International accreditation of educational programmes is a procedure of external independent quality assurance carried out by reputable European accreditation agencies. Its outcome is the confirmation that educational programmes comply with modern international standards for training specialists in a relevant field.
For the Department of Software Engineering and Intelligent Management Technologies of the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”, international accreditation serves as a systematic tool for ensuring the quality of education. It involves regular revision of programme content, engagement of external experts, representatives of the academic community and the IT industry, as well as assessment of learning outcomes in accordance with European approaches.
The department’s educational programmes in the following specialities:
have undergone international accreditation, confirming their compliance with the requirements of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the ESG (Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area). The accreditation was conducted by the European agency ZEvA (Germany).
- The presence of international accreditation indicates that the structure of educational programmes, course content, teaching approaches, and methods of learning outcomes assessment are aligned with best European practices. This ensures transparency of the educational process, comparability of qualifications, and opportunities for student academic mobility.
- An important aspect is the official recognition of international accreditation results in Ukraine. According to the decision of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, the accreditation results are recognised at the national level. This means that the programmes accredited by ZEvA are acknowledged not only at the European level but also within the national higher education quality assurance system.
- For students, this provides tangible advantages. Degrees are recognised abroad, participation in academic mobility and double degree programmes is facilitated, and competitiveness in the international labour market is increased. An additional benefit is the opportunity to study in English from the first year, which expands access to the global academic environment.
- International accreditation is not a one-time procedure but a continuous improvement process. Educational programmes are regularly updated based on expert recommendations, technological developments, and the needs of the IT industry, ensuring their relevance and alignment with current requirements.
Thus, international accreditation confirms the quality of the department’s educational programmes at the European level while being fully integrated into the national system of higher education quality assurance in Ukraine.