Is the quality of higher education important to you?
Then it’s high time you took part in an accreditation procedure!
What is an accreditation procedure?
According to the Higher Education Act (HEdA), all higher education institutions must meet certain quality standards before they can be designated as universities, universities of applied sciences or teacher training colleges. This procedure is also part of the Bologna reform, which aims to standardize higher education institutions in Europe and, among other things, encourage student mobility. During an accreditation procedure, a team of five experts appointed by an agency (e.g., the AAQ) evaluates a higher education institution’s quality standards and compliance with these standards.
The following quality standards are taken into account:
- the internal quality assurance system
- management
- teaching, research and services
- resources
- internal and external communication
What is the role of students?
As members of the expert team, students play an important role in this accreditation process, as their opinions are taken into account in the final decision. They examine the higher education institution in question with a critical eye, for example with regard to students’ rights to be involved in decisions. Through the accreditation process, students can directly influence the education they receive. It is therefore very important that critically minded students participate!
How can you participate?
If you are interested in becoming a student expert, contact the Swiss Student Union! You can sign up for a one-day training course that will teach you everything you need to know about the accreditation procedures. This will then allow you to join the student accreditation pool and receive regular announcements of procedures for which you can apply.
- More information on the accreditation procedures
- Registration for the training
If you are potentially interested in the pool of experts/accreditation pool or have any questions about them, please do not hesitate to contact Léa Le Bars, the accreditation pool manager at the Swiss Student Union.
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