Quality Development and Quality Management of University Lifelong Learning in Austria at a Glance Andrea Waxenegger University of Graz UaLL Annual Conference Monday, 17 March 2008 York, UK

Speaker Present position: Director of the Center for Continuing Education (since June 2000) University education: Educational Sciences/Adult Education; working since 1989 in the field of University Continuing Education in research & development, management, organisational development, consulting, project management and various functions Since 1996: Member of the founding group and, currently, Member of the Steering Committee of AUCEN – Austrian University Continuing Education and Staff Development Network Since May 2004: Member of the Steering Committee and Secretary General of EUCEN – European University Continuing Education Network Since 2004: Member of the Steering Committee and Managing Director of the Association for the Promotion of Lifelong Learning (in cooperation with the University of Graz) Local project manager in several EU-Projects and coordinator of the EU-Project ADD LIFE – Adding Quality to Life through inter-generational learning via universities Member and Coordinator of the Austrian Expert Group in Learning in Later Life (in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs and Consumer Protection)

Involvement in EQUIPE Plus EQUAL - Educational Quality in University Adult Learning (Handbook) EQUIPE - European Quality in Individualised Pathways in Education: tools, case studies, EQUIPE Quality Learning Tool (Handbook as innovative toolkit for quality in ULLL; published on the internet) : EQUIPE Plus - European Quality in Individualised Pathways in Education plus: main activity is the valorisation of the products of EQUIPE through the national networks Selection of tasks for the University of Graz in cooperation with AUCEN: Workshop at national level with experts (8 May 2006) Workshop to offer hands-on experience of one of the EQUIPE tools (22 September 2006) Production of a National Quality Report in year 2 Dissemination at institutional and national level Presentations at national level abroad: Italy 2007, UK 2008 Translation of an article on Quality Management (2008)

Overview 1. A short introduction to University Lifelong Learning in Austria 2. An overview of Quality Development and Quality Management of University Lifelong Learning at institutional and national level 3. Current discussions and trends

1. A short introduction to University Lifelong Learning in Austria 21 state universities, Danube University of Krems – University for Continuing Education Universities of Applied Sciences and Private universities Austrian Universities Act (2002, fully implemented on 1 January 2004): Austrian Universities are required by law to include Continuing Education in their performance objectives: “continuing education, particularly post-graduate training”. The Austrian Universities Act 2002 explicitly allows – in order to provide financial and organisational support – cooperation with other legal entities. UCE provision is not part of the regular under/graduate degree programmes of the universities.

1. A short introduction to University Lifelong Learning in Austria – cont. Institutional autonomy  diversity of strategies and approaches of Austrian Universities for University Lifelong Learning  developmental plans What is “University Lifelong Learning”, what is “University Continuing Education”? Organisation and delivery: there is not one model for organisation and delivery; there are central administrative units, assistants to Vice-Rectors, Centres for Continuing Education, Associations in cooperation with a university, companies; parallel to UCE provided by faculties/institutes or even outsourced; staff development Formats: from public lectures addressing a wide audience to short courses and diploma courses up to specialised Master’s programmes lasting several semesters Key target groups: the post-25 group, in addition to the “classic” programmes offered to the 18 to 25-year-olds; continuing professional development and continuing education at an advanced level; general interest courses at university level for public access, any and all ages

1. A short introduction to University Lifelong Learning in Austria – cont. Certificates: from “confirmation of participation/certificate of attendance”  “university certificates”  “Master’s degrees” Academic titles: “The curriculum may specify master’s titles in normal international use for the respective subject to be awarded to the graduates of such courses, if the admission requirements, scope and standards are comparable to those of like master’s programmes in other countries”. Benchmarking! “In the event that subsection 1 does not apply, the curriculum may stipulate that the title “Akademische…” or “Akademischer …” [academically accredited], followed by a suffix indicating the contents of the course in question, is to be awarded to persons successfully completing the course in question, provided that it qualifies for at least 60 ECTS credits points.” (ECTS: work load of one year full-time is 1500 hours = 60 ECTS) Money: from “no fees” to “cost-covering fees”

The University of Graz as an example Strategy: The university as a “partner in learning” for students of any and all ages. Starting point: June “ leitungsunterstützende Stabsstelle ” (assistant to Rector/Vice-Rector) Autumn 2002: Center for Continuing Education Autumn 2004: Association for the Promotion of Lifelong Learning Summer 2006: UNI for LIFE Ltd. – Continuing Professional Development for Business and Industry, for graduates/post-graduates, for the University; and Center for Continuing Education – Public Access, academic learning, Learning in Later Life Parallel to: UCE in faculties/institutes or outsourced, staff development

2. Overview of Quality Development and Quality Management at institutional level Basic principle: “Quality” approach, procedures, evaluation, involvement of stakeholders, etc. are mainly the responsibility of the academic director/s; and – if applicable – academic board for the programme Additional for Diploma Courses/Master Programmes, established by the Senate and prepared by the Commissions for University Curricula in UCE: ex ante - Peer Review (international experts), statements of several internal departments; final decision of the University Senate Other Courses: the responsibility of the academic director or the director of the unit responsible for the provision; based on internal regulations Important: a lively “quality culture”

2. Overview of Quality Development and Quality Management at national level Summary: Austrian Public Universities are not obliged to seek external accreditation at national level for their continuing education programmes. Some programmes may seek external accreditation at international level provided by Accreditation Agencies or professional associations. University Organisation and Studies Act 2002 (implemented 2004) - Evaluation and quality assurance: §14. (1) The universities shall develop their own quality management systems in order to assure quality and the attainment of their performance objectives. (2) The subject of an evaluation is the university’s duties and the entire spectrum of its services. (3) Evaluations shall be conducted in accordance with subject based international evaluation standards. The areas of university services to be evaluated shall, in the case of evaluations relating to single universities, be established by the respective performance agreement. (4) The universities shall carry out internal evaluations on an ongoing basis, in accordance with their statutes.

2. Overview of Quality Development and Quality Management at national level - cont. University Organisation and Studies Act 2002 (implemented 2004) - Evaluation and quality assurance (continued): (5) External evaluations shall take place: 1. at the instigation of the university council or rectorate of the university in question or the Minister where they relate to individual universities; 2. at the instigation of the university councils or rectorates of the universities in question or the Minister where more than one university is concerned. 6) The universities concerned and their governing bodies shall be obliged to provide the necessary data and information for evaluations, and to co-operate. (7) The performance of university professors, lecturers, and other research, art and teaching staff shall be regularly evaluated, at least once every five years. The detailed arrangements shall be established by university statutes. (8) The consequences of all evaluations shall be for the decision of the governing bodies of the universities. (9) Performance agreements shall include arrangements for student evaluation of teaching. (10) The cost of evaluations ordered by the Minister shall be borne by the Federal Government.

The Role of AUCEN What is AUCEN – Austrian University Continuing Education and Staff Development Network? Founded in 1996 as informal network; registered as formal Association in autumn 2005; potential members are all Austrian public universities. Each university nominates and delegates representatives for university continuing education and university staff development. Main tasks: -Exchange of experience of staff involved in both fields - Professionalisation -Link to Austrian Rectors’ Conference -Link to European and international developments – link to EUCEN – European University Continuing Education Network Role in Quality Development and Quality Management: -Work on the advancement and assurance of quality criteria in both subject areas

3. Current discussions and trends at national level Ongoing discussion on universities’ role in Continuing Education and Professional Development Discussion on accreditation (international standards, “consumer protection, unfair competition between private and public universities …) Discussion on role of the Austrian Accreditation Council: the Accreditation Council is a state authority which assesses the quality of private universities (10 at the moment) through accreditation. Council Members: eight members, 4 of them appointed by the federal government; 4 are nominated by the Austrian University Chancellors’ Committee. ( Discussion on role of the Austrian Agency for Quality Assurance – AQA ( it is an independent body (an association) for quality assurance and evaluation in higher education; supports higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of applied sciences) on issues of quality assurance, develops standards and co-ordinates independent evaluations. Stronger role of international accreditation agencies

3. Current discussions and trends at national level - cont. European development: A coherent LLL strategy for Austria, Bologna Process, ECTS, European Qualifications Framework – National Qualifications Framework, Learning Outcomes, etc. Strategic level: New Target Groups – What is a “University”? – Regional Resource Centre?, International Centre of Excellence in Research? Institutionalisation: Diversity of providers at institutional level, centralisation of services, organisational development Quality Development and Quality Management, accreditation

3. Current discussions and trends at national level - cont. What is the quality of a learning process at university level? to offer participation in “university learning processes”, i.e. research- based, State-of-the-Art; critical and reflective approach; and to take into consideration the experience and knowledge being brought into the process by participants from their work Continuing professional development of staff in UCE; need for researchers/teachers who are capable of bringing this experience into university teaching and learning processes Learning of individuals or for organisational change? It is often not enough to qualify one participant without thinking about the transfer of knowledge into the organisation he or she is part of.

Further Information and Contact: EQUIPE Plus: Dr. Andrea Waxenegger Center for Continuing Education at the University of Graz EUCEN: AUCEN: ADD LIFE – ADDing quality to LIFE through inter-generational learning via universities - Grundtvig 1,