The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) would like to provide clarification regarding its recent review by the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) and reaffirm its ongoing commitment to quality assurance in line with European standards.
Understanding ENQA and EQAR
Before addressing the outcome of the review, it is important to understand the distinction between ENQA and EQAR, two key entities in the European Higher Education Area:
- ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education) is a membership-based organisation that evaluates quality assurance agencies across Europe. It assesses whether agencies meet the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG), with a focus on good governance, independence, and effective internal procedures. Following its 2024 review, ENQA confirmed that MFHEA meets these standards, including the requirement for independence.
- EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) is a public register of agencies that demonstrate substantial compliance with the ESG. It promotes transparency and mutual trust in higher education across Europe. Inclusion in EQAR is voluntary but represents an additional layer of external validation.
Outcome of MFHEA’s EQAR Review
MFHEA recently submitted itself, for the first time, to an external review for inclusion in EQAR. The outcome found that MFHEA is partially compliant with some of the ESG criteria — a common result for agencies undergoing this process for the first time. It is important to clarify that this does not constitute a failure of standards.
In fact, EQAR’s observation on the standard of independence diverges from ENQA’s conclusion on the same matter, based on the same review. ENQA found that MFHEA satisfies the independence criteria as outlined in the ESG. In fact, the Authority would like to clarify that it still holds the status of affiliate with ENQA, which has been held during the past years.
MFHEA acknowledges that there have been isolated cases concerning the recognition of Maltese-accredited qualifications in the past. However, these issues predated the EQAR submission and are being addressed through ongoing discussions with the relevant authorities.
Despite not being listed on EQAR, Maltese qualifications have been recognised by international institutions for over 15 years, demonstrating sustained credibility and trust in the national quality assurance framework.
MFHEA’s Commitment to Progress
The decision to apply to EQAR was a proactive and voluntary step by MFHEA to further align with European best practices and promote transparency. The Authority remains committed to strengthening its systems and processes and intends to reapply to EQAR when ready.
In the spirit of continuous improvement, MFHEA embraces the mindset expressed by EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva:
“It’s not bad to fail; it’s much worse not to try.”
MFHEA reaffirms its dedication to ensuring that Malta’s further and higher education system maintains high standards of quality, independence, and international recognition”.
Date of publication: 12th May 2025
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