In order to achieve its statutory objectives, during the four months of actual activity, the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Professional Education (ANACIP) has made increased efforts to initiate, develop and promote quality culture in education, study programs evaluation and institutional capacity of education providers by applying the standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area and promoting professionalism and competitiveness in education at all levels.

In the same short period, ANACIP initiated a series of professional collaboration on national and European level. One of them consisted in ANACIP submitting to the accession into the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), which is the main political actor with significant influence on the processes of decision making in education at European level. The Association includes the majority of Quality Assurance Agencies of the states signatory to the Bologna Declaration. The presence of agencies in the ENQA’s "select club" and their inclusion in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) guarantees European recognition of external evaluations carried out by member agencies as well as the recognition of diplomas issued by educational institutions accredited by agencies which are members of ENQA.

Following recognition of its professionalism and independence in decision-making procedures, its cooperation relations established at a national and international level and, in particular, the results achieved during its short activity, ANACIP granted the associate membership status of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education on the 17^th of December 2015.

Although the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education is open to cooperation with quality assurance agencies within the states signatory to the Bologna Declaration, the criteria for granting the membership include serious requirements submitted to candidates (agencies) wishing to adhere to ENQA. So far, there are 42 agencies from 23 countries that are full members of ENQA, and 46 agencies from 24 countries that have an affiliate status.

Since obtaining the associate status, ANACIP has access to the database of the European expert evaluators, having the opportunity to be involved in the development of policies and legal documents / recommendations within the field of quality assurance across Europe, to participate in seminars and trainings within Europe.

The hard part of the process is still to come and ANACIP’s team is ready to overcome all barriers on its path of alignment with European standards and best practices.