At the Ministerial Conference of the European Higher Education Area held in Tirana in May 2024, member states called on the E4 Group (ENQA, EUA, EURASHE, ESU) to update the ESG, the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area.
The request was clear: accelerate the revision proposal by 2026 and finalise it for adoption at the 2027 ministerial conference. The purpose was to ensure that quality assurance instruments remain aligned with societal expectations and emerging developments.
The same communiqué also emphasised strengthening the contribution of higher education to society and local communities, along with synergy with the Sustainable Development Goals and the green transition.
In essence, the Tirana Communiqué conveys a single message while calling for an update to the ESG: the priority is not statements of benefit but evidence of impact.
Quality assurance in European higher education is now moving in a direction that does not simply document processes but also makes outcomes visible.
This shift has a direct effect on how universities should approach communication because it is no longer about speaking about societal contribution but proving it with evidence.
Hence a critical question emerges: are our communications truly communicating benefit, or merely expanding visibility?
Read the full commentary here: University World News