Accreditation of Private Institutions in Switzerland Stephanie Maurer

Accreditation of Private Institutions in Switzerland Stephanie Maurer, OAQ

Workshop, Sarajevo, 16 / 17 November 2009 1. The OAQ - mission, tasks and philosophy 2. External quality assurance system in Switzerland 3. Accreditation of private institutions in Switzerlan 4. Outlook to new law on higher education

Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance of the Swiss Universities (OAQ) § Established in October 2001 § Based on a legal act § Mission: assure and promote the quality of education and research of the Swiss Universities § Tasks: carry out quality assessments, both at institutional and programme level § Independence in working process/decision making Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 3

OAQ - Core Functions Quality Assurance l Quality audits/evaluations (recognition procedure) l Services Accreditation l Set up guidelines and standards l Accreditation of institutions and/or programs Information l Accreditation l Quality Assurance l Related topics Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 4

OAQ – Philosophy § Aiming at quality improvement § Access to reknowned experts § Dialogue and close cooperation with partners § Minimising bureaucracy and respecting autonomy of HEIs § Internationalisation Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 5

OAQ - International Co-operations Memberships: § ENQA: OAQ fulfils the “European Standards and Guidelines” (full membership awarded 2006) § Member of the European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA): mutual recognition of accreditation decisions § Other international initiatives (INQAAHE, UNESCO/OECD projects, etc. ) Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 6

External QA in Switzerland § Combination of systematic institutional assessments and selective programme accreditation § External assessment of QA systems of public universities (Quality Audits) is mandatory: Audits every four years § Link to financial aid of federal government § Institutional and programme accreditation (for private and public institutions) is voluntary Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 7

Accreditation of private Institutions § Accreditation is voluntary - no legal consequences § Recognition of private institutions depends on cantonal legislation § Accreditation has no influence on the recognition of degrees § Accreditation procedure is the same for public and private institutions § Exceptions: § Programme accreditation is only possible if the institution is accredited § Preliminary exam before entering the accreditation process § Institution has to pay the cost for the procedure Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 8

Preliminary Exam - Procedure § Exam based on documentation of the institution § OAQ evaluates documentation - Report on fulfilment of the conditions § Approval of the scientific board § Positive result § OAQ starts with the accreditation procedure § Negative result § Institution can comment on report § Formal decision by the Swiss University Conference - rejection of application Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 9

Preliminary exam - Criteria § Formal conditions for entering accreditation process: 1. Legal entity - seat in Switzerland 2. Fulfilment of conditions for the institutional accreditation 3. Sufficient resources (infrastructure, personnel and finances) Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 10

Conditions for institutional accreditation I § 4 different categories of institutions § University § Academic institution offering bachelor’s degrees § Academic institution offering continuing education Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 11

Conditions for institutional accreditation II § Fullfillment of minimum requirements relating to: § Admission § Offer of programmes § Faculty (number of professors) § Research § Bologna Guidelines § (Fulfilment fo quality standards) Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 12

Accreditation Procedure § 3 - step procedure: § Phase 1: Self-evaluation § Phase 2: External evaluation: site visit by an independent group of experts § Phase 3: Accreditation decision by the Swiss University Conference Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 13

Accreditation - Decisions in Switzerland § The Swiss political authorities decide in conformity with the proposition of OAQ § Decisions: yes / no / conditional yes § Unconditional accreditation is granted for 7 years § Certificate and accreditation seal if positive result § Possibility to appeal against decisions Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 14

Accreditation of private institution - Statistics § To date 3 private institutions have been accredited § 5 negative accreditation decision § 8 positive preliminary exams § 16 negative preliminary exams (or withdrawal) Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 15

Accreditation of private institutions - strengths § Equal treatment of private and public universities § Preliminary exam allows only suitable candidates in the accreditation process - exclusion of „degree mills“ § Report on the preliminary exam can give an institution support in their development. Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 16

Accreditation of private institutions - challenges § Accreditation is voluntary - „consumer protection“ cannot be really guaranteed § Cantons have very different policies regarding the recognition of private institutions § Benchmark is very high § Preliminary exam mostly based on quantitative criteria small PHEI have difficulties meeting the requirements (e. g. number of staff) § High number of appeals Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 17

New federal law on Higher Education (2012 ff) § Same QA-requirements for all types of higher education institutions § Accreditation council and national agency: independent § Mandatory institutional accreditation, selective programme accreditation (on demand) § Term „University“ is protected § Institutional accreditation condition for the denomination „University“ Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 18

Wishful thinking. . . § Homogeneity of cantonal policies regarding the recognition of private institutions and the recognition of degrees § Accreditation condition for offering programmes and delivering degrees § Register of all private academic institutions in Switzerland Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 19

Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 20

Further Information about OAQ: Requests and information: § e-mail: Stephanie Maurer <stephanie. maurer@oaq. ch> or info@oaq. ch § Telephone: § Website: ++41 31 380 11 50 www. oaq. ch Heusser/ OAQ / 02/03/2021 / page 21