the State or the Region exercise an strict control,
London: In the UK, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has been set up by the government to carry out a periodic review of all universities. This may influence the allocation of finances to the institution by the national Funding Councils. City University is therefore obliged to participate in this process, and the first step is a self-evaluation. Within the national framework, each faculty and the adult and continuing education department has its own specific motivations and concerns that sometimes coincide and sometimes are in tension with the national audit.
the University tends to be market-oriented,
Barcelona: The development of the market as well as the constraints imposed by the national and regional (Catalan) governments oblige the university to set up very high quality systems. In these circumstances, the use of a quality procedure such as EFQM allows the fulfilment of internal goals as well as those aimed at enhancing the institution?s external profile.
the academic world enjoys room for manoeuvre in its strategic choices,
Lausanne: The Swiss government has initiated a movement to develop continuing education in higher education over a period of ten years and priority has been given to integration into the academic mainstream, and to external recognition. The desire to make the role of the continuing education service clearer within the university, as well as to increase external visibility has led to a project involving the service and the other university elements active in continuing education. A quality charter has been drawn up.
Porto: The development of continuing education is a strategic choice of the University of Porto. The aims include the study of other national contexts and European countries experience, and the chance to contribute to a European model of quality in continuing education. This process will inform new practices that may have relevance for the university.
