Procedure of external expertise

To conduct external examination of the educational organization and educational programs
(cluster of programs), the Agency for Accreditation of Educational Organizations and Programs «Sapattuu Bilim» (hereinafter — Sapattuu Bilim Agency) forms an expert commission of experts who have received special training.

The Expert Commission consists of 3-5 independent experts, including foreign specialists, as well as a representative of employers in the profile of graduates’ training and a representative of students who are qualified experts in evaluating educational programs.

If an educational organization undergoes accreditation of several educational programs (clusters of programs), depending on the areas of training / specialties an expert commission may be created for each educational program or commission / commissions to assess the cluster / clusters of programs.

The main principles of the expert’s work are honesty, responsibility, integrity, objectivity, confidentiality in the work with the submitted documents.

Independent experts — representatives of the academic community for evaluation of an educational program (cluster of programs), including foreign experts, must be nominated by accrediting organizations, or public and professional bodies, organizations, unions, foundations, associations, the sphere of activity or sphere of interest of which is related to education and (or) science or specially trained by the agency itself as experts. The criteria for selecting independent experts — representatives of the academic community are: length of service in higher education, science and industry; length of service in a managerial position; academic degree and title; activity profile corresponding to the subject of the expertise. These selection criteria are defined by the requirements of the Code of Ethics of the external expert for accreditation.

Independent experts — representatives of the professional community (employers) must be
nominated by professional organizations — key partners in graduate employment, relevant
ministries (agencies), or employers’ associations. Criteria for the selection of independent experts — representatives of the professional community (employers) are: competence necessary to assess the educational program (cluster of programs); work experience in a managerial position in the profile corresponding to the subject of expertise.

Independent experts — representatives of students (students, undergraduates, graduate
students) must be nominated by external educational organizations or student organizations and unions. Criteria for selection of independent experts — representatives of students (undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students) are: a positive recommendation from the management; good knowledge of the regulatory framework in the field of higher education; knowledge of the basic provisions of the Bologna Process.

Each expert signs an agreement with the Sapattuu Bilim Agency on participation in external
expertise and a statement that there is no conflict of interest with the educational organization where the expertise is conducted.

The composition of the expert commission shall be agreed with the educational organization. The educational organization has the right to reject the proposed nominees of experts with justification.

The expert shall be personally responsible for the objectivity and reliability of assessments,
conclusions, timeliness of the examination and submission of materials to the report on the
results of the external examination.

The expert has the right to request and receive additional materials, documents, information related to the accreditation, express and justify his/her opinion on the evaluation of the educational program (cluster of programs), participate in the discussion of the report on the results of the external examination in the process of accreditation.

The work of the Expert Commission is organized by the Chairman, who is appointed by the order of the Director of the Agency «Sapattuu Bilim». The order specifies the terms and program of work of the expert commission. The Chairman of the expert commission is responsible for the implementation of the external examination program and preparation of the report on the results of the external examination.

The expert commission works in the educational organization for 2-3 days. At the end of the visit, the chairman of the expert commission makes a verbal report to the management of the educational organization (faculty/institute) on the results of the external examination, prepared on the basis of the agreed opinion of all members of the expert commission. The oral report must contain the main conclusions reached by the expert commission on the results of the external examination of the educational organization and program (cluster of programs). The conclusion of the expert commission is advisory and is not disclosed until its approval at the next meeting of the Accreditation Council of the Sapattuu Bilim Agency.

Upon completion of the external review based on the analysis of the self-evaluation report,
submitted documents and information, as well as interviews with representatives of professional communities, students, graduate students, doctoral students, employees and the management of the educational organization, the expert committee prepares a report on the results of the external review, containing the section «Conclusion of the External Expert Commission», which is a detailed collective conclusion of the expert committee on compliance or non-compliance of the accredited program with the requirements of the program.

The report on the results of external examination is signed by the Chairman of the expert commission and submitted to the Accreditation Council of Sapattuu Bilim Agency and the educational organization.