Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance

Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance (HEA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Banja Luka)

Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance has been established by Framework Law on Higher Education in BiH (Official Gazette of BH No. 59/07), as independent public organization. Council of Ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Decision on Beginning the Work and the Seat of the Agency (which was published in Official Gazette of BH No. 10/08), on the 33rd session on January the 10th 2008. The Seat of the Agency is in Banjaluka.

Independent work of the Agency, within its jurisdiction, related to external quality assurance, shall be achieved by legal, transparent and public selection procedures of domestic and international experts which provides assessment and quality review and give recommendation on accreditation of higher education institutions.

Openess of the Agency’s work shall be achieved in accordance with the Law on free access to information in BH, by submitting work reports to the Parliamentary Assembly and Council of Ministers of BH, and by public medium.

The Agency shall, in performing its tasks, respect following principles:

• legality,
• transparency
• publicity
• efficiency and effectiveness,
• professional impartiality

The Agency shall be financed from the budget of BH institutions, and in the part of jurisdiction related to external assurance, from its own income.

Within its activities, the Agency shall cooperate with relevant domestic institutions - educational authorities in BH, entities, cantons and Brčko District, academic community, international community and relevant stakeholders.

Mission Statement

Vision

Higher education is compatible with European standards and recognisable in international context, and HEA is recognised in the European Higher Education Area.

Mission

Continuous development and enhancement of quality and set quality standards in higher education in BiH, in line with the best European and international practices.

Values

• Integrity

In our work we are objective and reliable, we respect each other and we always aspire to do better.

• Professionalism

We apply professional standards in all our processes, both internal and external.

• Accountability

We are accountable to society as a whole to carry out activities that fall within our competence.

• Openness

We are open and accessible to the public, which we always keep informed about our work, thus setting two-way communication and building a relationship of trust with all stakeholders.