The Importance of Accreditation Process on the Quality of the Albanian Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Accreditation, as an external evaluation, is an important element of quality assurance for Higher Education Institutions, both in developed and developing countries. Higher Education Institutions in the Republic of Albania have undergone major transformations as a result of the implementation of the Albanian law ‘On higher education and scientific research in Higher Education Institutions’. The accreditation process of Albanian public and non-public Higher Education Institutions is a fundamental step in achieving quality assurance and conformance regarding national and European Union standards and is carried out by the Albanian Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education. The focus of this research paper is to show the progress of the institutional and study programs’ accreditation of Albanian public and non-public higher education institutions and its role in continuous quality improvement. Data and figures from national government bodies and agencies, as well as interviews directed at the Heads of HEI_s, Faculties and Departments of public and non-public higher education institutions have been used to analyze and develop critical thinking regarding this important and sensitive issue.