1. Accreditation in Switzerland
September 27, 2016

2. A Few Facts & Figures on Switzerland
8,3 Mio people
41‘285 km2
201 people / km2
18’000’000 (450x)
145’000’000 (20x)
8.4 / km2
A federation of 26 member states holding sovereignty in matters of
finances
police
education
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3. A System of Education based on Duality
Baccalaureate in figures:
3-8 years Universities
1999
2007
2014
Bacc.
17.7%
19.0%
20.2%
VET Bacc.
7.4%
11.8%
14.8%
25.1%
30.8%
35%
3-5 years Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS)
ISCED 5A
ISCED 5A
3 years Baccalaureate Schools / Upper Secondary Specialised Schools
3+1 years Vocational Education and Training (Apprenticeship) + VET Baccalaureate
ISCED 3A
ISCED 3B
Number of students (2014) at
Universities: 143‘961
UAS: 89‘656
9 years Lower Secondary Education
Primary Education
ISCED 1+2
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4. Accreditation Council
Governance
Higher Education Conference defines the legal framework through Accreditation Guidelines (Art. 30 HEdA)
Accreditation Council
Decides on accreditation (Art. 21 HEdA)
monitors AAQ
Preparation
Agency
plans and manages accreditiation procedures;
safeguards the integrity (Art. 32 HEdA):
Selfevaluation
Gesetzgebung und politischer Prozess nicht Teil der Vorbereitung bzw. ist das OAQ nicht involviert
Bis zu 2/3 SIWF wg WBO
External Evaluation
Decision
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5. Internal And externAL Quality Assurance
Objectives derive from the strategy
are differentiated for teaching, research and services
are broken for all organisational units
Internal Quality Assurance
is an instrument of leadership
serves to implement the strategy
External Quality Assurance supports the „self-reflection“
format (procedural rules)
group of expert
quality standards
Die Frage, was ist Qualität, kann nur innerhalb der Universität beantwortet werden – im Rahmen von Leistungsauftrag und gesetzlichen Vorgaben.
Qualitätsziele können den Qualitätsbegriff operationalisier-bar machen.
Qualität hat verschiedene „Stakeholder“ mit teilweise divergierenden Ansprüchen
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6. System of ACCreditation according to HEdA
Universities
Universities of Applies Sciences
Universities of Teacher Education
Higher Education Act (HEdA)
Institutional Accreditation as a prerequisite
to use a protected denomination
Institutional Accreditation as a prerequisite
to apply for federal funding
Accreditation and/or regognition of controlled professios
Medical Professions (LMed)
Health Professions (LHealth)
Diploma of teachers
Psychological Professions (LPsy)
Psychological Professions (LPsy)
Paedagogy related to professional education
Paedagogy related to professional education
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7. Acces to Accreditation: Formal Requirements of HEI
Formale Kriterien
Formal criteria
Liberty and Unity of teaching and research (art. 4 § 1 lit. a)
Compatible with one of the types of HEI (university, university of applied sciences or university of teacher education) (art. 4 § 1 lit. B and c)
Quality assurance system (art. 4 § 1 lit. d)
Compatible with the EHEA (art. 4 § 1 lit e)
Facilities in Switzerland (art. 4 § 1 lit. f)
One cohort has finished (art. 4 § 1 lit. g)
Sustainable finances (art. 4 § 1 lit. h)
Legal entity (art. 4 § 1 lit. i)
Admission
Eintreten auf Antrag
Self-evaluation
External Evaluation
Decision
Quality Standards according article 30 HEdA
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8. Rules of Procedure Rules of procedure: „fit for purpose“
Object of accreditation:
Institution
Bachelor programmes
Master programmes
Postgraduate programmes (≥ 60 ECTS)
Formal criteria
Admission
Self-evaluation
External Evaluation
Decision
Review team: at least 5 members, of which 1 student, balanced composition
Site visit: interviews with all stakeholder groups
Quality Standards according article 30 HEdA
Position statement on the accreditation proposal
Decision:
Accreditation
Accreditation with conditions
Denial of accreditation
Publication of positive decisions (report)
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9. Standards Article 30 HFKG: Akkreditierungsrichtlinien
(...) a quality assurance system which ensures that:
teaching, research and services are of high quality and staff are quali- fied in their positions;
admission requirements under Articles 23, 24 or 25 and, where applicable, also the general principles on the structure of studies at universities of applied sciences under Article 26 are met;
the higher education institution is structured and managed efficiently;
the members of the higher education institution have an adequate role in decision-making (participation);
tasks are carried out in a manner that encourages equal opportunities and true gender equality;
tasks further the aims of economic, social and environ- mental sustainability;
it is possible to verify that the institution fulfils its mandate.
Universities and universities of applied sciences shall provide teaching, research and services in several disciplines or fields of study.
Higher education institutions and other institutions within the higher education sector and their sponsors shall take steps to ensure that the institution can be sustainably managed. .
European Standards and Guidelines
Akkreditierungsrichtlinien
Quality assurance policy
Governance
Teaching, research and services
Resources
Internal and external communication
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10. Thank you for your attention!
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