Linking quality assurance and the social dimension of higher education: literature review and mapping national practices

This report explores the possible links between quality assurance and the social dimension of higher education at European level, within national higher education systems and at higher education institutions (HEIs) within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the European Education Area (EEA). Before explaining the possible links between these two policy areas, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the development of quality assurance, followed by an overview of the development of the social dimension within the EHEA and EEA. These overviews inform the third chapter of our analysis, which refers to the potential intersections or points of contact between the two policies, and highlight open questions that require further consideration. The fourth chapter of the report demonstrates to what extent and in which ways policymakers in selected countries have incorporated the principles of the social dimension into their national quality assurance systems and procedures. Lastly, the main conclusions are provided at the end of this report, together with policy recommendations on how quality assurance and the social dimension of higher education could reinforce each other.