In 2024, ENQA became the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education with a twofold aim, to: (1) contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of the quality of European higher education, and (2) act as a major driving force for the development of quality assurance across all the Bologna Process signatory countries.  In 2000, ENQA was originally established as the European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education to promote European cooperation in the field of quality assurance in higher education.

ENQA focuses on three main goals: (1) representing interests of quality assurance agencies; (2) providing services to members and other stakeholders; and (3) driving the development of external quality assurance.

To accomplish its work, ENQA works on topics important to external quality assurance agencies.  Current efforts focus on:

• Online external quality assurance
• Quality assurance of joint programs
• E-learning
• Cross-border quality assurance
• Microcredentials - the following have been identified as criteria for quality:
  • Explicit quality assurance processes are in place
  • Labor market expertise is embedded in the whole development and quality assurance cycle for governance
  • Institutional governance arrangements with clear responsibilities for initiation, management, quality review, and stakeholder engagement
  • suitable procedures for recognition of prior learning and validation are in place
  • information is provided on mandatory elements and where relevant, optional elements, as highlighted by A European Approach to Micro-Credentials
  • Certification systems for microcredentials are appropriately implemented, possibly in digital form, to improve portability and permeability

ENQA’s approaches include input to policy-making (activities are shaped by evidence from members), leading and partnering in projects, coordinating working groups, conducting surveys and consultations, publishing reports, facilitating sharing of experience, and collaborating with stakeholders.

There are Affiliates (41) and Members (60) participating in EQUA.

• Membership is open to quality assurance bodies in the area of higher education (must be based in the European Higher Education Area and meet compliance requirements). Membership is valid for 5 years (renewable) and there is a membership fee.
• Affiliate status, valid for 5 years, is open to organizations worldwide with interests in quality assurance of higher education that cannot or do not wish to join as members. Affiliation is not open to individual higher education institutions.