Shandong Vocational University of Foreign Affairs (SVUFA) is a well-established institution in Weihai City, Shandong Province. Since its founding in 1999, it has grown to more than 28,000 students and 1,700 staff across 67 programmes. 

With internationalisation as a strategic priority, SVUFA aims to deliver education that prepares students for the global labour market. Its Bachelor’s Degree in E-Commerce is a flagship programme, training graduates for careers in digital marketing, e-commerce operations, and data-driven business roles.  

To further strengthen its reputation, SVUFA sought independent confirmation that the degree meets international standards of quality. 

SVUFA commissioned Ecctis to: 

• Benchmark the Bachelor’s Degree in E-Commerce against the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) 
• Evaluate programme design, delivery, and assessment against Ecctis’ International Quality Standards 
• Identify opportunities to enhance curriculum design, teaching practice, and graduate employability 

By inviting an external evaluator, SVUFA aimed to provide transparent assurance to students, partners, and employers, and to support continuous improvement. 

Ecctis employed its established qualification benchmarking methodology, designed to ensure consistency, reliability, and validity of findings. The process included: 

• Document Review: Analysis of programme specifications, entry requirements, assessment plans, quality assurance policies, and evidence of implementation. 
• Comparative Benchmarking: Mapping of learning outcomes, curriculum structure, and assessment methods against RQF/EQF Level 6 descriptors and comparable UK Bachelor’s degrees in Digital Marketing and related fields. 
• Stakeholder Engagement: Remote interviews with senior leadership, teaching staff, and students to triangulate evidence and gain a rounded view of programme delivery. 
• Quality System Review: Evaluation of governance structures, programme monitoring cycles, assessment moderation processes, and transparency of published information. 
• Professional Dialogue: Collaborative discussions with SVUFA staff to clarify findings, explore strengths, and develop recommendations for improvement. 

This mixed-method approach ensured that conclusions were well-evidenced, fair, and reflective of actual practice rather than policy alone. 

Ecctis concluded that the Bachelor’s Degree in E-Commerce is comparable to RQF/EQF Level 6, and in line with the standards of a UK Bachelor’s degree, and meets Ecctis’ International Quality Standards across all five evaluation criteria. 

The programme was recognised for its: 

• Clear progression of knowledge and skills across four years of study 
• Integration of practical training through an internship of over 700 hours. 
• Well-documented learning outcomes mapped to assessment tasks, ensuring transparency and fairness 
• Effective quality assurance systems, including internal review cycles and collaboration with industry partners 

Recommendations from Ecctis provided SVUFA with actionable ways to further align the programme with international best practice and expand its global engagement. 

This independent evaluation gives SVUFA robust external validation and a platform to communicate the quality of its provision. It: 

• Strengthens international credibility, reassuring students, employers, and partner institutions 
• Supports continuous improvement, giving SVUFA insight into future enhancements 
• Helps students demonstrate that their degree meets recognised global standards, supporting postgraduate progression and employment 

SVUFA has since used the findings to refine its curriculum and deepen its internationalisation strategy, furthering its mission to produce graduates ready for a globally connected economy.