YOUR PARTNER FOR EXCELLENCEIN HIGHER EDUCATION

FIBAA – Your partner for excellence in higher education

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About usIn 1994 the central associations of German, Austrian and Swiss business established FIBAA | Foundation for Inter-national Business Administration Accreditation as a foun-dation with an international profile. FIBAA's mission was to ensure the quality of MBA programmes on the basis of stringent quality criteria and make it transparent – even before the introduction of compatible national quality assurance systems in Europe in the course of the Bolog-na reform.

Our task is currently even more relevant than ever in view of the advancing internationalisation and high require-ments for the quality of study programmes. We accredit academic degree and non-degree courses in management studies, economics, law and social sciences, assess and accredit Higher Education Institutions and support our cli-ents by providing advice on an individual basis.

We regard ourselves as a partner and generator of ideas on improving the quality of Higher Education Institutions. Our pool of experts, our employees and our expertise offer the best conditions for our ambition of strengthening our in-ternational presence even further – in Europe and beyond.

Our missionFIBAA promotes quality, comparability and transparency in higher education by assessing and reviewing study program-mes, continuing education courses and Higher Education In-stitutions. It awards its quality seal to well-known education providers and high quality programmes. In addition, FIBAA advises Higher Education Institutions and supports them in the development and implementation of their strategies. The results of its work are for the benefit of its clients, but also the students and prospective students, employers and the general public. FIBAA is not profit-oriented.

Clients are at the heart of the quality process for FIBAA. It wants to stimulate the further development of quality and support education providers in achieving their quality tar-gets. In its programme-related procedures FIBAA concen-trates on the broad spectrum of economics, law and social sciences as well as management qualifications. Its proce-dures at institutional level and consulting services are al-so directed at Higher Education Institutions and education providers with a different subject focus.

In its work FIBAA particularly emphasises the integration of academia and business. Promoting practical relevance and employability is its trademark. As a European agency with an international perspective, FIBAA pursues its work by complying with international standards. It wishes to expand its international market position further through cooperation and opening-up new markets.

Programme-related procedures

Accreditation of study programmesWe assess and accredit Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes in the field of management studies, economics, law and social sciences. Since the establishment of FIBAA we have already successfully accredited more than 1,600 programmes. In addition to Higher Education Institutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, we also have clients in many other European and non-European countries.

In order to improve courses, we work with internationally recognised quality requirements. In doing so, the principles of the Bologna Declaration of 1999 and their further development form the fundamental assessment criteria for the accreditations. In order to ensure and improve the employability of graduates, we place particular emphasis on internationality and business relevance when awarding the FIBAA quality seal for accredited programmes.

Certification of non-degree continuing education coursesWe also certify continuing education courses at Higher Edu-cation Institutions and other higher education providers, which do not lead to an academic degree.

A successful certification provides evidence of the high qua-lity of the continuing education course and a level that sa-tisfies academic requirements (level 5 to 8 of the European Qualification Framework). We also use our many years of experience in the field of programme accreditation in this procedure.

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Our Services

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Institutional procedures

Institutional strategic management accreditationWith this procedure we focus particularly on innovative, en-trepreneurial and internationally oriented Higher Education Institutions (also faculties, Business Schools, etc.). The pro-cedure contains a comprehensive evaluation of the instituti-onal strategy. Higher Education Institutions receive feedback on the future prospects of their structures and processes as well as impetus for further development precisely against the background of political, social and economic trends.

Institutional quality management accreditationThis procedure provides Higher Education Institutions (individu-al faculties, schools) with a detailed review of their quality ma-nagement and related processes in all areas of performance. In particular, as part of this procedure we assess what objectives the establishment has set itself and how these are being imple-mented in research, teaching, management and administration as well as in public relations.

We have worked a lot with FIBAA and appreciate their distinct orienta-

tion towards customer needs. Whenever we have applied for an assess-

ment of a programme, it has always been tailored to the programme’s

particular features, such as cooperative or executive education. The sa-

me applies to the institutional accreditation procedure that we recently

underwent. Over the past years we have received valuable input that

has helped us to improve our quality - and to be always one step ahead.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Altmann | Rector and Executive Dirctor | Management

Center Innsbruck MCI | Innsbruck

We used the services of FIBAA Consult before applying for re-accredita-

tion of our MBA programme. We received tremendous service: detailed

and qualified written comments on our self-evaluation report, and ex-

pert consultation at FIBAA headquarters. The FIBAA Consult feedback

was worth every euro we spent on it.

Ass. Prof. Dr. Petr Kolár | Vice-Rector | Jana Amose Komenského Praha |

Prague

Consult

FIBAA ConsultOur FIBAA Consult business division supports Higher Educa-tion Institutions and other education providers in every as-pect of quality development and assurance. It benefits from our many years of practical accreditation experience and our pool of experts with an international profile. This me-ans that education providers receive comprehensive and in-dividual advice.

The service spectrum of FIBAA Consult was constructed in particular with regard to the requirements of higher educa-tion providers, but also business, politics and society. We of-fer workshops and seminars, individual advice, tailor-made evaluation at programme as well as institutional level and specific studies and projects.

Our Services

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Our Procedure

Our procedure principlesThe assessment of programmes, continuing education cour-ses, higher education providers and quality management systems is based on the peer review procedure that is well-established in the academic sector. We place great empha-sis on fairness and openness when dealing with our clients.

Our expertsA range of requirements are used as a basis by us for the ap-pointment of experts. Our strict criteria system ensures that impartial, comprehensive expertise is provided at all times. We have a pool of experts, which includes more than 500 proven experts in their fi elds.

Our instrumentsIn order to support our clients during the assessment pro-cedures, we have developed for every type of procedure an Assessment Guide, which contains all the relevant quality criteria in the form of questions and defi nitions regarding the benchmarks. These catalogues are the basis for our cli-ents to compile their self-evaluation reports.

Our decisionsThe FIBAA Foundation Council appoints our committees, which decide on accreditation or certifi cation. They have an international composition and display specifi c expertise de-pending on the type of procedure.

Our quality sealAfter successful completion of an accreditation or a cer-tifi cation procedure, FIBAA awards its quality seal. If ex-cellent quality has been demonstrated, FIBAA awards its premium seal.

Our strength

Innovative conceptsOur clients are continually developing the content, structures and formats of their courses in order to improve the quality they offer – we are delighted to accompany them on this jour-ney. We understand our quality criteria as a reference frame-work, which leaves scope for individual solutions and which we are continually updating with innovative approaches.

Specialist expertiseAs a specialist agency for the broad field of economics, law and social sciences as well as management qualifications, we have many years of experience in courses in these discipli-nes as well as with Higher Education Institutions which focus on these subjects. We utilise our substantial network of pro-ven experts in all the procedures and are actively involved in developing the quality standards in these subjects further.

Linkage of academic and business perspectivesStudies and teaching are measured not only by their acade-mic quality, but also by their practical relevance and their reference to professional practice. We regard promoting em-ployability and a practical approach as our trademark. It is extremely important to us to focus on a close connection bet-ween academia and business in all our panels, committees and teams of experts.

International recognition and networkingIn our work we consistently follow guidelines and standards that apply internationally. In particular we abide by the “Eu-ropean Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance”, which are binding in the entire European higher education sector. We can provide evidence of our international recog-nition through the entry in the European Register for Quality Assurance (EQAR) amongst others. We promote international exchanges in the field of quality assurance in the higher edu-cation sector via our full membership of the European Associ-ation for Quality Assurance (ENQA) and other memberships.

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During our extensive cooperation, FIBAA has always delivered excel-

lent quality. The assessors were at all times well-prepared and project

managers friendly and competent. At each stage of the assessment pro-

cess FIBAA provided us with the maximum possible guidance, gave us

very useful indications and let us benefit from its long-standing inter-

national experience and founded expertise.

Prof. Dr. Ottmar Schneck | Dean | ESB Business School | Reutlingen

Client focus and flexibilityFor us the client with his special circumstances and prefe-rences lies at the heart of the planning and implementation of all the procedures. With our broad spectrum of services we can cover a wide range of requirements optimally. In ad-dition to standardised reviews, we also undertake assess-ments and provide advice on an individual basis. We would be delighted to advise you on the special features of the in-dividual procedures and will work out with you how your in-dividual aims can best be achieved.

Efficiency and short durations of proceduresWe design our procedures as efficiently as possible. A pro-gramme-related procedure takes usually 4 to 6 months, an institutional procedure approx. 12 months from the submis-sion of the self-evaluation report by the Higher Education Institution to the decision on accreditation or certification. We refine our processes in close consultation with our cli-ents in order to improve both coordination and cooperation.

TransparencyWe regard transparency as an obligation for our own work processes. Therefore we inform our clients before and du-ring a quality process precisely about each procedural stage. After the successful completion of a procedure, we publish the results of the assessment on our website.

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We are internationally recognised

FIBAA is committed for international quality standardsFIBAA has therefore been listed in the European Quali-ty Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) since 2009. The register was established in 2008 on the initia-tive of the member states of the European Higher Educa-tion Area. It has since established itself as the central list of accreditation agencies in Europe, which are characte-rised by the consistent implementation of the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ESG) and have successfully completed an ex-ternal evaluation process.

In addition, since 2002 we have been a full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Edu-cation (ENQA), the largest European network for the dis-semination of knowledge, information, good practice and innovations in the field of quality assurance in higher edu-cation. At the same time ENQA is the European umbrel-la association for the quality assurance and accreditation agencies and official advisor to the Bologna Ministerial Conference.

FIBAA is recognised in many countries as an agency for quality assurance:Germany

FIBAA has been authorised by the German Accreditation Council as an accreditation agency since 2002. It is per-mitted to undertake programme and system accreditations in Germany and award the seal of the German Accredita-tion Council.

Austria

The Federal Ministry of Science and Research in Vienna in-cluded FIBAA in the Decree on Quality Assurance Agenci-es in 2013. This means that we are entitled in accordance with the Austrian Higher Education Institution Quality As-surance Act (HS-QSG) to carry out audits at public univer-sities and other Higher Education Institutions in Austria.

Switzerland

The Federal Department for Business, Education and Re-search awarded FIBAA national recognition in 2008 and confirms that it satisfies the requirements under federal law and the European standards for accreditation agenci-es. This means that FIBAA can assess requests for accre-ditation from Swiss Higher Education Institutions as part of its remit. 

Netherlands

FIBAA is authorised to undertake accreditation procedures in accordance with national standards at Dutch Higher Edu-cation Institutions. The Dutch-Flemish accreditation orga-nisation NVAO recognises the expert reports drawn up by FIBAA as a basis for its accreditation decisions.

We were accredited by FIBAA twice and are very pleased with their pro-

fessional, customer oriented approach. The open and stimulating con-

versations with the panel members during the on-site visit, together

with the recommendations in the assessment report are very useful

for further improving our programme. The FIBAA is definitely a valua-

ble „critical friend“!

Dr. Elly Breedveld | Programme Director | Erasmus University | Rotterdam

FIBAA | Berliner Freiheit 20-24 | 53111 BonnT. +49 (0) 228 280 356 -0 | F. +49 (0) 228 280 356 -20 | info@fibaa.org | www.fibaa.org