Ensuring study quality and further developing the degree programme portfolio
Excellent teaching is the University of Freiburg’s explicit goal, and the quality management system is a step on the way to achieving that goal. It is located within a framework that has evolved in a dialogue with all status groups and thus on the basis of the input, ideas, and experiences of students, teachers, and administrative employees. The processes of the QMS are brought to bear in this framework in order to assure the quality of studies and constantly develop the degree programme portfolio.
Guiding principles for learning and teaching
What values and principles does the University of Freiburg stand for in the areas of learning, teaching and studying? How can its teaching and learning culture be described? What are its aspirations – also for the future – by which it wants to be measured? In a multi-stage process and with the involvement of all relevant stakeholder groups, a mission statement for learning and teaching was created in 2018, which will significantly shape teaching and studying in the coming years and provide guidance for students and teaching staff alike.
Quality objectives in learning and teaching
The quality objectives of the University of Freiburg in the area of learning and teaching were developed with the participation of all status groups and individually designed by the faculties. The teaching mission statement is based on these quality objectives.
Digitalisationof teaching at the University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg embraces its social responsibility and takes digitalisationinto account, particularly in studies and teaching. Digitalisation in teaching is not an end in itself, but an instrument for achieving the University’s strategic goals.
System accreditation
The University of Freiburg has been system-accredited since 2020. A positive system accreditation certifies that the University’s quality management system in the area of teaching and learning is suitable for ensuring that the qualification objectives and quality standards of its study programmes are achieved. The University bears the “system-accredited” quality seal and is entitled to award the seal of the Accreditation Council itself for the study programmes it has assessed.
QM-Statute
The University of Freiburg has adopted a statute for internal quality assurance and quality development in the area of teaching and learning. The QM statute was adopted by the University Senate.
Accrediting degree programmes
The accreditation and assessment of degree programmes is aimed at their consistent quality development by involving external and internal expertise. All degree programmes at the University should undergo the accreditation and assessment process before they are established and, bundled in clusters and, if possible, on a faculty-by-faculty basis, every eight years after the start of study operations. In the case of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, it is checked in particular whether the requirements of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science for degree programme accreditation have been met and whether the degree programmes meet the quality objectives set by the faculty offering them.
Monitoring degree programmes
Quality assurance in teaching and learning relies on continuous monitoring of programme quality where the expertise for evaluation is greatest: in the faculties and departments. All faculties should establish a monitoring system based on the existing internal quality assurance system for degree programmes that covers all courses offered. The design of the respective monitoring system is left to the faculties within the framework of fixed principles and may vary depending on their size and heterogeneity in particular.
Surveys among students
Surveys among students and graduates serve to evaluate the quality of teaching and help to develop long-term strategies to improve teaching. University-wide surveys are conducted at regular intervals among members and alumni of the University of Freiburg using the centralised surveys. The online surveys are used to assess the quality of teaching and learning at the University of Freiburg. The surveys are used on the one hand for quality assurance (solid data basis, student feedback, constructive criticism) and on the other hand for quality development (joint development of options for action).
Reporting with SuperX and Bi-teaching
Reporting with SuperX and Bi-teaching
SuperX is the central data warehouse of the University of Freiburg. The information system accesses the databases of central IT systems, aggregates them and makes them accessible in a user-friendly way via a web browser. SuperX contains data on students and examinations, personnel and positions as well as finances. The data is available in various aggregation levels and is presented in the form of tables and graphs. Within SuperX, the Business Intelligence System for Teaching (BI Teaching) bundles data and key figures on all aspects of studying and teaching, in particular data on first-year students, students, graduates and indicators of academic success as well as capacity utilisation.
Introduction, modification and cancellation of degree programmes
Degree programme planning processes include the establishment of new degree programmes, the discontinuation of degree programmes and the amendment of degree programme documents. Following the preparatory work and the approval of the drafts in the faculties, the Rectorate, Senate and/or University Council must be consulted. On the basis of the resolutions, the necessary approval is obtained from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts (MWK). The processes are presented in detail in the respective process descriptions for establishment, amendment and cancellation based on the steps to be taken.