that HEIs must periodically review the quality of their teaching, research and services as well as to ensure long-term quality assurance and quality development.
Proof of this can be provided by HEIs through institutional accreditation.
Institutional accreditation is mandatory if an institution wishes to call itself a "University", "University of Applied Sciences" or "University of Teacher Education". It is also a requirement for universities regulated by public law in order to be eligible for federal contributions as well as it is mandatory to be able to carry out programme accreditations according to HEdA.
FIBAA conducts the procedure of the institutional accreditation (from the first briefing between the HEI and FIBAA until the final assessment report by the panel by taking into account a statement from the HEI). The final decision on the accreditation is taken by the Swiss Accreditation Council.
The implementation of the institutional accreditation procedure by FIBAA (from the first informational interview to the final expert report, taking into account a statement by the higher education institution). The decision on accreditation is made by the Swiss Accreditation Council on the basis of the expert report and accreditation application prepared by FIBAA.
Objectives
Aim of the institutional accreditation is to confirm that universities have their own quality assurance systems and that quality assurance is carried out effectively in accordance with national criteria and international standards. The purpose is also:
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to raise the national and international profile of universities;
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to serve as a guide and decision-making aid for prospected students;
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to help universities make a name for themselves and to improve international recognition for degree qualifications.
1. Impetus for quality development
The institutional accreditation supports you in developing the quality of your processes and study offers by checking your quality assurance system as a whole and not just single parts of it.
2. Expertise and long time experience
We are one of the oldest accreditation agencies in Germany and have long time experience in national and international quality assurance in higher education. Our staff and our experts are constantly trained to live up yours and ours expectations.
3. Individual needs
We consider the individual needs of the HEI (amongst others: during the selection of experts; while organising the on-site visit; by taking into account the HEI´S statement on the assessment report).
4. FIBAA Assessment Guide
The FIBAA Assessment Guide guarantees that all necessary information is given to the experts and it defines the scope of assessment.
5. Competent support
A FIBAA project manager is at the HEI’s disposal during the whole accreditation procedure.
The course of the procedure follows the guidelines of the Higher Education Council for accreditation in the field of higher education (accreditation guidelines HEdA). The following procedural steps result from the directives:
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Filing a substantiated application of the HEI at the Accreditation Council for admission to the procedure;
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If the prerequisites are met, the Accreditation Council admits the HEI for the procedure (Eintretensentscheid);
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Planning and opening of the procedure by conclusion of contract between the HEI and FIBAA;
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The HEI sends a self-evaluation report to FIBAA;
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Compilation of an independent expert team by FIBAA in consultation with the HEI;
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On-site visits (alternative: division of the assessment on two dates);
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Preparation of an assessment report and an accreditation application;
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Possibility of a statement from the HEI;
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Submission of the application for accreditation and other documents to the Swiss Accreditation Council
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Decision on the accreditation of the Swiss Accreditation Council;
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Publication of the decree and of the assessment report;
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If applicable verification of the fulfillment of conditions.
In order to support you with the accreditation procedure according to HEdA Switzerland, we have developed an assessment guide for Institutional Accreditation, which contains all relevant quality standards in form of questions and definitions of the benchmarks. This document serves you as the basis for generating your self-evaluation report.
Assessment Guide
Guidelines
The final accreditation decision is made by the Swiss Accreditation Council based on a proposal by FIBAA, the self-evaluation report by the HEI, the assessment report by the experts and the statement from the HEI.
The Accreditation Council is the joint body of the federal government and cantons for accreditation and quality assurance in the Swiss higher education sector and the accreditation authority for the accreditation procedures pursuant to HEdA.
Our procedure is in line with the following regulations for the institutional accreditation:
Higher Education Funding and Coordination Act, HEdA
Guidelines of the Higher Education Council for accreditation within the higher education sector (HEdA Accreditation Guidelines)
Fee Regulations of the Swiss Accreditation Council (FeeReg-SAC)
Please feel free to contact us!
FIBAA stands for reliable support in quality development.
We look forward to walking the path together with you.
Please send us your enquiry.
M.Sc.
Phone: +49 (0) 1578 / 280 35 71
E-Mail: Dermanowski@fibaa-nospam.org
Languages: German, English, Russian
