The National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education (NAB) is an independent administrative authority established under Act No. 111/1998 Coll., on Higher Education Institutions, as amended. Our core mission is to ensure the quality of higher education in the Czech Republic through comprehensive accreditation processes and systematic evaluation of educational activities within higher education institutions.

Founded in 2016 as the successor to the Accreditation Commission, which had served since 1990, NAB continues the legacy of ensuring excellence in higher education. Headquartered in Prague, NAB plays a pivotal role in promoting higher education that is innovative, accessible, and equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in a dynamic global environment. We support higher education institutions in their continuous efforts to enhance the quality of education, ensuring their competitiveness on the international stage.

NAB's operations are based on principles of independence, objectivity, and transparency. We adhere to the Higher Education Act, the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), the Administrative Procedure Code, and other relevant legal provisions. Our accreditation standards are fully aligned with relevant European principles for quality assurance.

In accordance with the Higher Education Act, NAB is responsible for decisions regarding the granting, extension, or expansion of institutional accreditations, degree program accreditations, and accreditation of fields of the habilitation procedure and the procedure for the appointment of professors. NAB also conducts external evaluations of educational, creative, and related activities of higher education institutions, publishes the results of these evaluations, and ensures compliance with legal regulations. Moreover, NAB issues standpoints on the granting of domestic permits to non-European foreign HEIs or their branches.

NAB also provides methodological guidance in the area of internal quality assurance systems for educational activities. In doing so, we contribute to the continuous improvement of higher education quality, ensuring that quality assurance processes align with international standards and the latest trends in higher education.

Scope of NAB's operations:

• Accreditation of Degree Programs: NAB assesses and decides on applications for the accreditation of new and existing degree programs, ensuring their quality, compliance with legal regulations, and relevance to labour market needs and societal demands.
• Institutional Accreditation: NAB grants higher education institutions the authority to independently decide on the accreditation of degree programs in specific fields of study.
• Accreditation of Habilitation procedures and Procedures for appointment of professors: NAB evaluates and decides on applications for accreditation of fields of the habilitation procedure and the procedure for the appointment of professors, contributing to the academic environment and the development of various scientific fields.
• External Evaluation: NAB systematically monitors and evaluates the quality of educational activities at higher education institutions.
• Collaboration and Development: NAB actively collaborates with higher education institutions, professional organizations, the public, and international institutions to enhance the quality of higher education in the Czech Republic.

NAB’s Bodies:

• Board of the NAB: The Board of the National Accreditation Bureau (NAB) is the executive body composed of 15 members appointed by the government. These members are independent experts from the field of higher education and other relevant sectors. Through the Board, the NAB assesses and decides on the granting and withdrawal of accreditations, issues standpoints, and establishes procedures for evaluating the quality of higher education institutions and study programs.
• NAB Appeals Committee: The NAB Appeals Committee is a five-member body responsible for deciding on appeals against the NAB Board's decisions in administrative proceedings (i.e., accreditation-related procedures) in cases provided by law. Its members are appointed by the government from individuals holding a law degree.
• Evaluation Committees and Pool of Evaluators: The Evaluation Committees and Pool of Evaluators are advisory bodies to the NAB Board, established by the Chair of the NAB. Their task is to prepare standpoints and assessments for individual administrative proceedings, reports on the external evaluation of higher education institutions, standpoints on applications for state approval to operate as a private higher education institution, on the type of higher education institution, and on the granting of permits for non-European foreign higher education institutions or their branches. The members of the Evaluation Committees are selected from experts listed in the Pool of Evaluators. The establishment, number, composition, and activities of the committees are governed by the NAB Statute.
• NAB Office: The NAB Office provides administrative and organizational support for the NAB's operations, including the preparation of materials for Board decisions, coordination of the Evaluation Committees' activities, and communication with higher education institutions and the public.