About Us

 

What is Peer Review?

Peer Review is a form of external evaluation with the aim to support the reviewed educational institution in its efforts for quality assurance and quality development.

An external group of experts, so called peers, is invited to judge the quality of different fields of the institution such as the quality of education and training provision of individual departments or of the entire organisation. During the evaluation process, the peers usually visit the reviewed institution.

Peers are external but work in a similar environment and have specific professional expertise and knowledge of the evaluated subject. They are "persons of equal standing" with the persons whose performance is reviewed.

Peer Review builds upon quality assurance and development already in place. If integrated into the quality cycle, Peer Review supports continuing quality improvement.

Why Peer Review?

Peer Review combines internal evaluation with external assessment by peers. The reviews tap the professional expertise and knowledge of the peers and can stimulate a mutual learning process between the peers and the institution which is reviewed.

As colleagues, peers are expected to meet with higher acceptance than other external evaluators. Quality development is fostered while at the same time the assessment by peers also enhances external accountability and credibility of the procedure.

If organised between institutions of different countries, Peer Review will enhance transnational co-operation and mutual understanding in Europe.