PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC ACCREDITATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE EDUCATION QUALITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

Purpose of the study: This article aims to examine professional public accreditation of educational programs as a means of ensuring that higher education remains relevant to the current socio-economic public needs in the context of shifting requirements of the labour market, digitalization of most areas of life, and new challenges in technical and technological development. Methodology: The methodological approaches to the examined phenomenon were different, which made it possible to comprehensively assess professional public accreditation of educational programs as a crucial element of independent assessment of education quality. A systems approach views professional public accreditation of educational programs as a set of measures. They aim to ensure the compliance of educational programs with the requirements of professional standards and employers' expectations. Principal Findings: the result of the study is the established need to develop professional public accreditation of educational programs in the system of independent assessment of education quality, which would make it possible to estimate the significant characteristics of an educational program and to determine whether its implementation in a specific timespan is necessary. Applications of this study: this study can contribute to the development of the specific practices of professional public accreditation of educational programs, and it can facilitate the development of the legal, theoretical, and organizational foundations of this type of public activity. Novelty/Originality of this Study: We made an attempt to analyse the role of professional public accreditation of educational programs in the system of higher education quality assessment. We studied its advantages and disadvantages, differences from other accreditation procedures, and we suggested the directions of its improvement taking into consideration the current legislation, interests of education organizations, students, their representatives, and employers.