The article identifies the validity of assessment of non-formal and informal learning achievements (NILA) as one of the key factors for encouraging further development of the process of assessing and recognising non-formal and informal learning achievements in higher education. The authors analyse why the recognition of non-formal and informal…

This article develops around a qualitative research case study of an instructor teaching an introductory course about students with special needs. Data collection involved document analysis, observations and interviews with administrators, the faculty member, his peers, teaching assistants and students. The case is also a reflective piece on the…

How are stakeholders represented in higher education institutions' decision-making bodies that influence the quality of education, and are their viewpoints taken into account? This paper addresses this question taking into account the empirical evidence from eight countries in Europe. Findings indicate that formal barriers are largely absent,…

The article introduces external quality assessment results of first cycle and second cycle study programmes renewed under the Human Resources Development Action Programme 2007-2013 priority direction 2 "Lifelong Learning" (hereinafter the "Programme") through the aspect of planning students' independent work. Problems…

The article reviews forms of higher education internationalisation at an institutional level. The relevance of theoretical background of internationalised study quality assessment is highlighted and definitions of internationalised studies quality are presented. Existing methods of assessment of higher education internationalisation are criticised…

In the last few decades universities became service providers. In this case an open question is raised: what is the student role then? This article aims to enlighten the discourse of the student role. At first glance, a student is supposed to be just a passive service consumer--a client. Yet recent service management literature proposes that…

Evaluation of university teachers' performativity has become a common feature of university policies. The Swedish Higher Education Ordinance states that equal attention should be paid to pedagogical skills and research skills when appointing academic staff. Hence, the definition and documentation of pedagogical skills have become increasingly…

In this article, an example of translation of the English term "learning outcome" into the Lithuanian system of educational terms is used to discuss semantic peculiarities of translating professional terms. Consistency of a concept signifier and content of a concept, as well as their tune with already existing systems of educational terms are…

This article presents generalisations drawn from experience gained designing and renewing study programmes so that the use of learning outcomes became the underlying principle of curriculum organisation. Conceptions of a purpose (profile), aim and outcomes of a study programme are presented, their formulation requirements are discussed and…

In this article, relevance of practice during university studies is highlighted, as well as the main stages of its organisation, qualitative parameters, as well as criteria and indicators that validate them are defined. Discussion on the idea that taking into consideration qualitative parameters of organising practice as a component of studies…

The article presents the stages of the experiment planning that are necessary to ensure the validity and reliability of it. The research data reveal that doctoral students of Educational Research approach the planning of the experiment as the planning of the whole dissertation research; and the experiment as a research method is often confused…

The article reasons the aspect of change and transition in higher education institutions implementing quality management systems. Psychological and behavioural responses of high school staff towards quality management system being implemented are discussed; transition phases of the employees are introduced; specific features of staff management in…

The concepts important for creation of the common European higher education ("The Bologna declaration", 1999) and vocational education and training ("The Copenhagen declaration", 2002) areas and their relation are discussed in the article. The structure of ability, competency, learning/study outcome, qualification and competence is presented. The…

The social-institutional endorsement towards the perspective of recognising and enhancing learning acquired outside the formal education and training contexts (non-formal and informal learning), has been gaining strength and has entered policy agendas throughout Europe, but also in other major non-European countries. Nevertheless there are still…

This article discusses the quality assurance policy of doctoral studies implemented in Lithuania and its probable outcomes are forecasted. In scientific literature the quality of education is commonly defined as a holistic phenomenon composed of the quality of initial conditions, quality of process and quality of outputs. The accomplished document…