The ZU has received the so-called system reaccreditation for its quality assurance system in studies and teaching from the Accreditation Council, as the first university in Germany to do so within the accreditation system according to the new legal situation. This was preceded by a multi-stage intensive checking of processes within the field of studies and teaching at the ZU.
The ZU can continue to develop and expand its study program independently based on the accredited processes and – after submission of an intermediate report in this year – will for the coming eight years up until 2027 remain responsible for compliance in its study programs with national and international quality standards as well as guidelines relating to university legislation. The ZU first underwent such a procedure in 2012 and in 2013 received a system accreditation for six years up until 2019.
System accreditation is a procedure initiated by the Accreditation Council to check the internal quality assurance system of a University in the field of studies and teaching. The primary concern here is to check and to evaluate whether the corresponding structures and processes are appropriate for achieving the qualification aims of the study programs, to ensure the quality standards of the study programs and by doing so to create a quality culture supported by a wide-ranging awareness of quality in the University.
A positive system accreditation, among other matters, provides evidence for students of a high level of university and practice-appropriate qualification, a development-oriented and quality assured study program and a study environment that enables and actively supports interaction and exchange with other students, teachers and the university administration in qualification and institutional related matters.
The Accreditation Council is the central decision-making committee of the Accreditation Foundation as a joint institution of the German Federal States for quality assurance in studies and teaching at German universities. It decides on the accreditation and reaccreditation of study programs, universities’ own quality assurance systems and alternative procedures. The members of the Accreditation Council are appointed for a period of four years by the German Rectors’ Conference and the German Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs and consist of representatives of German and international universities, the German Rectors’ Conference, the German Federal States, professional practice and students.