Agency for quality assurance through the accreditation of study programs
The Agency for Quality Assurance through the Accreditation of Study Programs (AQAS) is a transnational agency for the accreditation of study programs at universities and technical colleges in Germany, based in Cologne, which was founded as part of the Bologna process .
history
It was founded in 2002 and is approved by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programs in Germany (not to be confused with the German Accreditation Council ). By December 2012, AQAS had accredited a total of 3,219 courses at universities and technical colleges. This high number is explained by the fact that all European universities are required to organize their courses according to the Bachelor and Master system. This means that ultimately all diploma and master’s degree programs in Germany have to be newly established and approved.
AQAS is currently supported by 80 universities and a scientific association. The committees are international. The most important bodies are the accreditation commissions for program accreditation (AK-Prog) and for system accreditation (AK-Sys). Like the complaints committee, they are made up of scientists from various disciplines, representatives of professional practice and students. The accreditation commissions decide on the initiation of the accreditation procedures for study programs as well as the system accreditation procedures for universities, appoint the experts in coordination with the specialist committees and ultimately decide on the accreditation of the study programs or universities (with or without) on the basis of the evaluation report of the expert group Conditions), suspension of the accreditation process or (in rare cases) the refusal of accreditation.
Any contradictions to the decision of one of the two accreditation commissions, which could not be remedied by renewed consultation in the respective accreditation commissions, are examined by the complaints commission and finally decided. In addition to the two managing directors, the Cologne office currently has 21 employees. The procedures are supervised by speakers who are distinguished by relevant experience in the university and quality assurance sector.
In addition to the accreditation of study programs (program accreditation), AQAS also offers procedures for system accreditation of universities. The agency received the authorization to certify quality assurance systems of universities for the field of study and teaching with the approval that was granted by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programs in Germany at its meeting on October 31, 2008. According to the company, the current approval is valid until 2017.
See also
- Accreditation agency for courses in engineering, computer science, natural sciences and mathematics eV ( ASIIN )
- Accreditation agency for degree programs in the field of health and social affairs (AHPGS)
- Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute (ACQUIN)
- Evaluation Agency Baden-Württemberg ( evalag )
- Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation ( FIBAA )
- Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency Hanover ( ZEvA )
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Accredited study programs ( Memento from November 19, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Accessed on February 4, 2013
- ↑ a b c http://www.aqas.de/ueber-aqas/ Self-presentation on www.aqas.de
- ↑ http://www.aqas.de/ueber-aqas/organigramm/ on www.aqas.de
- ↑ http://www.aqas.de/systemakkreditierung/ on www.aqas.de