Quality management

The quality development cycle comprises the following elements:

• Planning (Plan): The university management sends the action and accreditation plan, as determined in the ‘Act’ step of the annual steering meeting, to the individual departments. The heads of department coordinate the steps required to implement the agreed measures within their respective departments. In the Teaching department, the Dean’s Offices plan the development measures for the individual degree programmes; in the Quality Management department, the accreditation procedures are planned.
• Implementation (Do): All senior management roles are responsible for the efficient and effective implementation of the planned measures within their respective areas. The academic deans’ offices oversee the ongoing maintenance of quality in degree programmes and the coordination of academic operations, taking the action plan into account. Quality management supports implementation by systematising and formalising procedures through processes and forms.
• Evaluation (Check): The success of the planned measures and the achievement of the set objectives are reviewed at the end of each academic year using key performance indicators and quality data. The evaluation tools specified in the QM Manual are used for this purpose. The results are reflected upon and analysed, taking into account student feedback, and recorded in the quality and departmental reports. The continuous review and development of the quality management system and evaluation procedures with regard to their relevance and appropriateness is carried out through an annual quality audit involving external experts and students. At university level, the impact assessment is carried out through the analysis of departmental reports, the annual quality audit and the accreditation reports, which have been published on the basis of external expert opinions and the decisions of the Senate. The review of the requirements is carried out by the external team of experts that established the requirements.
• Action: At the annual management meeting of the university leadership, all results are evaluated and, taking the strategic objectives into account, measures for the further development of the university are drawn up, which are then incorporated back into the planning. In addition, the accreditation processes for the coming academic year are decided upon and the topic of the annual quality audit is determined. The implementation of recommendations and requirements arising from the accreditation procedures is also taken into account.

The agreed quality measures and accreditation procedures are reported in the Quality, Teaching and Research Report to the State of Brandenburg and the Accreditation Council, and published in the key points on the university’s website.

To implement these, appropriate processes are defined, continuously refined and expanded. The process map provides an overview of the university’s processes.