG Seal of Approval “IREG Approved”.

The receipt of the "IREG Approved” Seal confirms compliance with the IAAR Rating methodology, and also shows that the IAAR rating research procedures and the presentation of the results meet high quality standards.

The process of assigning the IREG Observatory Seal “IREG Approved” provides for independent verification of rating organisations according to the solid IREG Observatory criteria. Only fully compliant to the IREG Observatory criteria rating organisations are worthy of the quality seal “IREG Approved”.

In response to substantial worldwide growth in higher education rankings, the International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) published a document describing best practices for rankings. “The Berlin Principles on Ranking Higher Education Institutions” quickly became the widely accepted standard for making judgments about quality of rankings and ranking organizations.

As rankings and interest in them continued to grow, it was increasingly clear that rankings in much of the world were becoming important assessment tools used to make judgments about quality and in some cases determining state funding levels. With increased stakes, there was increased need for an independent group like IREG Observatory to develop a process to certify that a given ranking agency was in compliance not only with the with the Berlin Principles, but with additional quality criteria.

More information about the “IREG Approved” Seal is available at the following link

Proceed to the IREG website IAAR Self-Assessment Report for IREG Report of the IREG Auditing Team Certificate on granting the “IREG Approved” Label