Information on the Results of Accrediting “Primary Education” at Master’s Level

In the period 16–18 January 2020, in accord with the decree No. 378-Е of 06. 12. 2019 of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, an on-site expert examination accredited speciality 013 “Primary education” for the second level of higher education (master’s level) at Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education.

The experts’ positive report was confirmed by Specialized Expert Council expert report in the field of expertise 01 “Education/Pedagogics”. The Specialized Expert Council recommended the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance to grant a conditional (postponed) accreditation for one year to the master’s level of the speciality “Primary education” at Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education.

Specialized Expert Council’s expert report was on the agenda of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance on 3 March 2020. However, contrary to the requirements set out in paragraphs 1–3, chapter III of the Provisions on accrediting educational programs used for training higher education students (approved by the decree of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine of 11. 07. 2019 No. 977), the Specialized Expert Council’s report was not addressed at the meeting of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance pursuant to the provisions. Instead, the Head of the meeting that was broadcast online, put to a vote the decision to hold a repeated expert examination of the speciality “Primary education” at the master’s level at the College due to a letter from the Security Service of Ukraine that accuses the rector of the College of “failure to comply with the legislation and other institutional violations”. The well-grounded remarks of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance members on the lack of authority on the part of the Security Service of Ukraine in the sphere of accrediting educational programs were not disclosed.

In early May the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance sent a letter to the College attaching the letter from the Security Service of Ukraine and asked to explain the claims and remarks (appendix 1, appendix 2, appendix 3).

The Security Service of Ukraine – a state body of special purpose with law-enforcement functions that guarantees Ukraine’s state security, interfered into the specialized procedure that is outside its remit, blamed a higher educational establishment based on anonymous publications in mass media of doubtful reputation.

Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education answered all the complaints and remarks of the Security Service of Ukraine in written form, in a well-argued manner and provided the documentary evidence, as well as links to establish its case (appendix 4, appendix 5, appendix 6, appendix 7, appendix 8, appendix 9, appendix 10, appendix 11).

As a result, on 26 May 2020 the meeting of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance took the decision to grant the speciality “Primary education” the conditional (postponed) accreditation of the master’s level at Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education for 1 year (paragraph 10 of the appendix to the minutes of the meeting of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance of 26. 05. 2020 No. 9(26)).

Rector’s office of Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education