At the invitation of the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB), NEAQA had the honour of participating in the “MAB30 Jubilee” conference held on July 11, 2024, in Budapest, celebrating 30 years of MAB’s work. On this occasion, the Hungarian and Serbian agencies signed a Collaboration Agreement. NEAQA was represented by the Secretary-General Janko Balšić.
The conference was opened with speeches by Ferenc Bánhidy, Vice-Rector of Semmelweis University and event host, and Valéria Csépe, President of MAB. Among the distinguished guests were Douglas Blackstock, President of ENQA, and Stéphane Lauwick, President of EQAR, who spoke about the significance and future challenges of these organisations, as well as MAB’s role in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The event featured engaging sessions on the synergy between qualifications and quality (Irish concept), challenges and future directions of doctoral education with a focus on global changes of the 21st century, and student-centred learning and outcome-based assessment within the context of ESG standards (Flemish concept).
Hungarian Minister for Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó also addressed the audience, discussing MAB’s significance in Hungarian higher education. The event concluded with a speech by President Valéria Csépe, who expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the organization of the conference.
This event not only celebrated the anniversary of MAB, but also further affirmed the importance of international cooperation in quality assurance in higher education, providing an opportunity for the exchange of experiences, improvement of existing practices, and strengthening of joint efforts to achieve excellence in higher education at the European level.
