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Institutional evaluation
From 2003 to 2009 institutional as well as degree programme-related evaluations were carried out. The new Evaluation Regulation, passed by the FH Council in August 2009, determines that exclusively institutional evaluations will be performed from 2010 onwards. The following principles have been guiding the further development of the evaluation procedure in 2009:
- specification of objective and purpose of the institutional evaluation
- focusing the process on the core functions of teaching, applied R&D, management and internationalisation
- enforcing the institutions system of assuring and enhancing the quality of programmes
- consideration of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG, part 1)
- strong involvement of the institutions and the Austrian Fachhochschulkonferenz
The objective of the evaluation is to promote quality improvement and to demonstrate to the public how the institution meets the responsibility for assuring and enhancing quality.
The evaluation is based on the quality concept "fitness for purpose". The way in which the requirements are met shall be critically reviewed. On the basis of both the self-evaluation report and the on-site visit, the external evaluation by the review team aims at assessing whether the set requirements have been met in a coherent, appropriate and transparent way. In this context, improvement potential shall be pointed out. The review team is bound to maintaining a culture of dialogue with the institution.
As a rule, the evaluations take place in 6-year intervals.
The evaluation consists of the following elements:
- self-evaluation;
- external evaluation by a review team;
- comment on the review team's evaluation report;
- acceptance of the evaluation report by the FH Council;
- follow-up procedure;
- publication of the evaluation results.
The organisation of the evaluation procedure shall be carried out in co-operation with an independent and internationally recognised quality assurance agency.
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