Quality Assurance in Higher Education

1. Quality Assurance in Higher Education Accreditation procedures in Business Administration Prof. Dr. Burghard Hermeier 6th May 2005

2. FOM at a glance • National Accreditation Standards • International Accreditation Standards • Success Factors in Accreditation Projects

3. ‚FOM at a glance‘

4. What is FOM? Germany‘s leading private Higher Education Institution of the Business Community for employees More than 6000 Students in Germany and abroad today Start of lectures137 freshmen in Essen 1994 Foundation of FOMnational recognition 1993

5. Number of Students

6. Accreditation Procedure by ‚Wissenschaftsrat‘ and FIBAA • In 2004 FOM was accredited by the „Wissenschaftsrat“ the highest council in Germany responsible for quality assurance in Higher Education: FOM was complimented especially on its institutional management as well as on the high commitment of teaching staff in attending to students • The study programmes ‚Diplom-Kaufmann‘ (FH) [business administration] and ‚Diplom-Informatiker‘ (FH) [computer scientist] in 2003 were evaluated by the external Accrediting Agency FIBAA (www.fibaa.de). Results: ‚good‘ to ‚very good‘. • In 2003, also the study programme ‚MBA Master of Business Administration‘ was evaluated by FIBAA (www.fibaa.de):Result: ‚Very good to excellent‘ Foundation for International BusinessAdministration Accreditation

7. Locations Locations planned BerlinBochumDortmund Duisburg Düsseldorf Essen Frankfurt Gütersloh Hamburg KölnMarl München Neuss Siegen Bremen Nürnberg <<Neue Karte>> FOM abroad China: Langfang(Provinz Hebei) Taian(Provinz Shandong)

8. International Partners University of Bradford Management Centre Bradford, GB Avans Plus Breda, Niederlande Akademy of the National Bank of the Ukraina, Lwiw Shandong Agricultural University Taian, China Shanxi University of Finance & Economics,Taiyuan, China Pfeiffer University, Charlotte, USA Nekrassow-Universität Kostroma, Russland Technische Universität Sofia, BG

9. National Accreditation Standards(Germany)

10. Function and aim of accreditation • Quality assurance in the new foundation of universitiesor the reorganization of traditional study programmes to Bachelor and Master programmes or the new introduction of such programmes • Awarding the seal of approval of the Accreditation Council as seal of quality • Consumer protection (students and employers) • Transparency through publication of results • European/ international comparability

11. Accreditation in Germany Accreditation Council(Committee of the ‚Wissenschaftsrat‘) Members: - 4 university representatives, - 4 state representatives, - 5 professional representatives, - 2 student representatives, - 2 international representatives Accreditationof institutions 6 Accreditation agencies: ACQUIN, AHPGS, ASIIN, AQAS, FIBAA, ZEVA Accreditation ofstudy programmes

12. Accreditation Council andAccreditation Agencies Accreditation Council: • awards time-limited entitlement to German accreditation agenciesto undertake accreditations and award the seal of quality of the accreditation council • guarantees fair competition among the agencies • periodically reaccredits agencies But: Accreditation procedures will carried out exclusively by the agencies !

13. The importance of Accreditation „With accreditation it is established in a standardized and objectifiable procedure that a study programme corresponds to the minimum requirement in terms of specialist content and professional practise.“ • The Accreditation Agencies award the seal of the Accreditation Council • That seal of quality can be used by the higher education institutions. It insures transparency and provides certainty • In the near future the results of accreditation procedures will be the basis for a ranking of Higher Education Institutions

14. Significance of accreditation seal of approval • The study programme bearing the seal of the Accreditation Council meets (if necessary, after fulfilment of conditions) the following requirements: • Submission of a coherent study system concept • Agreement with the common state structural prescriptions of the Culture Ministers Conderence • Modularization as well as the application of ECTS • Award of a Diploma Supplement • proven professional relevance • These properties have been tested within the framework of an appraisal prcedure by means of a specially assembled appraisal group (peer review)

15. Sequence of an accreditation procedure • University applies for accreditation • 2. University creates its own documentation • 3. Appraisal group is nominated • 4. On-site peer review • 5. Appraisal report is created • 6. If needed: Statement of the university • 7. Statement of specialist committee • 8. Accreditation decision •  approx. 6 month from handing in own documentation to accreditation decision

16. Components of Accreditation Appraisal procedure Implementation -Existence -Plausibility -Appropriateness of Resources / Organization Concept -Existence -Plausibility -Coherence -Transparency Quality- management Aims -Existence -Transparency -Validity Appraisal result / Appraisal report Recommendations to the Accreditation Commission Accreditation Conditional Accreditation Deferment Rejection Duration of validity: 3 – 5 years

17. Reasons for conditions (examples) • Incomplete modularization of the study programme,faulty / incomplete application of ECTS • No issue of a Diploma Supplement • Individual rectifiable dissonances in the study programme concept that can be removed within foreseeable period

18. Reasons for deferment (examples) • Discrepancy between study programme title and content • Dissonance in study programme concept • Insufficient resources to guarantee the existence of the programme offered for the accreditation period • Shortage / absence of practise orientated qualifications for subsequent professional life

19. Requirements checked during the accre-ditation procedure for a study programme Example: University of Applied Sciences at Cologne: Bachelor „International Business“

22. International Accreditation Standards

23. AACSB: Focus on Degree Programmes 1) Eligibility 2) Mentoring & Development 3) Self Evaluation 4) Peer Review EQUIS: Institutional Accreditation 1) Eligibility 2) Self Assessment 3) Peer Review 4) Guided Development AACSB and EQUIS • Eligibility • Institutional Criteria • National Standing • International Dimension

24. The EQUIS Criteria Framework CORPORATE CONNECTIONS Executive Education ProgrammeQuality CONTEXT STUDENTS PHYSICAL PersonalDevelopment AND AND FACULTY RESOURCES MISSION PARTICIPANTS Research&Development Contribution to the community INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

25. EQUIS Accreditation Process End No Strategic Advice 0. Inquiry 1. Application 2. Eligibility Yes 3. Self-Assessment 4. Peer Review Ready 5. Awarding Body EQUIS Accredited Yes No Not ready 6. Guided Development

26. EQUIS Objectives • To Provide an Instrument for Comparison and Benchmarking • To Promote a Shared Vision of Quality Standards & Convergence upon best practice without sacrificing diversity • To Accelerate Quality Improvement in international management education • To Provide Market Information • To Establish an Accreditation Process through the Award of a European Quality Label

27. Success Factors Preparation • Long Term Accreditation Strategy • Professional Project & Time Management • Task Force vs. Broad Participation Peer Reviews & Audits • Professional Event Management • Research • Last Minute Coaching (Staff, Students, ..) • Image Transfer through Partner • „Open Questions“ Management After Accreditation Management • Issue Management

28. Questions & Answers Questions & Answers

29. EQUIS Management System Board EQUIS Awarding Body EQUIS Committee EQUIS efmd EQUAL

30. AACSB AACSB – Eligibility + 21 Standards • Strategic Management Standards • Participants Standards (Students and Faculty) • Assurance of Learning Standards

31. International Criteria Three Key Dimensions 1) Quality up to International Standards 2) International Recognition 3) Degree of Internationalisation

32. The EQUIS Accreditation Process • Application • Eligibility • Institutional Criteria • National Standing • International Dimension • Self-Assessment • International Peer Review • Decision by the Awarding Body • Guided Development (optional whenapplicable) a

33. First Contact: Generic Interest Information and Preliminary Advice on EQUIS Information on efmd membership Stage 0: Inquiry Stage 1: Application • Standard package of EQUIS documents sent • Formal Application and Data Sheet received • On-site Briefing Visit

34. Stage 2: Eligibility • Decision by EQUIS Committee • Determine if the institution has a reasonable prospect of achieving accreditation within 5 years • Identify problem areas • Help School assess gap in relation to EQUIS standards • Outcomes • Eligible (Go to Stage 3) • Unconditionally • With a clear indication of the risks • Not eligible • EQUIS offers strategic advice

35. Stage 3: Self-Assessment • Preparation of Self-Assessment Report • Assistance by EQUIS • Preparation of Peer Review Visit

36. Stage 4: Peer Review Visit • International Peer Review - 4-member team 1 Academic representing the local environment 2 Academics from different countries 1 Corporate representative - 3-day visit: Assessment of the whole institution - Drafting of a report …/...

37. Stage 4: Peer Review Visit • Outcomes • Peer Review Report • Evaluation against the EQUIS criteria • Recommendations for future development • Requirements for achievement of accreditation • Suggestions for improvement • The Report may recommend immediate submission to the Awarding Body

38. Stage 5: AwardingBody - Full accreditation: • Reaccreditation in 5 years (Stage 3) • Improvement reports • Half way • Annually - Conditional accreditation • Reaccreditation in 3 years (Stage 3) • Annual reports - Non accreditation • Withdrawal from process (Back to Stage 3, >2 yrs) • Guided development (Stage 6)

39. Stage 6: Guided Development • Initiating a development plan (EQUIS Adviser) • Strategy • Resources • Action plan • Time frame • Guided development package • Annual report • Annual visit (1 day) • Additional a la carte • The EQUIS Directors will advise the School on when to make a second application for accreditation(Stage 3)

40. Practicality through cooperation Vom Großkonzern bis zum Familienbetrieb...