News

The Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance replaced the OAQ on 1 January 2015

Berne, 5 January 2015: The new Federal Act on Funding and Coordination of the Swiss Higher Education Sector (HEdA), which came into force at the start of 2015, sets out new regulations for the accreditation of Swiss higher education sector: the Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance – AAQ for short – will conduct accreditation procedures in future. The AAQ emanates from the previous agency, the Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (OAQ), and is subordinate to the Accreditation Council.

The OAQ had been responsible for accreditations and quality audits at Swiss universities since 2001. The new Federal Act on Funding and Coordination of the Swiss Higher Education Sector (HEdA) also changes the accreditation landscape: all educational institutions that use the designation “University”, “University of Applied Sciences” or “University of Teacher Education” must now undergo institutional accreditation.

The agency has received a new name and a new organisational structure under the new legislation. The two OAQ advisory boards are replaced by the Accreditation Council, which will be elected on 26 February 2015 at the meeting of the Higher Education Council. This means that there will now be a single body for all procedures conducted at universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education in Switzerland and for international procedures.

The Accreditation Council will be responsible for all decisions on accreditation in procedures conducted under HEdA. It is also taking on the work that was previously done by the OAQ advisory boards: it will approve expert panels and review reports, for example.

The AAQ also has plans to set up a supporting body, which will enable it to exchange notes on procedural aspects and seek advice on strategic issues. It will be set up in the first half of 2015.

Not only has the AAQ changed its name and appearance, it also has a new location. The team, consisting of the entire workforce from the former OAQ, moved into premises at Effingerstrasse 15 in Bern together with swissuniversities at the end of 2014.

Contact:
Dr. Christoph Grolimud, Director AAQ
christoph.grolimund@aaq.ch

About the AAQ Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance:

The Swiss Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance safeguards and promotes the quality of teaching and research at higher education institutions in Switzerland. It is independent, uses internationally recognised methods and is able to draw upon the knowledge and experience of leading experts. The AAQ develops guidelines and quality standards, conducts accreditation and evaluation procedures, and works at an international level. It perceives its role as an external partner for quality assurance and development, and provides a range of supporting services. The AAQ is under the authority of the Swiss Accreditation Council.