Under HAQAA3, four regional focus groups/consultations were supported and co-organized by strategic partners (e.g. regional bodies with key mandates in higher education and quality assurance such as CAMES, IUCEA and national quality assurance agencies with a regional mandate and interest). The objectives of these focus groups were:
- To recall the consultations conducted and recommendations produced on PAQAA’s establishment under HAQAA2 (January 2023) and further populate them/ discuss them with stakeholders;
- To generate buy-in and agreement related to the PAQAA future governance structure and how different stakeholders participate in it;
- To advance and generate buy-in for the PAQAA work plan under HAQAA3, and explain the support provided by HAQAA3 and a ‘PAQAA Technical Unit’ in this endeavor;
- To generate commitment of QA agencies and authorities on the roles they will play in this process, and on the role they will play in a governance structure for PAQAA.
The focus groups were one-day long and largely discussion-based. They were organized in conjunction with other major regional events and conferences, to ensure participation, buy-in and economies of scale. They were chaired by the Association of African Universities – AAU – and OBREAL, from the HAQAA3 implementing consortium. Of note, AAU is hosting a PAQAA Technical Unit on an interim basis, to provide secretarial support and technical assistance to the process, until the PAQAA is officially established and a consensual hosting arrangement agreed for a future secretariat.
The four focus groups/consultations were:
| Constituency | Synergetic event | Place | Date (2024) |
| Francophone Africa (West and Central) | JointQA political consultation (Erasmus+ project co-coordinated by CAMES) | Yaoundé, Cameroun | May 16 |
| Eastern Africa | IUCEA Annual Conference | Juba,
South Sudan |
July 19 |
| Southern Africa | SADC Secretariat – EMIS Technical Committee | Mauritius | August 8 |
| Northern Africa +
Anglophone Western Africa |
NAQAAE Annual Conference | Cairo, Egypt | November 4 |
Participation
The events gathered a total of 110 African key actors, targeting QA councils, ministries and major stakeholders such as university networks and QA networks. A participant list was agreed with the strategic partners that co-organized prior to the event (NAQAAE, CAMES, RAFANAQ, IUCEA, SARUA). The African Union Commission and the European Union Commission have welcomed participants, virtually, in all events and in some instances, regional authorities such as SADC have also been engaged.
Preparation and discussion themes
All participants were invited to read the Recommendations to the AUC on the establishment of the Pan-African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (PAQAA) produced by the Technical Working Group (TWG) established by the African Union Commission during HAQAA2.
The meetings were structured as such:
- Setting the tone: recalling the history of the PAQAA and the previous agreements
Recap of HAQAA2 consultation, four stage set-up plan and preliminary discussions on governance.
- Plan for PAQAA under HAQAA3
Role and functions of Technical Unit, work plan including agency reviews and consultancy visits
- Discussion block 1: Governance
Different governance models: When to formalise and at which point in time? An interim council? Role of PAQAA Technical Unit? Legal framework and architecture?
1) the composition of the General Assembly and different membership statutes/voting rights,
2) whether the PAQAA would be based on a membership fee model (beyond fees for services), alternative funding models.
- Discussion block 2: Which functions of PAQAA, when and how do we organize
Agency reviews and compliance/ steps towards establishing a register? The progression towards phases 3 and 4, which contain functions related to accrediting Pan-African institutions (which may be politically sensitive), voluntary assessment of HEIs, etc.
A rapporteur was chosen for each event, skilled and knowledgeable on the topic. They took notes to document key insights, participant reactions and notable points during the discussion. A report with Conclusions, take aways and recommendations was produced.
- Report – Western and Central Africa – Yaoundé, Cameroon, May 2024 (in French)
- Report – Eastern Africa – Juba, South Sudan, July 2024
- Report – Southern Africa – Mauritius, August 2024
- Report – Northern and Anglophone Western Africa – Cairo, Egypt, November 2024
