Hcéres has European recognition and denies any downward slide in its evaluation processes

The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR) have just decided that the recognition of AERES, which was granted in 2011, has been transferred to the French High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (Hcéres) until its evaluation for the renewal of this recognition. This evaluation will take place in 2016.

This recognition means that analysis of the text of the French Higher Education and Research Act of 22 July 2013 and the Decree of 14 November 2014 pertaining to the organisation and operation of Hcéres has led these European bodies to consider that the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) were satisfactorily taken into account in the legislation and regulations.

In the light of recent accusations of “a downward slide”¹, Hcéres denies that standards have slipped and insists that during the current transitionary period, it will continue to defend the principles of impartiality, independence and transparency which are at the foundation of both the evaluation methods it implemented in 2014-2015 and the criteria for European recognition. It therefore resists the attempts of any group whatsoever to modify the evaluation process which is common to all disciplines² and threaten the equality of treatment between all research units.

¹ Hcéres: 3 scientific delegates for law resign to sound the alarm on “a downward slide” in the evaluation of research units - see AEF - dépêche no. 494726

² According to the research unit evaluation process, the supervising bodies, which have observer status during the on-site visit, attend the open session when the management team of the evaluated research unit meets the panel of experts together with all staff. Various in camera meetings are also planned (with the Director of the unit, doctoral students, technical and administrative staff, supervising bodies and, if necessary, with professors and researchers), which guarantee them full freedom of expression. See the guidelines for Evaluation Group B on the Hcéres website.