About us
The Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) is a quality assurance agency that safeguards the quality of higher education in the Netherlands and Flanders, in an expert and independent manner, and that fosters the quality culture pursued within the higher education institutions in the Netherlands and Flanders. It accredits existing and new programmes, and assesses the quality assurance of higher education institutions.
NVAO thus monitors the quality of higher education. The NVAO decisions serve as the basis for the recognition of degrees and titles, and wherever applicable, public funding of programmes. NVAO bases its assessments on the recommendations of recognised experts.
NVAO aims to help ensure that the quality of higher education in Flanders and the Netherlands is recognised as up to par from an international perspective, is acknowledged as socially relevant, and enjoys the trust of students, employers, and society. Within the tasks assigned to NVAO in the accreditation treaty between the Netherlands and Flanders, it aims to safeguard the quality of higher education, encourage improvements, and promote a quality culture.
NVAO was established in 2005 by Treaty between the Netherlands and Flanders. The responsibilities of NVAO have been set down in law.
Since 2017, the Flemish department of the NVAO carries out external quality assurance procedures in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In 2023, Luxembourg designated the NVAO as national accreditation organisation.
The NVAO office is located in The Hague, the Netherlands. NVAO exchanges views and collaborates with stakeholders such as governments, universities, university colleges, and representatives of student and umbrella organisations in the Netherlands, Flanders, Europe, and beyond.
HISTORY
On 3 September 2003, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Flemish Community of Belgium signed a Treaty regarding the accreditation of Dutch and Flemish higher education programmes, in order to thus set up a joint accreditation organisation. The independent Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) is an international, treaty-based body that acquired legal status under public Dutch law on 1 February 2005. The tasks and procedures of NVAO in the Netherlands and in Flanders have been set down in legislation.
MISSION AND VISION NVAO
Mission
The NVAO is a QA agency that safeguards the quality of higher education in the Netherlands and Flanders, in an expert and independent manner, and that fosters the quality culture pursued within the higher education institutions in the Netherlands and Flanders. It accredits existing and new programmes and assesses the QA of higher education institutions.
The NVAO thus monitors the quality of higher education. The NVAO decisions serve as the basis for the recognition of degrees and titles, and wherever applicable, public funding of programmes. The NVAO bases its assessments on the recommendations of recognised experts.
The NVAO aims to help ensure that the quality of higher education in Flanders and the Netherlands is recognised as up to par from an international perspective, is acknowledged as socially relevant, and enjoys the trust of students, employers, and society. Within the tasks assigned to the NVAO in the accreditation treaty between the Netherlands and Flanders, it aims to safeguard the quality of higher education, encourage improvements, and promote a quality culture.
Vision
The NVAO aims to promote higher education with a quality culture in which individuals and organisations naturally strive for continuous QA and improvement. External quality assessment is therefore closely aligned with the IQA systems of higher education institutions.
Strategy
- The NVAO applies trust as a fundamental principle for QA, while acting decisively where necessary. We assume that quality is in order unless there is clear evidence to the contrary (“yes, unless”).
- The NVAO promotes a quality culture through respect for institutional autonomy as institutions are responsible for safeguarding the quality of their education.
- The NVAO applies more tailored approaches in assessing educational quality and actively works to reduce administrative burden.
- In the coming years, the NVAO will continue to develop its expertise in assessing the quality of higher education.
- The NVAO will further develop its own organisation in line with developments in QA. 6. The NVAO will continue to promote the quality of Dutch, Flemish and Luxembourgish higher education internationally.
MISSION AND VISION NVAO Netherlands
Mission
NVAO NL is committed to safeguarding and enhancing the quality of higher education through an independent and expert approach. It contributes to public confidence in higher education by fostering a strong quality culture within higher education institutions.
Vision
NVAO NL strives for a higher education system that is internationally recognised for its quality, societal relevance and reliability. The organisation aims to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, in which students, higher education institutions and society can have confidence in the value and impact of higher education.
mission and vision nvao fLANDERS & Luxembourg
Mission
NVAO Flanders & Luxembourg safeguards transparency and justified trust in the quality of higher education and promotes the quality culture of and within higher education institutions.
Vision
NVAO Flanders & Luxembourg aims for higher education in which all stakeholders strive for continuous quality assurance and enhancement. To this end, it develops innovative assessment methodologies that demonstrate quality in an internationally accepted manner, while respecting the context and autonomy of higher education institutions.
Internal quality assurance
The two departments of the NVAO have each developed their own system for internal quality assurance. Each system has been specifically designed to align with the characteristics of the respective systems, the internal operations, and the mission and vision of the department concerned. Please click below on the relevant department to access the policy on internal quality assurance.
