Organ für Akkreditierung und Qualitätssicherung der Schweizerischen Hochschulen (OAQ)
The purpose of the Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance of the Swiss Universities (Organ für Akkreditierung und Qualitätssicherung der Schweizerischen Hochschulen, OAQ) is to assure and promote the quality of teaching and research at the universities in Switzerland. It operates independently, and bases its work on international practices and research findings. It organizes and manages its own affairs under the terms of its bylaws and has its own budget. The OAQ began its work on 1 October 2001.
| Links |
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| Organ für Akkreditierung und Qualitätssicherung der Schweizerischen Hochschulen (OAQ) |
| The international external review of OAQ |
| European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) |
Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities as defined in the Federal law in financial aid to the universities of OQA are:
- The development of guidelines and quality standards for academic accreditation in Switzerland
- To carry out accreditation procedures on the basis of Guidelines introduced by the Swiss University Conference SUK/CUS (academic accreditation)
- To carry out quality evaluations (Quality Audits) on behalf of the State Secretariat for Education and Rese
Additionally, the OAQ:
- participates in international collaboration in the field of accreditation and quality assurance
- may participate in an advisory function in evaluations carried out by the universities on their own responsibility and organize evaluations of specific disciplines in consultation with the Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS)
As of 2008 the OAQ has been formally recognized by the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology to carry out accreditation procedures of universities of applied sciences and their study programs.
Focus of accreditation
The OAQ carries out accreditation procedures for universities as stipulated in Art. 7 of the Cooperation agreement between the Federal Government and University Cantons on Matters Relating to Universities of 14 December 2000 (SR 414.205) The revised Guidelines for academic accreditation have been in force since 1 September 2007. In accordance with the Cooperation Agreement between the Federal Government and the University Cantons, accreditation may be granted to public or private institutions or programs at university level.
The consequences of accreditation
In Switzerland, unlike in other European countries, the accreditation system for universities operates on a voluntary basis. For the universities of applied sciences the accreditation of their study programs is mandatory.
Publication policy
The OAQ publishes all accreditation decisions as well as the reports of the experts and the final reports and also a list of all procedures it has carried out on its website.
Negative decisions of accreditation procedures are not published.
Mutual recognition agreements
OAQ has mutual recognition agreements with:
- AAC Austrian Accreditation Council
- CTI Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur
- NVAO Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders
| Links |
|---|
| Organ für Akkreditierung und Qualitätssicherung der Schweizerischen Hochschulen (OAQ) |
| The international external review of OAQ |
| European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) |
