Organized by the LEPL - National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), Tbilisi, Georgia

Dates: 7 October (International Staff Day), 8-9 October (NCEQE International Conference), 2026, Tentative

Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Cost: NO participation Fee, travel and accommodation to be covered by NCEQE

The LEPL - National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) invites representatives from ENQA member agencies to join the International Staff Day, taking place on 7 October 2026, in Tbilisi, Georgia. The International staff day is open for quality assurance agencies from ENQA members. International Conference of NCEQE, with the focus on quality assurance in higher education, will be held on October 8-9, 2026. 

Thematic Focus:

The Staff Day will serve as a distinctive platform for peer learning, thematic discussions, strategic knowledge exchange, and collaborative development among colleagues from across Europe. Representatives from four (4) QA agencies, in total 8 representatives (2 representatives from each) will be selected by the NCEQE. The program is designed to address two themes on quality assurance:

o    Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Quality Assurance and the Organizational Development of the Agency - the theme will explore how artificial intelligence can be integrated into the organizational development and processes of external quality assurance in higher education. Discussions will focus on the ways AI can enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and strengthen evidence-based decision-making. The sessions will highlight both opportunities and challenges, including ethical considerations, data protection, and the need for staff expertise, thereby providing a comprehensive perspective on the role of AI in shaping the future of quality assurance;

o    Expert Pool Recruitment Management and Evaluation - the theme will examine strategies for building, maintaining, and assessing expert networks to ensure credibility, diversity, and consistency in external evaluation procedures. Sessions will focus on how agencies select experts, manage expert pools, provide training, and implement feedback and evaluation mechanisms. Comparative approaches will be shared to highlight how effective expert pool management contributes to the integrity and sustainability of quality assurance systems across Europe.

Format:

Participants will engage in roundtables and joint sessions with NCEQE staff, generating comparative insights and practical recommendations. It is mandatory for each agency to deliver a presentation on one of the themes mentioned above.

It is preferable that all participants also contribute to the International Annual Conference of NCEQE, held immediately after the Staff Day. The conference will be attended by representatives from the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies (CEENQA), European University Association (EUA), International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), European Students’ Union (ESU), etc. Each agency participant will present on any preferable theme related to quality assurance in higher education to a broader audience of stakeholders.

The working language of the Staff Day will be English and for the NCEQE International Conference -English-Georgian (translation will be provided).

Selection Criteria:

NCEQE selection committee will consider the application form, gender balance and geographic distribution. 

Application Period:

Applications are open from 15 May to 15 June, 2026. The applicants will be notified of the selection results no later than 30 June, 2026, 23:59 CET.

A total of four agencies will be selected. Each agency should nominate two representatives, of whom at least one must be a member of the top management body (CEO, Agency Director, Deputy Director, etc.) The second representative may be any staff member of the agency (Head of Department, Project Manager, Specialist, etc.). 

Practical Information:

During the Staff Day and Conference period, the LEPL - National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement will provide full financial support for participants’ travel and hotel accommodation. 

The program will also incorporate cultural components, offering participants the opportunity to engage with Georgia’s heritage and traditions. Participants will be invited to the International Annual Conference Gala Dinner, a formal occasion to connect with a wider community of stakeholders.

Registration:

Please, download, fill in the application form  and send it to the following emails with the subject line indicated below: 

l.zivzivadze@eqe.ge and n.kadagishvili@eqe.ge

Subject: International Staff Day/NCEQE International Conference

For the further questions do not hesitate to contact us: 

Lasha Zivzivadze - Head of Planning, Research and International Relations Department

NCEQE. Email: l.zivzivadze@eqe.ge

Nino Kadagishvili – Deputy Head of Planning, Research and International Relations Department. 

NCEQE. Email: n.kadagishvili@eqe.ge