THE ROLE OF ACCREDITATION IN QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The issue of quality management, in the globalized and rapidly changing world, in the field of education at the national even at the international level is of great importance. Accreditation has become one of the principal tools used to enforce quality assurance in higher education institutions. Therefore, the accreditation of educational institutions in a great deal of countries, to improve the quality and ensure its sustainability, is executed. Considering the fact that the accreditation is one of the significant tools used in quality management, the article expresses the data on the concepts of quality, quality assurance and accreditation in higher education. Moreover, the importance of accreditation within the framework of quality management was investigated and the data concerning its targets, types and benefits was also pointed out.