Ευρωπαϊκό Μητρώο Διασφάλισης Ποιότητας (EQAR) και Πιστοποίηση Προγραμμάτων Σπουδών: Το Ελληνικό Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο

Abstract

The rapid expansion of transnational education highlights the growing importance of external evaluation and accreditation of study programmes in higher education, as well as the need for evidence-based policy interventions. This article maps the landscape of quality assurance accreditation in Greek higher education, with particular emphasis on the Hellenic Open University (HOU). It presents the European quality assurance framework, focusing on the ESG, ENQA, and EQAR, which collectively provide a shared reference system promoting transparency, mutual trust, and comparability. The cross-border dimension of quality assurance is increasingly significant, as institutions engage foreign accreditation agencies. Greece operates a fully functional national quality assurance system, with eight accreditation bodies active in the country. The case of the HOU illustrates the outward-looking orientation of Greek higher education through joint master’s programmes accredited also by a Cypriot agency. Overall, quality assurance in Europe is evolving into a multi-level, interconnected system that requires fostering a sustainable culture of continuous improvement and institutional responsibility.