Austrian Accreditation Council

ENQA Workshop, Rome, November 2003

University Accreditation ActUniversity Accreditation Act (1999) (1999)

federal law governing the accreditation federal law governing the accreditation of private universitiesof private universities

establishes the responsibilities of the establishes the responsibilities of the Accreditation Council as well as its Accreditation Council as well as its autonomous powers of decision autonomous powers of decision

no accreditation system for public no accreditation system for public universitiesuniversities

AimsAims

to open the university sector to private to open the university sector to private supplierssuppliers

to ensure quality in the private sector and to ensure quality in the private sector and to maintain general standardsto maintain general standards

to ensure transparency and security for the to ensure transparency and security for the suppliers, students and the employment suppliers, students and the employment marketmarket

to promote innovative forms of training and to promote innovative forms of training and further educationfurther education

Main Tasks of the AACMain Tasks of the AAC

to carry out accreditation of institutions to carry out accreditation of institutions and study programmesand study programmes

to supervise accredited private universitiesto supervise accredited private universities

Main features of the AACMain features of the AAC

not advisory but decision making bodynot advisory but decision making body independent body, not bound by any independent body, not bound by any

directivesdirectives non Austrian majoritynon Austrian majority

Composition of the AACComposition of the AAC

eight memberseight members acknowledged experts in the field of acknowledged experts in the field of

international higher educationinternational higher education appointed by the federal governmentappointed by the federal government

The Accreditation ProcessThe Accreditation Process

Expert panelsExpert panels

As a rule experts are not Austrian and As a rule experts are not Austrian and have international and have international and interdisciplinary backgroundinterdisciplinary background

Experts are appointed by the councilExperts are appointed by the council One member of the council chairs the One member of the council chairs the

expert panel expert panel Applicant institution can veto the Applicant institution can veto the

nomination of an expert in case of nomination of an expert in case of biasbias

Expert reportsExpert reports

Experts elaborate separate reportsExperts elaborate separate reports Applicant institution gives a Applicant institution gives a

statement to the reportsstatement to the reports The council member that chairs the The council member that chairs the

expert panel prepare expert panel prepare recommendations for the decisionrecommendations for the decision

Reports are not publishedReports are not published

Accreditation decisionAccreditation decision

Decision is made by the councilDecision is made by the council No conditional accreditationNo conditional accreditation Accreditation with time limitAccreditation with time limit Decision with a short explanation Decision with a short explanation

is publishedis published Decision needs to be approved Decision needs to be approved

by the minister of educationby the minister of education

Subjects of AssessmentSubjects of Assessment

Aims, objectives, missionAims, objectives, mission Content and structure of the programmesContent and structure of the programmes Facilities and provisionsFacilities and provisions Staff qualityStaff quality ResearchResearch Internal Quality AssuranceInternal Quality Assurance OutputOutput

Frame of reference 1Frame of reference 1

The Austrian Accreditation Act stipulates the following The Austrian Accreditation Act stipulates the following accrediation requirements and refers to “international accrediation requirements and refers to “international standards”:standards”:

legal form and headquarterslegal form and headquarters suitable range of studiessuitable range of studies comparable study standardscomparable study standards Teaching staff and equipementTeaching staff and equipement Principles of education/ Code of ethicsPrinciples of education/ Code of ethics

RequirementsRequirementsstipulated by lawstipulated by law

Legal form and headquarters:Legal form and headquarters: The educational The educational establishment applying must be a legal person based in establishment applying must be a legal person based in Austria.Austria.

A suitable range of studies:A suitable range of studies: - The educational establishment applying must offer at - The educational establishment applying must offer at least two study courses,least two study courses,- The study courses must result in an academic degree, - The study courses must result in an academic degree, in accordance with international standards for full-time in accordance with international standards for full-time courses of at least three years,courses of at least three years,- The study courses must be offered in one or more - The study courses must be offered in one or more academic or artistic discipline(s), or follow on from other academic or artistic discipline(s), or follow on from other academic study courses (i.e. postgraduate courses). academic study courses (i.e. postgraduate courses).

RequirementsRequirementsstipulated by lawstipulated by law

Comparable study standards:Comparable study standards: If a private If a private university intends to award the same academic university intends to award the same academic degrees as those awarded at state universities, degrees as those awarded at state universities, the private courses must be comparable to the the private courses must be comparable to the corresponding state-funded courses in terms of corresponding state-funded courses in terms of their overall educational result. their overall educational result.

Teaching staff and equipment:Teaching staff and equipment: The qualifications The qualifications of teaching staff at private universities must of teaching staff at private universities must correspond to international academic and artistic correspond to international academic and artistic standards. At the time of application, the standards. At the time of application, the necessary proof of personnel, space and material necessary proof of personnel, space and material equipment must be suppliedequipment must be supplied. .

RequirementsRequirements stipulated by lawstipulated by law

Principles: Principles: The educational establishment must The educational establishment must carry out its activities according to the following carry out its activities according to the following principles:principles:- The freedom of the sciences and their - The freedom of the sciences and their teachingteaching- The freedom of the arts, the propagation of - The freedom of the arts, the propagation of the arts the arts and their teachingand their teaching- The interrelationship of research and teaching- The interrelationship of research and teaching- The diversity of artistic and academic theories, - The diversity of artistic and academic theories,

methods and schools of thought.methods and schools of thought.

Frame of reference 2Frame of reference 2

Regulations set by the Austrian Accreditation Regulations set by the Austrian Accreditation Council:Council:

Basic Criteria Basic Criteria Guidelines for applicantsGuidelines for applicants Guidelines for expert teamsGuidelines for expert teams

Basic CriteriaBasic Criteria

1. The institution must have permanent staff 1. The institution must have permanent staff who are contractually bound for a minimum who are contractually bound for a minimum of two years. Permanent staff must be able to of two years. Permanent staff must be able to cover at least 50% of the teaching of each cover at least 50% of the teaching of each study course, and should normally have a study course, and should normally have a doctoral degree. In accordance with doctoral degree. In accordance with international standards, each study course or international standards, each study course or discipline on offer requires at least three discipline on offer requires at least three members of permanent staff whose minimum members of permanent staff whose minimum capacity is half-time employment. This capacity is half-time employment. This minimum is aimed at assuring academic minimum is aimed at assuring academic discussion and exchange.discussion and exchange.

Basic CriteriaBasic Criteria

2. The institution must carry out 2. The institution must carry out research. To do this, it needs a critical research. To do this, it needs a critical mass (see point 1) to assure the mass (see point 1) to assure the institutionalised production of knowledge institutionalised production of knowledge and corresponding feedback from its and corresponding feedback from its research into its teaching activities. research into its teaching activities.

Basic CriteriaBasic Criteria

3. The selection process for all academic 3. The selection process for all academic personnel must be transparent, personnel must be transparent, competitive and quality-based.competitive and quality-based.

4. Curricula (in detail) and examination 4. Curricula (in detail) and examination regulations must meet material, specialist regulations must meet material, specialist and formal requirements in accordance and formal requirements in accordance with international standards. The with international standards. The institution’s minimum entrance institution’s minimum entrance requirements must be in accordance with requirements must be in accordance with Austria’s general requirements for Austria’s general requirements for university admissions. university admissions.

Basic CriteriaBasic Criteria

5. Space and material resources will be 5. Space and material resources will be judged according to the international judged according to the international standards for adequate academic resources.standards for adequate academic resources.

6. The institution should be in a position to 6. The institution should be in a position to offer a reasonable range and variety of offer a reasonable range and variety of study courses.study courses.

7. The institution must be able to prove that 7. The institution must be able to prove that its medium and long-term financing is its medium and long-term financing is assuredassured

SupervisionSupervision

Measures/InstrumentsMeasures/Instruments Annual reportsAnnual reports InspectionInspection Revocation of accreditationRevocation of accreditation

Applications since March 2000Applications since March 2000

16 institutions, 8 accepted16 institutions, 8 accepted 11 new programmes, 4 11 new programmes, 4

acceptedaccepted 1 revocation of accreditation1 revocation of accreditation

Private Universities in AustriaPrivate Universities in Austria

6 institutions6 institutions offering programmes in: theology, law, social offering programmes in: theology, law, social

sciences, business, cultural studies, public sciences, business, cultural studies, public health, medicine, information technologyhealth, medicine, information technology

about 1500 studentsabout 1500 students study fees between study fees between

1.000 – 44.000 Euro / programme1.000 – 44.000 Euro / programme

Private Universities in AustriaPrivate Universities in Austria

Catholic Theological University LinzCatholic Theological University Linzwww.kth-linz.ac.atwww.kth-linz.ac.at

Webster University (Vienna)Webster University (Vienna)www.webster.ac.atwww.webster.ac.at

IMADEC University (Vienna)IMADEC University (Vienna)www.imadec.ac.atwww.imadec.ac.at

University for Health Informatics and Technology (Innsbruck)University for Health Informatics and Technology (Innsbruck)www.umit.atwww.umit.at

PEF University for Management (Vienna)PEF University for Management (Vienna)www.pef.atwww.pef.at

Private Medical University SalzburgPrivate Medical University Salzburgwww.pmu.ac.atwww.pmu.ac.at

Contact and further information:Contact and further information:

Austrian Accreditation CouncilAustrian Accreditation CouncilTeinfaltstr. 8 Teinfaltstr. 8

1090 Wien1090 Wien

elisabeth.fiorioli@bmbwk.gv.atelisabeth.fiorioli@bmbwk.gv.at

www.akkreditierungsrat.atwww.akkreditierungsrat.at