The second Regional meeting for the development of External evaluation of institutions – Best practices from the European Union (EU) and South Eastern Europe, organized within the EQET SEE project, took place on 23^rd and 24^th May 2023 in Bar, Montenegro.

During the meeting the work on joint regional document External evaluation of institutions – Best practices from the European Union and South Eastern Europe commenced in Belgrade in March 2023 was continued.

The event was also used as an opportunity to gain valuable insights on external evaluation processes from the European Union countries. Ms Isabel Barata and Ms Rose Micaelo, external evaluators of the General Inspectorate of Education and Science of Portugal, presented the methodology of the external evaluation of schools in Portugal, with special focus on indicators from the evaluation framework related to the inclusion, followed by the examples from inclusion practice in Portuguese schools. Likewise, Ms Tracie McEwan, HM inspector of education from Scotland, gave introduction to inspection in Scotland and presented how the well-being, equality and inclusion and assured in Scottish schools, with emphasis on thematic inspection.

Members of the Regional Working Group for development of Best practices – nominated experts from the field and EQET SEE national coordination points (NCPs) from seven economies from the South Eastern Europe region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova and Serbia, representatives of the ERI SEE Secretariat: Ms Tina Šarić, EQET SEE Project Manager, Ms Milica Grahovac, Sector Project Coordinator, and Mr Herman Franssen, expert for the quality assurance from the Netherlands attended the meeting.

The document External evaluation of institutions – Best practices from the European Union and South Eastern Europe aims to improve the process of external evaluation in the region through peer learning and to encourage reflection, innovation and peer exchange. It will also serve as the tool to support the regional policy vision for optimizing the impact of external evaluation of institutions in the SEE and Republic of Moldova, earlier elaborated within the EQET SEE project.

Presentations

• Ms Isabel Barata and Ms Rose Micaelo, Inspectorate of Education and Science of Portugal – Children with fewer opportunities – Examples of external evaluation of schools
• Ms Tracie McEwan, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) of Schotland – Inspection in Scotland and Thematic Evaluation

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNCSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.