[fzs-pressemitteilung] No quality assurance without independent representation of students

[Elke Michauk]

No quality assurance without independent representation of students

German student union expresses support and solidarity with our Romanian 
colleagues.


Quality assurance in Higher Education is currently discussed all over 
Europe. The inclusion of students as equal partners on all levels of 
quality assurance is one of the main objectives of standards and 
guidelines of quality assurance in the 45 countries of the Bologna Process.

The students’ representatives that took part in a quality assurance 
audit of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest faced a grave 
suppression in their freedom of expression. During the recent audit 
carried out by the National Quality Assurance Agency of Romania – ARACIS 
at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, the evaluation committee 
organised a meeting with university students, in order to receive their 
input on the study conditions at the university.

The following day, three of the students were summoned to a meeting with 
the university rector, Mrs. Ecaterina Andronescu, on Thursday, the 14th 
of June. In this meeting they were accused of tarnishing the 
universities image. They were asked for explanations for their “hostile 
attitude” towards the university. The rector is further known as a 
prominent member of one of the major Romanian political parties. The 
students are members of the Students Organization of the 
Electro-technical Faculty in the University and members of the National 
Union of Students in Romania (Alianta Nationala a Organizatiilor 
Studentesti din Romania – ANOSR).

fzs – The national union of students in Germany stresses that the 
involvement of students is an precedent condition for effective quality 
assurance. The democratic participation of all stakeholders – including 
students is not only a European standard for quality in Higher Education 
but also reflects the role of Higher Education in the society. Thus, 
threatening the involved students in case of different opinions is an 
unacceptable behaviour. The action of the rector prevents students from 
taking part in such audits as active members of the higher education 
institution. Therefore it harms the democratic participation of students 
in quality assurance and in the development of Higher Education.

We express our support for our colleagues from Romania and declare our 
full solidarity with them. We demand the need of the Polytechnic 
university of Bucharest to inspect the past action. The students need 
the assurance, that they will not face any further harm due to their 
involvement in any kind of quality assurance procedures. The national 
Romanian Quality Assurance Agency needs to ensure that students that 
take part in their audit do not have to fear any threat due to their 
statements in the process. Legislation in the country needs to forbid 
political party influence on the students and all other stakeholders 
that take part in quality assurance procedures. The inclusion of 
representatives must be based on a clear representation of interests of 
independent experts.


-- 
Elke Michauk | elke.michauk at fzs.de | Mobil + 49 1577 25 32 230
Wöhlertstraße 19 | 10115 Berlin | Germany | Tel. + 49 30 27874094 | Fax + 49 30 27874096
fzs - The national union of students in Germany | executive committee | www.fzs.de