ANECA and SINAES Exchange Experiences on the Management of Evaluators

On April 15, 2026, the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) and the National System for the Accreditation of Higher Education in Costa Rica (SINAES) held a virtual seminar to exchange experiences regarding the management of evaluators, an initiative aligned with the strategic framework for inter-institutional collaboration that both agencies are developing respectively. 

The event was designed as a forum for exchanging best practices and mutual learning, with the aim of sharing experiences and results obtained by both organizations. In this forum, a fruitful dialogue took place in which both organizations were able to compare approaches, identify common challenges, and analyze solutions adopted by each in different contexts.

The meeting focused on the management of peer reviewers, an essential pillar of the work of all higher education quality agencies. Both organizations presented their management models, the procedures for selecting, recruiting, and registering reviewers, as well as the tools and best practices that underpin their operations. Both agencies emphasized that the proper implementation and management of these evaluation processes depend on the collaboration of a broad and diverse group of experts, with profiles,  competencies, and requirements depending on the programs, regulations, and areas of evaluation. 

On behalf of ANECA, the Internationalization and Studies Unit contributed its expertise on international frameworks and standards for the management of peer reviewers to this working session. In addition, the Division of Teaching and Institutional Evaluation had the opportunity to explain in detail how the management of experts in this specific field is organized. This meeting also included the participation of the new Evaluator Unit, created as a strategic initiative to carry out this function in a centralized, coordinated, and cross-cutting manner. 

On behalf of SINAES, several representatives from the evaluation and accreditation departments presented the operation of their system for registering and managing external evaluators, providing a step-by-step overview of their work, the most common issues encountered, and the mechanisms used to resolve them.

This exchange of knowledge highlighted the commonalities and most significant differences in each agency’s procedures, aspects that were analyzed in depth through an open and constructive dialogue among all participants.

This seminar underscores the importance of dialogue and collaboration among quality assurance agencies, not only as a technical exchange but also as a space for the collective construction of knowledge and a shared vision. It also demonstrates the commitment of ANECA and SINAES to rigorous, professional external evaluation aligned with the highest international standards. Collaborations of this kind make international cooperation one of the main tools for promoting quality higher education, capable of responding to present and future challenges through collaboration, mutual learning, and continuous improvement.