TUM can accredit its own study programs following system accreditation
Quality Seal for TUM Quality Management
Within the framework of the Bologna process accreditation was made compulsory for all Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Germany. The aim in doing so was to ensure that each course of study met certain quality criteria, including the concept behind it, its “studyability”, as well as the exams and facilities. Instead of having each study program individually accredited by an assigned agency under the program accreditation system, universities can establish their own system of quality management and have this accredited as a whole. They are then subsequently able themselves to ensure that their study programs meet the quality standards.
TUM successfully completed this system accreditation. The accredited quality management system now represents a binding framework for all TUM courses of study that is also acknowledged by the Bavarian Science Ministry. This dramatically simplifies administrative procedures.
“An autonomous university”
“The quality management system at TUM already substantially exceeds the level required internally,” wrote the group of accreditation experts. It “was implemented in an impressively short timeframe across the entire university.” The experts went on to say that TUM views excellence in teaching not only as an individual endeavor for lecturers, but also as an institutional objective.
“As an entrepreneurial university, we view teaching as a quality service that is expertly organized and professionally administered,” emphasized TUM President Wolfgang A. Herrmann. “System accreditation is an important milestone on the way to becoming an autonomous-acting university.”
Quality management in the teaching process consists of two main components:
1) TUM has introduced a binding process for the entire cycle of degree programs – from their development through to operation and evaluation, followed by their evolution or discontinuation. The roles of all involved parties are precisely defined.
Even the initial conceptual sketch from the respective faculty is presented to the TUM Board of Management for examination. Detailed documentation of the degree program forms the basis of all subsequent steps. This can be viewed as a sort of business plan and must contain curriculum details, as well as concrete objectives, a qualification profile, a needs assessment and resource planning. Students can also contribute their views.
2) The second component of quality managements is the evaluation system, which encompasses all teaching areas: the individual courses, the degree programs (which are reviewed every five years) and the faculties with their teaching profiles and organizational structures. In addition to students’ views, the opinions of graduates, experts and representatives from the respective occupational fields are also sought. In order that shortcomings can be detected immediately, the TUM has also installed a quality management group in each faculty, consisting of staff and students who meet regularly to discuss the feedback received.
There are three institutions at TUM to ensure that these requirements are continually satisfied:
- The Academic and Student Affairs Office (established in 2010) develops quality standards, advises the faculties and reviews the concepts and documentation at key points in the study program cycle.
- The Academic Affairs Commission appoints task forces to work on solution strategies for overriding issues of concern. It comprises the Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, three Deans of Academic Affairs, two student representatives and the representative of the academic staff members.
- The Parliamentary Council advises on the proposals of the Academic Affairs Commission and presents them to the TUM Board of Management. It is made up of the Members of the Board, the other Deans of Academic Affairs, two other students and the Women’s Affairs Officer.
More information:
Quality management at TUM