News

With the approval of the Higher Education Council, the Swiss Accreditation Council has appointed Dr Beatrice Windlin as Director of the AAQ.

Her appointment follows an open and highly competitive selection process, during which the Swiss Accreditation Council reviewed more than 70 applications. Beatrice Windlin stood out thanks to her extensive experience in the field of education and science management, her in-depth knowledge of quality assurance, as well as her analytical and strategic thinking skills.

Since 2019, she has been in charge of quality development at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, where she has led the development and implementation of the institutional quality assurance system. Beatrice Windlin further deepened her understanding of decision-making structures and processes in higher education through a doctoral thesis at the International Centre for Higher Education Research (INCHER) at the University of Kassel. She has also held positions of responsibility as a communications specialist, project manager and team leader. These roles have allowed her to develop and strengthen her skills in interdisciplinary collaboration and change management.

Markus Hodel, President of the Swiss Accreditation Council, notes that "with Beatrice Windlin, the AAQ is gaining a recognised expert in quality development, higher education governance and accreditation procedures. Her extensive experience, strategic vision and unifying leadership will be decisive assets in strengthening the development of quality assurance in the Swiss higher education sector."

Beatrice Windlin succeeds Christoph Grolimund, who is retiring after fifteen years at the helm of the AAQ. The Swiss Accreditation Council expresses its gratitude to Christoph Grolimund for his long-standing commitment and his invaluable contribution to the development of the agency and quality assurance in Swiss higher education.

The new director will take on the position on 1 June 2026.