COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION SYSTEMS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Abstract

The article touches upon the accreditation systems for higher education of the Republic of
Armenia (RA) and the Russian Federation (RF). Evolutions and development perspectives of the
accreditation system of RA and RF have been analyzed, and a comparative analysis has been
conducted.
Generalizing the practice of accreditation in the system of higher education in RA and RF,
we note the basic differences:
1. Armenian accreditation agency - National Center for Professional Education Quality
Assurance (ANQA) is functionally independent. Russian accreditation agency - National
Accreditation Agency (NAA) is a governmental structure.
2. The model of state accreditation operating in the RA functions in the form of mandatory
institutional accreditation and voluntary program accreditation, whereas the Russian Federation is
practicing program accreditation.
3. In contrast to the Republic of Armenia, where only the institute of state accreditation
operates with the only accreditation agency ANQA, in the Russian Federation, the institutes of
public and professional-public accreditation are also developed, and the most famous
corresponding accreditation agencies, The Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and
Career Development ( AKKORK ) and the National Accreditation Center are introduced along
with NAA in European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and are
included, in contrast to the NAA, into the register, The European Quality Assurance Register for
Higher Education (EQAR). Note that ANQA also has membership in ENQA and is included in the
EQAR register.
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4. There are numerous differences in the procedure for conducting an accreditation
expertise. The RF does not provide the institution of appeal against decisions of state accreditation
either.
5. The higher education accreditation system of the RA is based on the compliance with
Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
The situation is different in the model of state accreditation of the Russian Federation.
Although the quality assurance systems of the RA and the Russian Federation differ in the
forms of organization of the respective structures and in the chosen models of accreditation, the
agreement on cooperation and interaction between NAA and ANQA signed in June 2016 can serve
as a basis for further harmonization of the accreditation systems of the RA and the RF.