Promoting Quality Culture Essen June 2013
DEVELOPMENT OF THE GERMAN ACCREDITATION SYSTEM Germany has a federal system: the governments of the 16 Laender (Federal States) are autonomous in HE in passing their own higher education acts and in establishing universities Before Bologna: one cycle degree structure (Diploma programmes) - responsibilty for quality assurance was with the governments of the 16 Laender through defined common framework regulations (defined by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, KMK) for study programmes Paradigm change through the Bologna process (three cycle degree system Bachelor/Master/PhD): from input to outcome-orientation - framework regulations were no longer applicable 2
HISTORY 1998 Introduction of an accreditation procedure for Bachelor s and Master s degree courses 1999 structural specifications 2000 Accreditations of the first agencies and Bachelor s and Master s degree courses 2001 Revision of the KMK structural specifications 2002 KMK resolution: statute concerning the further accreditation procedure in Germany 2008 Introduction of system accreditation 2010 Revision of the KMK structural specifications (II) 3
ACCREDITATION SYSTEM: STRUCTURE AND ACTORS German Rectors Conference and KMK nominate Accreditation Council AR accredits Accreditation Agencies accredit Tasks AR: Defintion of Criteria for the Accreditation of Accreditation Agencies and Criteria for the Accreditation of Study Programmes and for System accreditation Monitoring of accreditation agencies Accredit study programmes and QA-Systems according to the criteria of the AR, award the seal of the AR Study Programmes/ QA-Systems for T&L 4
ABOUT ACQUIN Founded in 2001 based on the initiative of the Bavarian Rectors Conference to establish an independent agency Accredited by the German Accreditation Council Non-profit organisation Operating nationally and internationally Open to all subject fields Over 160 members, mostly Higher Education Institutions So far about 2000 study programmes accredited, 5 system accreditations 5
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), full member International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), full member Central and Eastern European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (CEEN), full member European University Association (EUA), associate member Arab Quality Assurance and Accreditation Network (AQAAN), associate member 6
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE Accreditation Commission: decisions concerning accreditation criteria, principles, guidelines Standing Expert Committees: appointment of Peer Group Peer Group : assessment, on-site-visit, report and recommendations Head Office: administration, support of Peer Groups Board of Directors: budgetary planning, staff matters, membership-related issues General Assembly: appointment of the Board of Directors and Accreditation Commission members Appeal Commission 7
PROJECTS & INIATIVES Groundwork laid through a number of EUA projects and other initiatives Quality Culture (2002-2006): 150 institutions in 30 countries EMNEM- European Masters New Evaluation Methodology guidelines for internal QA of joint master programmes (2006) Creativity in Higher Education (2006-2007): 32 institutions in 20 countries European Forum for Quality Assurance E4 (2006-) Institutional Evaluation Programme (1993-present; 230 institutions in 39 countries) European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the EHEA - E4 Quality Assurance for the Higher Education Change Agenda (QAHECA) (2009 2011) ENQA working group - Impact of QA (2012 2013) 8
(c) Patrick Sanders, prhsuk@yahoo.co.uk 9
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE QAHECA-PROJECT 1. Context sensitive: to take into account disciplinary characteristics, various organisational cultures, the historical position, the national context. 2. Enhancing the institutions capacity to change, commit to a developmental approach 3. Quality assurance should be inclusive: engaging the whole institutional community, not just considering QA as the special purview of a specific QA unit (strategic planning, educational development and staff development) 4. Ensure the engagement and capacities of key actors in quality assurance processes. 5. Partnership between institutions and agencies for creating space and trust for critical self-reflection 6. Allow risk taking and failure 7. Sharing experiences in QA: encouraging a dialogue, learning from others experiences, whether good or bad 10
HOW DOES ACQUIN PROMOTE QUALITY CULTURE? Dialogue between HEI and ACQUIN Open to all specific fields (your intention. our focus.) Find the best peers, suits for the programme or the QA-System Three levels: peers, standing expert comitee, accreditation commission Report from the peers, statement from HEI and statement of standing expert commitee leads to the accreditation decision International activities: accreditation procedures, projects and initiatives Brings new views into the agency and it s members and bodies Living Quality Assurance and Enhancement Consequent mesuring and using of results Appeal Commission 11
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION 12