19 October 2023 – The Accreditation Council in dialog – Topic of the day: Diversity of QM systems – What freedom do universities have?

On October 19, 2023, the fifth edition of the format “The Accreditation Council in Dialogue” took place on the “Topic of the day: Diversity of QM systems – What freedom do universities have”.

On the one hand, the specimen decree defines the central requirements for a functioning quality management system and, on the other hand, emphasizes that the specific design of the QM systems is left to the individual higher education institutions depending on the respective circumstances.

The range of more than 50 successfully completed system accreditation procedures under the new law was illustrated at the event by presenting the QM models

shown.

In the subsequent panel discussion, in which the representatives of the three higher education institutions were joined by Accreditation Council members Prof. Dr. Óscar Loureda Lamas and Mr. Milan Grammerstorf, as well as the Head of the System Accreditation Department at the Head Office of the Accreditation Council, Mr. Franz Börsch, the tension between non-negotiable framework conditions on the one hand and deliberately opened, innovation-promoting design freedoms on the other was discussed with the approximately 300 participants. The event was concluded by the closing words of the Chairperson of the Accreditation Council, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Joachim Bargstädt, who had also introduced the event.

The event was moderated by Ms. Jasmin Usainov, Deputy Head of the System Accreditation Department at the Head Office of the Accreditation Council.

  • The Accreditation Council in dialogue

    Since 2021, the Accreditation Council has been engaging in mutual exchange with universities through its “Accreditation Council in Dialogue” format. This format aims to address a wide range of topics, all of which are relevant to accreditation.

    Topics covered so far have included:

    – Alternative procedures
    – Cooperation with non-university institutions
    – Diversity of quality management systems – What leeway do universities have?

    – Role and self-image of review panels
    – System accreditation
    – The significance of qualification objectives for accreditation
    – Dual study programs