System Accreditation  [18.10.19]

Since the Bologna reform, universities have been obligated to subject their degree programs to regular quality checks. To date, the Hohenheim faculties have commissioned external agencies to carry out accreditation checks on all degree programs. In future, however, the University intends to take quality management into its own hands. It hopes that this will lead to more dialogue, uniform and self-chosen quality criteria, and the possibility to better deal with Hohenheim's unique features. In the coming months, the university will first have to prove within the framework of a "system accreditation" that its internal quality management satisfies the requirements of the German Accreditation Council.

 

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In the past, "accreditation" was a word that evoked frustration for many professors. A lot of bureaucracy, limited added value, loss of autonomy - those were the criticisms. In 2016, 98% of the participants in a nationwide survey conducted by the German Association of Higher Education Institutions (Deutscher Hochschulverband) were in favor of abolishing accreditation.

A ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court confirmed the principle of the accreditation system in 2016 but initiated a comprehensive reform. In the meantime, the federal states have implemented this reform and have newly regulated procedures and criteria for accreditation by means of a state treaty. Universities have the choice of proving the continuous quality development of their degree programs using individual program accreditations or a system accreditation. In the case of a system accreditation, the internal quality management system of the higher education institution is examined as a whole.

More dialogue, less bureaucracy

One and a half years ago, the University of Hohenheim decided to embark on the challenging path of system accreditation - and hopes that this will lead to a number of advantages over the previous procedure.

"The accreditation of individual degree programs focuses on the aspect of documentation. The examination at a certain point in time is always only selective and cannot address Hohenheim's particularities," said Barbara Duffner, Head of the Quality Management / Teaching Strategy Department in the President's Office.

"In Hohenheim, the faculty administration had previously compiled information for a self-report which was submitted to an external agency. The agency then visited the site to get an idea of the situation and issued binding requirements for the respective degree program. In some cases, the external auditors interpreted the criteria differently for each degree program and this even led to contradictory requirements that the university had to implement. There was no strategic view of the big picture," said Duffner.

In contrast, the future procedure will focus on the regular exchange of information among all stakeholders: From the Dean of Studies to the head of the degree programs and the lecturers to the students and the President's Office.

The QM system was developed with the participation of all persons and departments involved in teaching and studying, including students. A university-wide public event took place at the beginning, and a core team was appointed to develop the cornerstones of the QM system.

The guidelines are the goals that the faculties and the university have set themselves. "Faculties should be able to draw the greatest possible added value from the QM procedure for the further development of their degree programs," stressed Duffner. "Therefore, the aspect of dialogue is at the forefront of our new procedure."

System accreditation has started

The preparations have been going on for a year and a half. Now things are getting serious. Whether the University of Hohenheim will in future be able to award the seal of the German Accreditation Council for its degree programs itself will probably be decided by the end of 2020.

In November, a critical, external team of experts will visit the campus for the first time in order to get an idea of the university's internal quality management system. A second inspection will take place at the beginning of 2020 to test the effectiveness of the system.

Prior to system accreditation, 3 model degree programs have already passed through the new QM system. In the event of a positive assessment by the experts, the system will go into continuous operation from next year and will be used step by step in all Hohenheim degree programs.

"The feedback from the model degree programs was largely very positive and we feel well prepared. Now we hope that we will also be able to convince the external experts and get a positive recommendation that we can show to the Accreditation Council in order to receive the accreditation seal," said Duffner.

Basic features of the new QS system

The Hohenheim QM system is divided into two stages. The "degree program dialogue " is to take place every year within the faculties. The format provides a framework for regularly discussing current developments and possible problems in the respective degree programs and for taking measures for improvements.

The discussion is based on a current data sheet prepared by the Quality Management Department. Among other things, it lists developments in the number of students and applicants, the average Abitur grade of applicants, dropout rates, modules that cause particular difficulties for students, etc.

In addition, the information package contains the results of current alumni and student surveys, which are evaluated for specific degree programs, including comparative values from other universities. In addition, the Central Student Counselling Office may contribute additions if certain problems in connection with a degree program are frequently encountered there.

Every 8 years, the discussions are expanded in the format of an "On-Campus Dialogue," and 4 external experts are involved. These are 2 professors and a student from another university as well as a practitioner from an occupational field that is relevant for the respective degree program.

"In contrast to the examiners in the previous accreditation procedure, the experts here primarily take on the role of 'critical friends' who contribute an external perspective to the discussion. Their actual testing mandate is limited to a number of criteria specified by the German Accreditation Council," explained Duffner.

The seal for the respective degree program is awarded after a final "President's Office Dialogue." The faculties agree on objectives with the President's Office which are based on the results paper of the "On-Campus Dialogue" as well as on the strategic goals of the university, e.g. with regard to internationalization or the promotion of research-based learning in the degree programs. The university's strategic goals are laid down in the university's structural and development plan (SEP).

Text: Leonhardmair / Translation: Neudorfer