Quality in higher education, according to Article 11 of the World Declaration on Higher Education, is a multidimensional concept, which should embrace all its functions, and activities: teaching and academic programmes, research and scholarship, staffing, students, buildings, faculties, equipment, services the community and the academic environment. Internal self-evaluation and external review, conducted openly by independent specialist, if possible with international expertise, are vital for enhancing quality, independent national bodies should be established and comparative standards of quality, recognized at international level, should be defined. Due attention should be paid to the specific institutional, national and regional contexts in order to take into account diversity and to avoid uniformity. Stakeholders should be an integral part of the institutional evaluation process. Quality also requires that higher education should be characterized by its international dimension: exchange of knowledge, interactive networking, mobility of teachers and students, and international research projects, while taking into account the national cultural values and circumstances

For more information see references from the World Conference on Higher Education Framework of Action.