International Institutional Accreditation

WHAT is Institutional Accreditation? – Subject & Goals of the Assessment

Institutional accreditation as practiced by ZEvA focuses on an institution’s internal quality management system in teaching and learning.

The experts assess whether an institution’s internal processes and procedures are apt to ensure high-quality study programmes and a learning environment that lives up to the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

In particular, the assessment focuses on

• the quality goals for teaching and learning that the institution has defined in accordance with its overall mission and strategy,
• the procedures that the institution has in place to achieve its stated purposes,
• the activities pursued and resources applied to achieve those purposes,
• the evidence showing that the purposes are being achieved,
• the processes for quality monitoring and enhancement that have been implemented.
   

WHY Institutional Accreditation? – Aims and Benefits

By obtaining international accreditation you can

• sharpen your international profile: attract more international students and boost the international mobility of your students and staff
• increase trust in your institution and its programmes
• receive valuable input and recommendations from international quality assurance experts
• enhance your institutional quality culture
• take an opportunity for critical self-reflection and further enhancement of your internal quality management system
   

HOW does Institutional Accreditation work? – Procedural Design

The accreditation procedure follows the core principles of the ESG:

• Peer reviews: the programmes are assessed by an international panel of qualified and experienced experts from inside and outside academia. Each panel includes at least one student expert.
• Two-step assessment involving a written self-evaluation report and a two to three day site visit of the experts at the university campus
• Accreditation decision by an independent commission (ZEvA Commission).
• Accreditation period of six years. The university receives accreditation certificates and may use the ZEvA quality label for marketing purposes.
   

For detailed information, please consult our guidelines:

Download guidelines

Procedure

The following diagram shows an example of the procedure. The time frame may vary from case to case and can be adapted to fit the needs of the higher education institution and the procedure.

Complaints and Appeals

For the possibility of filing a complaint or an objection against a formal decision, see here.

International Institutional Accreditation with ZEvA

If you would like to receive an offer for an institutional accreditation procedure, please contact the Head of International Affairs.