Accreditation procedure examples from Germany

1. Accreditation procedure examples from Germany Tempus Tacis SM_SCM-T026B05-2005 Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Martens KNOTEN WEIMAR GmbH at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany

2. Overview • Course accreditation procedure(example ZEvA) • ECA Code • Details of course accreditation procedure(example ZEvA)

3. First cycle ( Bachelor) 180 bis 240 ECTS-CP Secound cycle (Master) 90 bis 120 ECTS-CP, at least 60 as on secound cycle level Third cycle (PhD, Dr.) ECTS-CP not necessarily European qualification frame

4. Background • Segregation of : • state approval • Resources, • Embedded in HE planning, • Structural guidelines • and accreditation • Standards by content and subject • Relevance for professional field

5. FakB at Bauhaus University University Evaluator Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA • Phase 1: Application • 1. Application • 2. Consultation • and contract • 3. Pre-check • Phase 3: Consultation and decision of • SAK • 7. Assessment report to SAK • 8. Resolution • 9. Publication of resolution • - Limited accreditation • - Limited conditional accreditation • -Refusal of accreditation • Phase 2: External on-site • expertise • 4. Appointment of • evaluators • 5. Expertise • 6. Assessment report • of evaluators

6. The accreditation organisation: 1. Has an explicit mission statement. 2. Is recognised as a national accreditationbody by the competent public authorities. 3. Must be sufficiently independent from government, from higher education institutions as well as from business, industry and professional associations. 4. Must be rigorous, fair and consistent in decision-making. 5. Has adequate and credible resources, both human and financial. 6. Has its own internal quality assurance system that emphasises its quality improvement. 7. Has to be evaluated externally on a cyclical basis. 8. Can demonstrate public accountability, has public and officially available policies, procedures, guidelines and criteria. 9. Informs the public in an appropriate way about accreditation decisions. 10. A method for appeal against its decisions is provided. 11. Collaborates with other national, international and/or professional accreditation organisations. ECA Code of Good Practice I

7. The accreditation procedures: 12. Procedures and methods must be defined by the accreditation organisation itself. 13. Must be undertaken at institutional and/or programme level on a regular basis. 14. Must include self-documentation/-evaluation by the higher education institution and external review (as a rule on site). 15. Must guarantee the independence and competence of the external panels or teams. 16. Must be geared at enhancement of quality. The accreditation standards: 17. Must be made public and be compatible with European practices taking into account the development of agreed sets of quality standards. ECA Code of Good Practice II

8. Application to ZEvA, in some federal states over respective ministry + Documentation of Course Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 1. Application

9. Cover page (1 p., short keyword description) Part 1 - Institution (5 p., general information, staff, equipment, supporting facilities, quality assurance measures) Part 2 - Course (10 p., justification, educational objectives, entry requirements, curriculum, course sequence, table of modules, participating staff) Part 3 - Attachments (formaluties, module description tables) Structure of Documentation

10. System control by university Educational objectives of course concept Conceptional integration in study system Course concept Operation of course Examination system Transparency and Documentation Fulfillment of requirements Quality assurance Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses (Accreditation foundation 2006)

11. Criteria 1: System control by university Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses (Accreditation foundation 2006) Own documented understanding of quality in education  These understanding is reflected in: • the formulation of the educational goal of the course • the way to success at the conceptual design and the • consequential implementation of the course concept • an extensive quality assurance concept

12. Criteria 2: Educational objectives of course concept Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses (Accreditation foundation 2006)  The educational objectives mainly refer to the fields: • Scientific competence • Employability • Democratic citizenship • Personal development • Based also on experiences of alumni

13. Criteria 3: Conceptional integration in study system Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses (Accreditation foundation 2006)  Compliance with design specifications and legal requirements  The course accord to these requirements particularly with regard to: • the definition an the typological classification of the course • the application of the descriptors (accord the quality level) • the application of ECTS and modularization • the outcome (competence) orientation

14. Criteria 4: Course concept Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses (Accreditation foundation 2006)  Competence transfer, study ability, coherent  The course concept: • the procuration of specialized and interdisciplinary • knowledge • the procuration of methodical and generic competencies • based on pedagogic and didactic concepts • coherent regarding to the structure • way to success in view of the defined education aims • is possible to study, primarily under allowing for the • expected initial qualifications

15. Criteria 5: Operation of course Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses (Accreditation foundation 2006)  Assured operation by personal, material, organizational and institutional means  The study organization define supporting instruments such as tutors, and specialized course guidance Criteria 6: Examination system  The examinations are oriented on educational objectives and study ability

16. Criteria 7: Transparency and Documentation Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses (Accreditation foundation 2006)  Documented and published course requirements, specific advisory Criteria 8: (Fulfillment of requirements)  Previous accreditation requirements are fulfilled Criteria 9: Quality assurance  The procedure of the the university internal quality management has been carried out.

17. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Sources of the examples to meet criteria  The application of accreditation of the continuing study course “ Water and Environment” at the University Hanover  The application of accreditation of the continuing study course “Environmental Engineering and Management” at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

18. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 1: System control by university  Research results of other institutes and departments are included in the training program of the continuing course ”Water and Environment”  There is a structural- and development plan at the department of civil engineering - and surveying since about 10 years, which is enhanced permanently.  The master course „Environmental Engineering and Management“ aim at the application-oriented improvement of acquired professional and methodical competence.

19. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 2: Educational objectives of course concept  Through the interdisciplinary integration of other institutes and universities a wide base for the actualization of the level of knowledge and a permanently exchange of experiences is given.  The master of science is aspired because it is a natural- and engineer scientific qualification.  The education is specializes through the combination of theoretical based universitary education and practical experiences from authorities, associations and companies.  The future perspectives in the international and national areas are assessed as good.

20. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 2: Educational objectives of course concept  Thereby it is of importance that next to the solid scientific education, key competencies are imparted and additional qualifications are acquired.  overlapping education aims are: - qualification to scientific work - Support and development of theoretic-analytic skills for the understanding and solution of complex correlation of environmental problems. - Qualification for the transfer of theoretic-based knowledge to practical, engineer-scientific application - Learning of network thinking to incorporate into new tasks methodical and systematical rapid.

21. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 2: Educational objectives of course concept  the professional aims are: - qualification to plan the using of water under national and international legal and sociopolitical guidelines - knowledge of the specific system conditions of rain off and ground water - acquirement of technical Know-how regarding water supply, water engineering and biotechnology - qualification to transfer biotechnological processes to engineering dimensions

22. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 2: Educational objectives of course concept  qualification profile of the graduates: - detailed water engineering and hydrological knowledge, - methods for water engineering designs - application ability - trained in the range of communication- and teamwork ability, - factual persuasiveness, guidance technology and competence of speech  The certification Master of science (M.Sc.) will be achieved.

23. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 3: Conceptional integration in study system  The continuing study course “Water and Environment” (M.Sc.) is categorized as equivalent to the master study course of civil engineering.  Courses (water and environment) of the B/M-study course of civil engineering are integrated in the continuing study course “Water and Environment”. Inverse it is possible too.  The certification of Master of Science in the study course “Water and Environment” qualifies for promotion.  The study course is built-up modular.  Regarding to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) 120 CP (without the preparation study) are assigned.

24. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 4: Course concept •  The department plays an active part in the innovation program of the • university, by participation at four interdisciplinary research centers. •  Innovations and specialties of the course: • - Interdisciplinary, • - heterogeneous target group from the engineer- and natural sciences, offering of intensive subjects, • - multimedia preparation of the course content and communication with the internet portal, • linking of theoretically-based and practical education, • key- and additional qualifications

25. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 5: Operation of course  Facilities of the department, which are available for the support of research and education can be used: - computing supply (data, internet connection, user management...) - library - laboratories  Modern rooms for offices, laboratories and lecture room capacities  study advice (individual, selection of the program, organizational advice, scientific advice)  consultation hour (answering questions during the processing of the course books); phase of attendance: advice by tutors, master thesis: advice by teaching staff

26. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 6: Examination system  The course examinations consists of the intermediate transmittal exercises done by the students during the distance learning phase and the conclusion examination during the phase of attendance.  The course result make up by 30% of the intermediate transmittal exercises and 70% of the examination.  The master thesis is a scientific, independent work.  The end mark of the study consists of 70% out of the course study and 30% out of the master thesis.

27. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 7: Transparency and Documentation  The study materials (distance learning phase) are designed in this way, that the contents of the separate chapters are concerted.  The composition of all study possibilities of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is given at the homepage and can be called up directly. Criteria 8: Fulfillment of requirements  No examples because there are no obligations from prior accreditation's at the named universities.

28. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 9: Quality assurance  Evaluation during the study: - Permanent contact between the responsible course coordinators and the participants during the study phase. - Often asked questions and critical remarks are considered by the revision of the course books and course concepts. - The students get a questionnaire, where critics and ideas can be written down without giving their names. - The main points of the participants can be added during the phase of attendance. - In each course there is a discussion about structure, extent, understanding of the content of teaching and the organization of the course at the end of the phase of attendance.

29. Criteria to the Accreditationof Courses - Examples Criteria 9: Quality assurance Evaluation success of study, if - the imparted qualifications comply with the market of the professional practice - The graduates of the study course have better professional chances.

30. Contract between ZEvA and University fixing of costs and time plan Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 2. Consultation and contract

31. ZEvA checks documentation whether all required infos are included, are coherent and complete Check on compliance with legal requirements, design requirements and requirements of accreditation procedure Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 3. Pre-check

32. Group of external experts will be appointed by ZEvA: minimum 1 representative of a university, of a university of applied science, of the professional field and of the students Check on compliance with legal requirements, design requirements and requirements of accreditation procedure Assessment by content Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 4. Appointment of evaluators

33. External experts assess course on-site on basis of documentation, peer review, discussion with all stakeholdersCheck of concept and personal/material frame conditions by contentCheck of quality control criteria Recommendation to accreditation agency Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 5. External on site Expertise

34. Any decision regarding the composition of the expert team is to be based on the rules and regulations of the accreditation organisation or on pertinent legislation the selection process must be fully transparent Institutions or other units undergoing accreditation are given the opportunity to object to the selection of experts The accreditation decisions are not made by the group of experts themselves, but by the accreditation organisation Experts must be independent and in a position to make unbiased judgments Depending on the objectives of the accreditation procedure, expert teams should bring together the relevant expertise Selection Criteria for External Experts (ECA)

35. Joint assessment report of external experts with recommendation to permanent accreditation commission (SAK) University gets assessment report without vote and may give a comment on it to SAK Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 6. Assessment report to ZEvA

36. ZEvA compiles assessment report, recommendation and comment of University, send to SAK and ensures that it is subject to the next meeting of the commission. Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 7. Assessment report to SAK

37. On basis of given documents discusses and decides about the accreditation In case of impossible final decision the procedure can be interrupted In case of possible final decision: terminated accreditation terminated conditional accreditation refused accreditation Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 8. Resolution

38. written information of University and accreditation notification Notification under reservation if the documented information change or cease to apply ZEvA send summarising report to Foundation of Accreditation Foundation of Accreditation publishes report on public web page ZEvA list all accreditated courses on their web page Course accreditationprocedure ZEvA 9. Publication of Resolution

39. Institutional accreditation of non-public Universities - 18.000 bis 28.000 Euro Course accredtitation - 6.000 EURO Costs in Germany

40. http://www.akkreditierungsrat.de/ http://www.hochschulkompass.de/kompass/xml/akkr/akkr_stat_a.htm http://www.zeva.uni-hannover.de/ http://www.aqas.de http://www.asiin.de http://www.ahpgs.de/ http://www.fibaa.de/ http://www.acquin.org/ Sources

41. Thanks for listening