Project: System accreditation
Project: System accreditation
The university is currently preparing for system accreditation.
Following the University's decision at the end of 2018 to switch from programme accreditation to system accreditation, the development of a quality management system for teaching and learning began in 2019. With the participation of all Schools, the Didactic Centre and the Centre for Lifelong Learning, a quality management system is being developed that will allow us to review and further develop the quality of our degree programmes under our own responsibility.
In order to be able to apply for system accreditation, a mission statement for teaching is required on the one hand, which is also reflected in the individual degree programmes. On the other hand, an internal quality management system is required. This should ensure that work is continuously carried out on the further development of the degree programmes and study conditions and that the objectives of the mission statement are implemented.
System accreditation gives the university the right to award the seal of the Accreditation Council itself for the degree programmes it has examined. However, the system itself must first be accredited by an agency. At the University of Oldenburg, this will be the accreditation agency ACQUIN.
You can see the current status of the changeover here under project progression.
Why did the University of Oldenburg decide to switch from programme accreditation to system accreditation?
- Instead of numerous programme accreditations, in future the university’s quality management system will be assessed only once every eight years by an external agency and the Accreditation Council.
- The UOL can structure its quality management in such a way that there is a balanced relationship between effort and benefit.
- The university reviews the wide range of quality assurance tools it already has in place and integrates them into a coherent quality management system.
- When assessing its degree programmes, the university is less dependent on the processes and timeframes set by external agencies. Assessors can be selected more precisely to suit the cluster.
- Inconsistencies in evaluation reports can be avoided.
- Continuous monitoring and the systematic further development of degree programmes and study conditions place a greater focus than before on issues relating to the quality of study and teaching. This creates regular opportunities for dialogue between those involved.
What is the procedure for developing quality management?
Individual sub-areas/concepts of the quality management system are developed in various working groups. The drafts and discussion proposals are discussed and further developed in the Schools and organisational units involved. These are then discussed and agreed with the steering group and the Presidential Board.