AGENCY REVIEWS
Reinforce the work of your Quality Assurance agency through our comprehensive agency reviews, consultancy visits and follow-up visits. Increase your agency’s visibility, contribute to its further development and demonstrate strong accountability – all while playing a key role in the consolidation of a robust, continent-wide African Quality Assurance framework for higher education
What is an Agency Review?
An Agency Review under the HAQAA3 Initiative is a peer expert-led, external evaluation designed to support the development and strengthening of national quality assurance (QA) bodiesin Africa. This exercise allows agencies to assess their level of alignment with the African Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ASG-QA), ensuring consistency, transparency, and continuous improvement in higher education quality assurance across the continent.
Through an independent, peer expert-led evaluation process, these agency reviews seek to:
Whether an agency is well-established, in its early stages, or looking to assess progress from a previous review, the HAQAA3 Agency Review process provides tailored support and structured evaluation to enhance its effectiveness and impact.
Review options: Which one is right for you?
Agencies and ministries can choose from three review types, depending on their level of development and responsibilities in external quality assurance:
Full Review – For Established Quality Assurance Agencies
Consultancy Visits – For Ministries or Emerging Agencies
Follow-up Visits – For Agencies Previously Reviewed Under HAQAA1 or HAQAA2
How to choose the right review option?
If your organisation is considering participating in an Agency Review, selecting the right type is crucial. Use the guide below to determine which option best fits your situation:
|
Your Organisation |
Your Status |
Recommended Review |
|---|---|---|
|
A national or regional QA agency that is already fully operational |
Long-established independent body with responsibility for QA of higher education |
Full Review |
|
A ministry with responsibility for QA of Higher Education |
Developing or transitioning towards an independent quality assurance agency |
Consultancy Visit |
|
Newly created QA body |
Recently-established independent body with responsibility for QA of higher education |
Consultancy Visit |
|
A QA agency that has already undergone a HAQAA1 or HAQAA2 full review |
Long-established independent body with responsibility for QA of higher education that wishes to follow up on recommendations received in the past and assess progress |
Follow-up Visit |
The review process
The review process lasts approximately 14 months and consists of the following steps:
Registration
Agencies apply through calls launched in 2025 and 2026. Early contact with the PAQAA Interim Technical Unit is encouraged.
Training
Capacity-building sessions on the ASG-QA and self-assessment report preparation.
Self-Assessment
Submission of a detailed report on the agency’s operations.
Expert Site Visit
A 2.5-day visit by an expert panel to conduct interviews and verify information.
Review Report
A final report with analysis, commendations, recommendations, and areas for improvement.
Follow-up
Agencies may produce a follow-up report on the implementation of recommendations.
HAQAA3 covers the direct costs of the review, but agencies must allocate sufficient human resources for the self-assessment report and logistical coordination of the site visit.
To fully understand the requirements, expectations, and steps involved in the review process, agencies must download and carefully read the HAQAA3 briefing note on Agency Reviews. This document provides essential details about the procedures, timeline, and obligations associated with participation.
Completed Agency Reviews
This section presents the results of agency reviews that have been successfully completed, including the final external review report and an official letter from the HAQAA3 Implementing Team. These reviews aim to contribute to mutual trust, transparency and the continuous improvement of quality assurance systems in Africa.
NCHE (Malawi), 2024
How to participate?
Currently, there is not an ongoing call for applications. The next open call will be launched by the end of 2026. Please let us know in advance if you are interested in a review, even if the call of participation has not been launched yet. To this end, please contact Prof. Adewale Obadina at the PAQAA interim technical unit at AAU (paqaa@aau.org).
How to participate?
Joining the HAQAA3 Agency Review process is simple. Follow these steps to submit your application:
Sign the Endorsement letter
The document must be signed by the agency’s legal representative to confirm participation.
Complete the Registration Form
Fill in the online form, providing key details about your agency and the type of review you are requesting. You will also be able to upload the signed Endorsement letter.
