Follow-up activities

The follow-up process aims to address the shortcomings identified during the external review of a higher education institution, implement improvements based on expert recommendations, and ensure transparency in the changes made. These activities are regulated by the Procedure for the External Review and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions and the Methodology for Conducting an Institutional Review in Higher Education.

I. Stages of Follow-Up Activities

1. Preparation of an Action Plan

Within six months from the date of accreditation decision (or within three months in cases of negative assessment), the higher education institution must develop an Action Plan. This document, prepared in a free format, outlines how the institution will address the shortcomings identified in the external review.

2. Preparation of a Follow-Up Report

A Follow-Up Report must be prepared within:

• One year if at least one evaluated area received a score of 1;
• Two years if at least two evaluated areas received a score of 2;
• Three years if only one area received a score of 2 or if all evaluations are higher.

The report must align with the Action Plan and detail the measures taken, actions completed, and planned steps for further improvements.

3. Feedback

The expert review of the Follow-Up Report is shared with the higher education institution, the Ministry, and is published on the SKVC website. A joint discussion involving SKVC and institutional representatives is organized to review the external evaluation results.

II. Recommendations for Preparing the Follow-Up Report

The Follow-Up Report should be submitted with all necessary details, including official signatures and endorsements if applicable. Key recommendations for report preparation include:

• Referencing not only expert recommendations but also the detailed analysis in the review report to fully understand the essence of the suggestions.
• Avoiding direct repetition of expert recommendations and formally demonstrating their implementation; instead, describing concrete actions taken or planned for gradual improvement.
• Highlighting qualitative aspects of implementation, such as objectives, resources, coordination, and the essence of changes, rather than just listing actions.
• Clearly outlining anticipated or achieved changes, including:
  • The intended impact of implemented measures;
  • Quantitative and qualitative indicators for measuring progress;
  • Supporting evidence of improvements;
  • Any other relevant information regarding recommendation implementation.
• Providing detailed information, especially in areas rated with scores of 1 or 2.

III. Submission of Documents

• The higher education institution must publish the Action Plan and inform SKVC.
• If the institution received a negative evaluation (at least one area scored 1), the Action Plan must also be submitted to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sports.
• The Follow-Up Report must be publicly available on the institution’s website and submitted to SKVC.
• It is recommended that both documents be prepared in English. Otherwise, SKVC will translate them using automated tools without guaranteeing translation accuracy.

IV. Monitoring Process

SKVC reviews the Action Plan once during the accreditation period and organizes an evaluation of the Follow-Up Report based on the plan.

The SKVC appoints two experts to conduct evaluations, with at least one expert being a member of the original evaluation group that assessed the higher education institution’s activities. If this is not feasible, international experts with experience in evaluating other higher education institutions are engaged.

An expert meeting is arranged at a mutually agreed date. The institution selects participants involved in the report’s preparation and implementation. The meeting, lasting approximately two hours, serves to:

• Allow experts to verify the alignment of the Follow-Up Report with their recommendations;
• Enable the higher education institution to confirm compliance with the proposed improvements.

Deadlines for the submission of the Follow-up report