QUALITY ASSURANCE OF HEIss IN
AUSTRIA&CUAS
MIMI
University of Montpellier 11th April 2016
Marianne Frick – Quality Management Andreas Pester – Study Dean
HEIs in Austria
The Austrian universities can basically HEIs in Austria are:
Universities
Universities of Applied Sciences Private Universities
University College of Teacher Education Other Institutions of Post-Secondary
Education
The Austrian universities can basically be broken down into three types of post-secondary educational
institutions:
The Austrian universities,
universities of applied sciences and private universities.
Currently, there are 22 Austrian
universities, 21 universities of applied sciences and 12 private universities (February 2014).
External Quality Assurance Agency
In 2012, the Agency for Quality Assurance and
Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) was established as an
agency for quality assurance for Austrian higher education
institutions on the basis of the Act on Quality Assurance in
Higher Education (
HS-QSG
).
According to AQ Austria's legal remit, AQ Austria is
responsible for the entire higher education sector on the
tertiary level in Austria (with the exception of University
Colleges of Teacher Education).
External Quality Assurance
Procedures
Accreditation
Private universities and Universities of Applied Sciences (FH) require accreditation as a prerequisite for state recognition.
In accrediting a HEI, AQ Austria certifies that they have met the prerequisites for accreditation.
prerequisites for accreditation.
Institutional and programme accreditation
Audit
By conducting an audit, AQ Austria certifies that the higher education institution’s internal quality management system (QMS) is effective and properly organised and supports further improvement of that system.
Institutional accreditation
The initial accreditation procedure includes the institution itself as well as the degree programmes submitted at that time.
The accreditation notification confirms the legal status of an FH for a six-year period.
The FH must apply for extension of institutional accreditation (re-accreditation) and prove that the institution meets the prerequisites and that they will continue to be met for the six years to come.
and that they will continue to be met for the six years to come.
Extension includes all accredited degree programmes at the time of application.
After an FH has extended its accreditation once, they no longer require institutional accreditation.
Following a continuous accreditation period of twelve years, an FH must undergo periodic audits according to HS-QSG.
Programme accreditation
According to HS-QSG, an FH institution planning to offer new FH degree programmes requires accreditation.
Programme accreditations are also required for Private Universities. In general, programme accreditations are granted for an unlimited
period. Continuing education courses do not require accreditation.
The procedure is the same as the institutional accreditation procedure. The procedure is the same as the institutional accreditation procedure.
Audit
As a result of the Act on Quality Assurance in Higher
Education (
HS-QSG
) as amended, audits have become an
established feature of external quality assurance in
Austria. An audit examines the
organisation and
implementation of a HEI's internal quality management
system
(QMS).
system
(QMS).
FHs and universities are required to establish their own
QMS in order to assure quality and the attainment of
their performance objectives. Certification by audit
confirms that a HEI has successfully established its
QMS in compliance with the legal requirements
.
Audit criteria
The following assessment areas shall, as a minimum, apply:
Quality strategy and its integration into the management tools
of the higher education institution;
quality-assurance structures and procedures in the areas of
degree programmes and teaching, research or advancement and
appreciation of the arts or applied research and development,
appreciation of the arts or applied research and development,
organisation and administration and staff;
integration of internationalisation
and societal objectives
into
the quality management system;
information systems and involvement of stakeholder groups;
quality-assurance structures and procedures for certificate
Context of quality
Requirements of
the The University:
European Standards the External Quality Assurance The University: Constitution and Strategy Internal Quality Management System
The design of the QMS at CUAS
Based on the strategy and the quality objectives CUAS organizes the
structure and processes. The processes are carried
out on all levels
A set of evaluation tools gives information about gives information about the achievement of the objectives
After analyzing the
results the management adapts structure,
European Standards as requirements
Some of the
requirements are standards on the European level
ESG, ECTS-Standards and
ESG
HEP: CUAS comply with European Standards
ESG, ECTS-Standards and the EQF influence the internal quality
management system for Studying and Teaching CUAS is aiming to comply
with the European Standards
ESG ECTS EQF
