Digital learning formats in Higher Education have been significantly further developed in recent years and are faced with major challenges. Quality assurance is essential, thus FIBAA has developed a new certification called “Excellence in Digital Education”® – an innovative instrument to evaluate and assure quality of digital learning.
In 2020, FIBAA started the process of developing the certification for purposes of raising the profile of digital transformation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and educational providers. The FIBAA Quality Seal “Excellence in Digital Education”® is based on the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and the subject of „Considerations for quality assurance of e-learning provision“ from the „Occasional Paper 26“ of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). The input of external experts from higher education management as well as workshops held by the FIBAA office also contributed to the development of the FIBAA Quality Seal.
In order to test the FIBAA Quality Seal in practice, three pilot procedures (in Germany, Austria and Switzerland) were carried out in 2021. During the procedures, the participating universities were able to take a close look at their progress in the digital transformation of teaching as well as receive valuable input for future growth. On the other hand FIBAA was able to prove the viability of the new invented FIBAA Quality Seal. The pilot procedures were then followed by another evaluation of the FIBAA Quality Seal’s assessment criteria.
Trademark Registration in Switzerland and the EU
Since November 2021, the FIBAA Quality Seal „Excellence in Digital Education“® has been a registered trademark in Switzerland and since March 2022, the FIBAA Quality Seal „Excellence in Digital Education“® has been a registered trademark in the EU.
Certified Higher Education Institutions, educational providers, study programmes and continuing education courses
Certification method
The certification with the FIBAA Quality Seal “Excellence in Digital Education”® is carried out in a peer review process.
Standards and Criteria
Representing a holistic approach, the assessment of the quality assurance of a digital teaching and learning environment is carried out on the basis of five standards and 23 associated criteria, all anchored in a detailed Assessment Guide. All standards are considered equally important and need to interact in order to produce excellent digital learning experiences.
Areas of application for the FIBAA Quality Seal “Excellence in Digital Education”®
The certification with the FIBAA Quality Seal “Excellence in Digital Education”® is possible
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at institutional level or for individual study programmes or continuing education courses of Higher Education Institutions or education providers (stand-alone procedure),
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parallel to an institutional or study programme accreditation or the certification of continuing education courses of Higher Education Institutions or education providers (combined procedure),
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in German and in English.
Your benefits
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The FIBAA Quality Seal “Excellence in Digital Education”® takes into account the different perspectives of online teaching and evaluates them using tried and tested standards and criteria.
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By dividing the FIBAA Quality Seal into two different quality categories – “Advanced” and “Premium” – Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and educational providers are given the opportunity for further organisational development.
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Applying institutions not only gain insights during the self-assessment process but also receive valuable suggestions for further development from an Expert Panel as well as the FIBAA Accreditation and Certification Committee.
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In addition, acquiring the FIBAA Quality Seal offers the opportunity to advance the digital transformation in teaching and learning and to become visible to the outside world as an innovative HEI or educational provider.
“Excellent digital teaching places high demands on people, but also on the technical infrastructure. Central is a modern e-campus, which offers students and teachers a variety of interaction options. It is just as important that there are modern and competence-oriented standards for digital teaching. We look forward to contributing to the evaluation of these criteria as a pilot higher education institution.”
Prof. Dr Ottmar Schneck, Rector and Managing Director of SRH Distance Higher Education Institution
“In the development and implementation of our excellent digital teaching, we take into account the personnel, technical and administrative framework conditions. The didactic design is based on the content of the material to be taught and the needs of the students. The external expertise in the process of obtaining the "Excellence in Digital Education" seal helps to further develop one's own competencies.”
Prof. Jürg Kessler, Rector of the Graubünden Higher Education Institution of Applied Sciences
“From a student perspective, it is particularly important to me that high standards are also ensured in digital teaching and learning formats. The areas of personnel, technology and didactic design must be implemented in a digital strategy for higher education institutions so that students in particular can experience many benefits from digital teaching formats here in the future.”
Julia Ekhardt, student at TU Munich
“Digitisation is changing the world. No stone is left unturned. Teaching, studies and higher education institutions are massively affected. New business models, products, processes and markets are emerging. It is constantly going faster and faster. This makes efficient quality management systems all the more important. Students, alumni and employers have a right to quality and transparency. This is exactly what the new FIBAA Seal is all about. It is great and incredibly important that FIBAA is taking on this innovative subject!”
Prof. Dr Andreas Altmann, Rector of MCI The Entrepreneurial Higher Education Institution®
We look forward to your enquiry
FIBAA stands for reliable support in quality development.
We look forward to walking the path together with you.
Please send us your enquiry.
Please contact us!
Division Manager Certifications
M.A.
Phone: +49 (0) 151 / 16840282
E-Mail: stephan@fibaa-nospam.org
Languages: German, English
Projectmanagement
M.A.
Phone: +49 (0) 228 / 280 356-0
E-Mail: luetgens@fibaa-nospam.org
Languages: German, English, French
Deputy Division Manager
M.Sc.
Phone: +49 (0) 151 / 585 805 37
E-Mail: butler@fibaa-nospam.org
Languages: German, English, Spanish