1. Cordial welcome 8 th ECA Workshop, Paris, 6 and 7 December 2006

2. RH/OAQ / December 2006 / page 2 ECA – Objectives and outcomes To build up sufficient level of mutual trust between ECA member organisations mutual recognition agreements To smoothen recognition procedures in Europe (benefit for national recognition authorities and students) Transparent information about genuine quality of European HEIs/study programmes (benefit for students, employers and society) Extension of value of national accreditation labels internationalisation of accreditation (HEIs, QAAs)

3. RH/OAQ / December 2006 / page 3 ECA approach towards mutual recognition Government/Recognition bodies

4. RH/OAQ / December 2006 / page 4 ECA – From equivalence to acceptance - Respecting differences - Mutual trust in other accreditation systems - Transparency / Information - Outcome oriented Equivalence Recognition Acceptance 2003 2005 2007

5. RH/OAQ / December 2006 / page 5 Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible Saint Francis of Assisi