Quality Assessment: University of San Marino Successfully Passes First External Audit
The University of the Republic of San Marino has recently successfully completed the first external quality assessment process, in compliance with the provisions of Law 69/2023. This legislation, which constitutes the framework law on higher education in San Marino, has introduced a quality assurance (QA) system aimed at aligning the national university system with European principles and standards, in particular with the ESG (Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area), following the entry of the Republic of San Marino into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) in 2020.
While maintaining autonomy in defining and implementing its own QA system, the University is required to undergo, every six years, an evaluation conducted by an external body. To this end, the University – in collaboration with the Secretariat of State for Education and Culture – has identified theInstitutional Evaluation Program (IEP) the international agency responsible for conducting the external evaluation.
European University Association's
Institutional Evaluation Programme
A participatory and transparent process
The evaluation process was divided into several phases, started in December 2023 with the establishment of an internal self-evaluation group, composed of representatives of the academic and administrative staff and a student, appointed by the Rector. The group developed a Self-evaluation Report, discussed and validated with the involvement of the academic bodies, including the Academic Senate, the University Council, directors and councils of the study courses, as well as various commissions.
The report and accompanying documentation were submitted to the IEP team on September 5, 2024. The evaluation took place in two distinct moments: a first online visit (October 15–16, 2024) and a second in-person visit (December 3–6, 2024). During the interval between the two meetings, the University provided additional documentation requested by the evaluation team.
The final report, received by the University on March 27, 2025, paints a largely positive image of the University. Among the strengths highlighted by the IEP team are:
- The high appreciation of the University by students, staff and the local community;
- The University's orientation towards the Sammarinese territory and the neighbouring Italian region;
- The strong motivation of the students, encouraged by the attention that the University dedicates to them;
- The University's ability to respond proactively to changes and critical issues in the context;
- A strong sense of community and internal cohesion;
- A regulatory framework conducive to the autonomy and sustainable development of the institution.
This important result represents a recognition of the work carried out over the years and a solid basis for the future development of the University in line with international quality standards.
Institutional Evaluation Program (IEP)
The Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) is an independent quality assurance agency dedicated to the members of the European University Association (EUA). The programme is designed to ensure that higher education institutions can benefit from an in-depth evaluation conducted by a team of industry experts through a peer review process. The main objective is to support participating institutions in the continuous development of strategic leadership, the capacity to manage change and the consolidation of an internal quality culture. In addition, IEP provides recommendations tailored to the specific aims and objectives of each institution. Participation in the IEP evaluation is voluntary and it is up to the institutions to evaluate the recommendations received and decide how to implement them.
IEP is based on the following key characteristics:
- Comprehensive assessments, which take into account the objectives, purposes and specific profile of the institution, with particular attention to an inclusive process of self-assessment and to the in-depth self-knowledge of the institution itself;
- An improvement-oriented approach that actively supports the institution in pursuing its mission, while remaining independent of governments or other bodies and without accreditation or ranking purposes;
- A European focus, taking into account the context of current developments in higher education, with international evaluation teams reflecting the diversity of the sector.
The IEP focuses on the institution as a whole, rather than on individual courses of study or units. In particular, it focuses on:
- The capacity for strategic leadership and the effectiveness of the internal governance and management processes that support it;
- The relevance of internal quality assurance processes and the extent to which their results are used in decision-making and strategic management, as well as any perceived gaps in such mechanisms. Within this framework, the evaluations address the issues related to internal quality assurance as defined in the first part of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
The IEP does not impose rigid external criteria, but structures the evaluation around four fundamental questions, applied to all areas of institutional activity (governance and decision-making processes, quality culture, research management and use of results, teaching, third mission and internationalization):
- What is the institution trying to do?
- How is the institution trying to do this?
- How does the institution know if it works?
- How does the institution change to improve?
In addition to regular institutional evaluations, IEP has conducted several evaluations at national system level (e.g. in Romania, Montenegro, Ireland, Slovakia and Portugal), usually commissioned by ministries, national rectors' conferences or NGOs.
IEP is a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and is registered in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR). Evaluation reports are public and available on the IEP website.
IEP Assessment Teams
Evaluation teams are made up of highly experienced leaders in higher education: current or former rectors or vice-rectors, a senior professional who acts as the team coordinator, and a student. Each member is from a different country and no one is from the country of the institution being evaluated. The size of the team varies according to the size of the institution, but typically comprises five members.
The selection of team members is carried out by the IEP Steering Committee, which aims to ensure a balance between knowledge, skills, objectivity and international perspective. Any conflicts of interest are carefully assessed to define the final composition of the team.
All members attend an annual training seminar to maintain and update the skills needed to conduct IEP evaluations.