Quality Management System in Teaching and Learning and Internal Accreditation
The foundation of the quality management system for teaching and lerning at the University of Göttingen is the interplay between central and decentralized procedures, which are based on the unique strengths and traditions of the university and its faculties and involve all stakeholders.
The quality management system at the University of Göttingen combines uniform criteria, framework conditions, and standards with the respective decentralized quality management systems of the faculties. In this way, a diversity of perspectives and aspects that go beyond accreditation-related criteria are integrated. Faculty-level quality management focuses on dialogue-oriented support as well as the evaluation and (further) development of degree programs, drawing on external expertise.
A key element is the regular quality review meetings conducted as part of the decentralized processes at the faculty level, during which degree programs are examined and evaluated in detail. All stakeholders are given the opportunity to discuss the degree program, its quality, and its prospects for development; to work together to address challenges; and to develop recommendations for action. External expertise (reviewers) is also incorporated within the framework of these decentralized organized formats.
During the biennial Perspective Discussions , the faculties and the member of the Executive Board responsible for academic affairs exchange views on strategic development goals in academic affairs. The focus is particularly on the further development of the range of courses and degree programs, the utilization of student enrollment slots, the implementation of the mission statement for teaching and learning as well as existing target agreements, the structure, process, and results of the respective decentralized quality management systems, and current student concerns. The faculty-level performance agreements are developed based on these discussions.
In the centralized process, which is conducted based on the results of the decentralized process, the focus is on the actual internal accreditation decision for the degree programs.
Overall, the University of Göttingen’s quality management system is designed as a forward-looking “learning system” and enables a continuous process of adaptation and improvement.
Features of the QM System
- The integration of central management with individual arrangements at the decentralized level ensures common standards and a diversity of perspectives
- Continuous monitoring, evaluation, and (further) development of degree programs at the faculty and institutional levels
- Focus on development, not on shortcomings
- Participatory approach: structured opportunities to discuss degree programs with all stakeholders (quality rounds)
- Involvement of external parties as critical friends in the decentralized process
- Effectiveness review (review of compliance with criteria and internal accreditation decision) in the centralized process
Internal Accreditation Process
The degree programs were grouped into approximately 60 clusters based on academic and content-related criteria.The internal accreditation decision is made as part of an internal evaluation within the central procedure. An evaluation commission - composed of members from within the university but from outside the respective cluster - conducts the evaluation, taking into account the results of decentralized quality assurance, including external reviews. It prepares an evaluation report containing an accreditation recommendation for the Executive Board and, if necessary, proposes conditions and recommendations. The final accreditation decision is made by the Executive Board.