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½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ hosts EUA Quality Assurance Thematic Peer Group

The University of Malta (½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ) recently hosted the European University Association (EUA) Quality Assurance (QA) Thematic Peer Group’s second meeting at the Valletta Campus.

The event featured presentations of innovative practices from participating institutions, facilitated discussions in breakout groups and collaborative sessions focused on identifying solutions to common challenges in implementing QA practices.

This initiative is part of the EUA’s new cycle of QA Thematic Peer Groups aimed at promoting peer-to-peer learning and strengthening the active engagement of universities in the Bologna Process. This Thematic Peer Group is focusing on one of the two themes selected for this cycle: Cultivating self-reflection and constructive criticism in academic communities.

Participants were welcomed by Prof. Noellie Brockdorff, Pro-Rector for People, Quality and Communications. The Thematic Peer Group was coordinated by Ms Maria Kelo (Director of Institutional Development at the EUA) and chaired by Dr Stephen Tyre, Dean of Learning and Teaching and School of History at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Bringing together representatives from nine member universities across Europe, the Thematic Peer Group provides a platform for participants to exchange good practices, address shared challenges and explore approaches that move beyond compliance towards the development of a genuine quality culture. This is particularly relevant in a Maltese context where the instilling of a quality culture is still evolving.

The participants at the meeting developed three practical outputs related to key areas that impact the effective implementation of QA practices. The thematic peer group will reconvene for its final meeting in Brussels in October 2026.

The outcomes of the 2026 QA Thematic Peer Group discussions are expected to contribute directly to the 2026 European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF), which will be held in Armenia in November 2026.

The findings will also help inform the ongoing revision of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), supporting the continued enhancement of quality assurance across European higher education.

This thematic peer group experience gives ½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ the opportunity to critically reflect on and benchmark its practices, strengthening its commitment to continuous improvement and to quality assurance that is both relevant and meaningful.