Hungary has introduced a new nationwide external evaluation system for vocational education and training (VET) from September 2025. It supports VET institutions in improving their professional activities and maintaining high training quality across the country by combining assessment with feedback, guidance and clear development steps.
Structure of the quality management system
Hungary’s VET quality management system rests on three key pillars:
- Self-evaluation of institutions: institutions analyse their own operation and results to identify strengths and areas for development and to plan independent improvement - actions;
- Performance evaluation of teachers and leaders: this process aims to improve the quality of professional-pedagogical work by providing feedback to teachers and institutional leaders;
- External evaluation: independent experts assess institutions’ professional activities and quality management practices using the same criteria as in self-evaluation, which helps ensure the credibility and objectivity of the system.
Self-evaluation of institutions and performance evaluation of teachers and leaders have thus been in place since 2022 and 2023 respectively, while the nationwide external evaluation pillar was newly introduced in September 2025.
Purpose and principles of external evaluation
The purpose of external evaluation within the quality management system is to improve the quality of VET at national level. It is based on standardised criteria, expectations and a common database, and assesses both the professional activities of VET institutions and the operation of their quality management systems. External evaluation also validates self-evaluation and supports data-based planning, well-founded decision-making and continuous quality improvement across the VET system.
External evaluation is based on the following principles:
- it follows the principles and requirements of the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET);
- it supports the continuous development of professional-pedagogical work;
- it promotes the transformation of VET institutions into learning organisations;
- it is conducted in four-year cycles;
- its criteria framework and procedures are publicly available.
Participants and process
The process involves two experts with experience in VET, commissioned by IKK Innovative Training Support Centre Nonprofit Plc. IKK is the national centre supporting innovation and quality development in Hungarian vocational education and training (VET). In the context of external evaluation, IKK acts as the designated public administrative body under Hungarian VET legislation and is responsible for carrying out external evaluation activities through commissioned external evaluation experts. External evaluation applies to all VET institutions, regardless of whether they are maintained by the state, a church or a foundation.
External evaluation consists of three main steps:
- Document analysis: experts first assess the institution’s professional and quality management documents;
- Online meeting: they clarify questions that arise before the onsite visit;
- Onsite visit: they conduct personal interviews and may also visit premises and observe classes.
Outcomes and follow-up
Based on the detailed findings of the experts, a Summary Evaluation Report is prepared, and VET institutions are required to publish this report on their website. Experts assign each institution to one of four quality levels:
| Quality level | Findings |
|---|---|
| Exemplary -Multiplication | The institution’s quality management and professional activities are exemplary and suitable for wider dissemination; external evaluation does not reveal fundamental deficiencies beyond those identified in self-evaluation. |
| Compliance | External evaluation does not reveal fundamental deficiencies; in addition to areas identified in self-evaluation, it finds further areas for improvement. |
| Development | External evaluation reveals fundamental deficiencies in quality management and professional activities, as well as further areas for improvement beyond self-evaluation. |
| Intervention | External evaluation identifies systemic, fundamental deficiencies in quality management and professional activities, and additional areas for improvement beyond self-evaluation. |
On the basis of the external evaluation results, institutions prepare an action plan and implement improvements in line with the guidance set out in the Summary Evaluation Report.
Read more
- External Evaluation Guide (in Hungarian): detailed rules and steps of the external evaluation (in Hungarian).
- Minőségirányítási rendszer (MIR) – quality management system materials: additional materials and guidelines on operating the quality management system are available on the website of IKK Innovative Training Support Centre Nonprofit Plc.
| Please cite this news item as: ReferNet Hungary and, & Cedefop (2026, January 29). Hungary: new steps in external evaluation strengthen VET quality. National news on VET |