Quality Assurance in Higher Education Accreditation procedures in

Quality Assurance in Higher Education Accreditation procedures in Business Administration Prof. Dr. Burghard Hermeier 6 th May 2005 12/22/2021 1

- FOM at a glance - National Accreditation Standards - International Accreditation Standards - Success Factors in Accreditation Projects 12/22/2021 2

‚FOM at a glance‘ 12/22/2021 3

What is FOM? Germany‘s leading private Higher Education Institution of the Business Community for employees More than today 6000 Students in Germany and abroad 1994 Start of lectures 137 freshmen in Essen 1993 Foundation of FOM national recognition 12/22/2021 4

Number of Students 12/22/2021 5

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 Business Administration Accreditation 12/22/2021 6

Locations Berlin Bochum Dortmund Duisburg Düsseldorf Essen Frankfurt Gütersloh Hamburg Köln Marl München Neuss Siegen 12/22/2021 planned Bremen Nürnberg <<Neue Karte>> FOM abroad China: Langfang (Provinz Hebei) Taian (Provinz Shandong) 7

International Partners Akademy of the National Bank of the Ukraina, Lwiw Shanxi University of Finance & Economics, Taiyuan, China Shandong Agricultural University Taian, China Pfeiffer University, Charlotte, USA University of Bradford Management Centre Bradford, GB 12/22/2021 Avans Plus Breda, Niederlande Nekrassow-Universität Kostroma, Russland Technische Universität Sofia, BG 8

National Accreditation Standards (Germany) 12/22/2021 9

Function and aim of accreditation - Quality assurance in the new foundation of universities or 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 12/22/2021 10

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 6 Accreditation agencies: ACQUIN, AHPGS, ASIIN, AQAS, FIBAA, ZEVA 12/22/2021 Accreditation of institutions Accreditation of study programmes 11

Accreditation Council and Accreditation Agencies Accreditation Council: - awards time-limited entitlement to German accreditation agencies to 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 ! 12/22/2021 12

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. “ Ø The Accreditation Agencies award the seal of the Accreditation Council Ø That seal of quality can be used by the higher education institutions. It insures transparency and provides certainty Ø In the near future the results of accreditation procedures will be the basis for a ranking of Higher Education Institutions 12/22/2021 13

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) 12/22/2021 14

Sequence of an accreditation procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. University applies for accreditation University creates its own documentation Appraisal group is nominated On-site peer review Appraisal report is created If needed: Statement of the university Statement of specialist committee Accreditation decision approx. 6 month from handing in own documentation to accreditation decision 12/22/2021 15

Components of Accreditation Appraisal procedure Aims -Existence -Transparency -Validity Concept -Existence -Plausibility -Coherence -Transparency Implementation -Existence -Plausibility -Appropriateness of Resources / Organization Qualitymanagement Appraisal result / Appraisal report Recommendations to the Accreditation Commission Accreditation Conditional Accreditation Deferment Rejection Duration of validity: 3 – 5 years 12/22/2021 16

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 12/22/2021 17

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 12/22/2021 18

Requirements checked during the accreditation procedure for a study programme Example: University of Applied Sciences at Cologne: Bachelor „International Business“ 12/22/2021 19

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International Accreditation Standards 12/22/2021 22

AACSB and EQUIS AACSB: EQUIS: · Focus on Degree Programmes · Institutional Accreditation 1) Eligibility 2) Mentoring & Development 3) Self Evaluation 4) Peer Review 1) Eligibility 2) Self Assessment 3) Peer Review 4) Guided Development Eligibility +Institutional Criteria +National Standing +International Dimension 12/22/2021 23

The EQUIS Criteria Framework CORPORATE CONNECTIONS Executive Education Programme Quality CONTEXT AND MISSION STUDENTS AND PARTICIPANTS Personal Development FACULTY PHYSICAL RESOURCES Research & Development Contribution to the community INTERNATIONAL ISSUES 12/22/2021 24

EQUIS Accreditation Process End 0. Inquiry 1. Application 2. Eligibility No Strategic Advice Yes 3. Self. Assessment 4. Peer Review Ready 5. Awarding Body Yes No EQUIS Accredited Not ready 6. Guided Development 12/22/2021 25

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 12/22/2021 26

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 12/22/2021 27

Questions & Answers 12/22/2021 28

EQUIS Management System Board EQUIS Committee EQUIS Awarding Body efmd EQUAL 12/22/2021 29

AACSB – Eligibility + 21 Standards · Strategic Management Standards · Participants Standards (Students and Faculty) · Assurance of Learning Standards 12/22/2021 30

International Criteria Three Key Dimensions 1) Quality up to International Standards 2) International Recognition 3) Degree of Internationalisation 12/22/2021 31

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 when applicable) a

Stage 0: Inquiry + First Contact: Generic Interest + Information and Preliminary Advice on EQUIS + Information on efmd membership Stage 1: Application – Standard package of EQUIS documents sent – Formal Application and Data Sheet received – On-site Briefing Visit 12/22/2021 33

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 • • 12/22/2021 Eligible (Go to Stage 3) Ø Unconditionally Ø With a clear indication of the risks Not eligible Ø EQUIS offers strategic advice 34

Stage 3: Self-Assessment + Preparation of Self-Assessment Report + Assistance by EQUIS + Preparation of Peer Review Visit 12/22/2021 35

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 …/. . . 12/22/2021 36

Stage 4: Peer Review Visit - Outcomes + Peer Review Report • Evaluation against the EQUIS criteria • Recommendations for future development Ø Requirements for achievement of accreditation Ø Suggestions for improvement + The Report may recommend immediate submission to the Awarding Body 12/22/2021 37

Stage 5: Awarding Body - Full accreditation: • Reaccreditation in 5 years (Stage 3) • Improvement reports Ø Half way Ø 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) 12/22/2021 38

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) 12/22/2021 39

Practicality through cooperation Vom Großkonzern bis zum Familienbetrieb. . . 12/22/2021 40