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Programme Accreditation

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Certified Quality

After the joint decision of the European Secretaries of Education in Bologna, the German-speaking countries realized the resolutions individually and in accordance with the national framework. Implementing the German Higher Education Framework Act (Hochschulrahmengesetz) resulted in a joint decision of the Kultusministerkonferenz (the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder of the Federal Republic of Germany) and Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (German Rectors Conference), which defines the execution of the accreditation procedure for the evaluation of the new range of courses.

Since 2001 accreditation of private universities has also been possible in Austria. Here the Austrian accreditation council approves of the programme on the basis of the Universitäts-Akkreditierungsgesetzes (UniAkkG). The decree of the Fachhochschulräte (Council of the Universities of Applied Science) encompassing the evaluation in the Austrian sector of universities of applied science is based on the Fachhochschul-Studiengesetz (i.e. the law governing studies at universities of applied science) version BGBI I 2003/100.

In Switzerland the guidelines for the accreditation of higher education institutions (16.10.2003) and the Fachhochschulgesetz (i.e. the law governing universities of applied science), version of 13.06.2006) provide the legislative basis for a system for accreditation and quality control.

A successful accreditation procedure furthers the development of a new range of courses on one hand and ensures the high quality continuum of internationally acknowledged programmes on the other. Next to this, accreditation processes bring forward a quicker and more flexible approach when establishing new study programmes and simultaneously open possibilities for new contents and forms of the programmes.

Basic Principle to Evaluate in Situ

In the case of a first-accreditation, in which only the concept of the programme will be presented, the programme will – as a general rule – be audited and assessed like an already established programme. Nevertheless, there will be criteria evident in this procedure which cannot be assessed and therefore will have to be marked (n.b. = nicht bewertbar/not assessable). This, however, cannot apply to criteria, which have been singled out as crucial quality standards of the programme by the accreditation council. Following this an accreditation is not recommendable where the breach contains that the definition, the regularization or the absence of objectives, study aims, access to study programme, curriculum, organisation of teaching, style of teaching, resources, or exams will have negative effects on the students. Concerning this the criteria marked as asterisk-criteria (*) in the FIBAA-Assessment Checklist (FBK) shall be pointed out. These criteria will have to be fulfilled. In any other case the accreditation cannot be recommended

In an accreditation procedure, where a first-time accreditation has already been conducted, all criteria of the assessment checklist will have to be taken into account. Insofar all criteria will have to be assessed and evaluated.

Compared to an accreditation, a re-accreditation will have to attach special importance to the following issues:
  • Evaluation of the success of the programme, amongst others by a survey conducted amongst graduates and evaluation of the time needed to finish the study programme,
  •  Verification of the calculation of the student workload in the individual modules,
  • Assessment of evaluation results,
  • Evaluation of statistical data concerning the workload, examination results, drop-out rate, numbers of freshmen, percentage of foreign/overseas students,
  • Where applicable, verification of the obligations and requirements of previous accreditations.
n the framework of the process for a re-accreditation the university/higher education institution will have to certify that all obligations and recommendations resulting out of a prior accreditation have been fulfilled. Furthermore it will have to outline all direct and indirect substantial changes (concerning the contents, modularisation/ECTS, staff, equipment, co-operation contracts, etc.). In the case of accreditation procedures in Germany the consultants will take care to verify that the structural guidelines specific for all Länder of Germany will have been taken into account in their -- at that time -- current version.

In other countries the law applicable there will have to be taken into account.

Rating Scale/Evaluation Scale


The rating scale classifies the individual evaluation criteria to the degree up to which the benchmarks* have been set and the international guidelines (ENQA) and the FIBAA-quality requirements have been fulfilled.

Did not meet quality requirements – benchmarks are not met.
Met quality requirements – benchmarks are met.
Surpassed quality requirements – benchmarks have been surpassed.

Excellent – benchmarks have been surpassed in a way that the program/study course can be seen as outstanding and exemplary as far as the criterion in question is concerned.

n.o. – not observable
n.e. – not existent
n.r. – not relevant

* (Requirements existent within the qualifying framework for German Higher Education Degrees, dated 21.04.2005 in its currently valid version; requirements of the joint structural guidelines of the Länder according to § 9 Abs. 2 HRG for the accreditation of bachelor- und master programmes, dated 10.10.2003 in its currently valid version; where applicable, Länder-specific structural guidelines for the accreditation of bachelor- und master programmes; where applicable, requirements existing in the binding exegesis and summary of the afore mentioned guidelines by the accreditation council.)

    Certified Quality

    Basic Principle to
    Evaluate in Situ

    Rating Scale/
    Evaluation Scale