External review teams training in Central America

Abstract

Many Latin American countries have started actions to promote a higher education quality assurance system. Central America appears as a regional effort that includes universities from all seven countries under the initiative of Central American University Higher Council (CSUCA). After focusing in quality management and self‐study processes, CSUCA has turned its attention to evaluation processes orientated to external accountability and to an eventual regional accreditation system. Consistent with this, an ‘external review team training model’ was designed, whose structure implies a conjunction in time and space of theoretical elements and exercise in an actual setting (real materials and actors in a host institution). Training is based on a three‐phase workshop: induction, theoretical construction and on‐site exercise, which puts into action some ‘effective teaching principles’. Experiences with different focuses (institutional and programme) are analysed. The CSUCA model appears to be more expensive than other training but more effective and enriching for participants, host institutions and quality assurance promotion in the region.