Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria)

Description of the accreditation organization:

AQ Austria is a quality assurance agency that is recognized in Austria and internationally and is active in several countries. It is based on the values ​​of public responsibility for quality in higher education, safeguarding academic freedom, university autonomy, and academic integrity. It supports the universities in continuous quality development and, thanks to its expertise, provides the impetus for the further development of the university system. In addition, it contributes to transparent information about the quality of the universities in their performance areas. The following principles apply to the activities of AQ Austria:

Contact information:

Website:

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Accreditation standards:

On the basis of the Higher Education Quality Assurance Act (HS-QSG), AQ Austria is responsible for the implementation of accreditation procedures in Austria. Private universities and universities of applied sciences require accreditation as a prerequisite for state recognition. With the accreditation, AQ Austria certifies that the universities have fulfilled the accreditation requirements.

Accreditation procedures::

We are characterized by:

• Expertise in Austria and other European countries
  As an Austrian agency with international experience, we ideally prepare international peer teams for the respective context. We carry out evaluations in German and English.
• Involving everyone involved
  We take into account the interests and information needs of everyone involved. We pay special attention to the alignment of goals, purpose, and object of the evaluation.
• Cooperation with selected and qualified peers
  We put together the peer team with a view to the objectives of the evaluation, the subject of the evaluation, or the profile of the institution to be evaluated.