The recent Members’ Forum of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, held under the theme “Strengthening trust in an evolving higher education landscape,” brought together over 150 key stakeholders to reflect on the growing importance of trust in higher education systems.

Discussions underscored the central role of quality assurance agencies in promoting continuous improvement, providing reliable information and analysis, and fostering constructive dialogue among stakeholders. Participants explored how these functions contribute to reinforcing transparency, accountability, and confidence in higher education across Europe.

The Forum also included the participation of Catherine Dolgova Dreyer, Head of the Higher and Further Education Unit of the Council of Europe, who contributed to the plenary session titled “Advancing Integrity: overcoming fraud and degree mills”. The intervention provided insights into the work of the ETINED Platform (Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in Education) and the Centre on Preventing and Countering Education Fraud, highlighting ongoing efforts to uphold integrity and combat fraudulent practices in the education sector. In addition, Chiara Finocchietti, the President of the ENIC (European Network of Information Centres) contributed insights on credential recognition and the importance of trustworthy information systems in supporting academic mobility and international cooperation.

Throughout the event, speakers and participants exchanged experiences and good practices, emphasising the need for continued collaboration among quality assurance agencies, recognition bodies, higher education institutions, and policymakers. The Forum concluded by reaffirming that strengthening trust remains essential in navigating the evolving higher education landscape.