Quality at all levels
Furtwangen University ensures the quality of its academic programmes and teaching through a coordinated system of external and internal quality assurance. Externally, the quality management system is regularly reviewed by an independent Quality Advisory Board as part of a system-based alternative procedure. The Quality Advisory Board model is continuously refined in collaboration with our partner universities, the Stuttgart Media University (HdM) and the Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences (HfWU). Internally, a functional quality management system—with the QM Board serving as the central governing body—ensures that degree programmes, processes, and structures are continuously evaluated, improved, and aligned with national and international standards. This creates a reliable framework for transparent, high-quality and forward-looking degree programmes that meet the demands of academia and industry while giving equal consideration to the criteria of professional competence and student accessibility.
How the Quality Advisory Board model works
The alternative procedure adopted by Furtwangen University (HFU), Stuttgart Media University (HdM), and Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences (HfWU) is based on a coordinated, cross-institutional process that consistently places responsibility for external quality assurance in academic programming and teaching squarely within the universities themselves. A key role in this process is played by an independent Quality Advisory Board (Q-Beirat) at each of the participating universities, which regularly reviews the quality management system and evaluates its effectiveness and compliance with regulations. The Quality Advisory Board is composed of external experts from academia and the professional field and includes a student as a permanent member to ensure objectivity and transparency through an independent perspective.
As part of the process, the entire quality management system is analysed at fixed intervals. In particular, the defined quality objectives, processes, responsibilities, and decision-making pathways are examined in accordance with the Regulations on the Accreditation of Study Programmes in the State of Baden-Württemberg (StAkkrVO). The review assesses whether internal tools—such as evaluations, key performance indicator analyses, and review formats − are applied systematically and in accordance with guidelines, and whether they effectively contribute to the further development of academic programmes. To this end, the universities submit structured reports and documentation to the Quality Advisory Board that clearly demonstrate the implementation and further development of the system. On this basis, the Quality Advisory Board issues recommendations and confirms the effectiveness of the quality management system. If any deviations from the requirements of the StAkkrVO are identified, corresponding conditions are formulated, which the university must fulfill within the specified timeframe. This alternative procedure thus combines institutional self-responsibility with external quality assurance and creates a reliable framework for continuous quality improvement.
The Quality Advisory Board of Furtwangen University
The Quality Advisory Board of Furtwangen University consists of the following members (from left to right): Prof. Dr. Ulrich Vossebein, Prof. Dr. Felicitas Albers, Prof. Dr. phil. Katja Makowsky, Mateo Backes, Jochen Schweickhardt
The Quality Advisory Board of Furtwangen University has the following members:
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich Vossebein, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Mittelhessen, Chair of the Quality Advisory Board (Representative of university faculty members)
- Prof. Dr. Felicitas Albers, Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, Vice-Chair of the Quality Advisory Board (Representative of university faculty members)
- Prof. Dr. phil. Katja Makowsky, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (Representative of university faculty members)
- Jochen Schweickhardt, Marquardt Group, representative of the business community (Representative from the professional field)
- Mateo Backes, student at the University of Hannover (Representative of the student body)
The Quality Advisory Board meets twice a year. Close cooperation with the Quality Advisory Board is coordinated by the Vice-President for Learning and Diversity, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Georg Enkler, and the Representative for Quality Management and Accreditation, Jörg Fischer.
Accreditation of the alternative procedure
In October 2021, the presidents of Furtwangen University, Stuttgart Media University, and Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences signed an agreement with the Accreditation Council.
A review panel from the Accreditation Council evaluated the Quality Advisory Board model on 13/14 September 2022. At the 113th meeting of the Accreditation Council on 30/31 March 2023, the concept was accredited as the first system-based alternative procedure at a German university, valid until 30 September 2029.
In 2025, the partner universities conducted a self-initiated midterm evaluation of the system-wide alternative process known as the “Quality Advisory Board Model.” To this end, the various stakeholder groups within the universities were surveyed. Based on the findings from the midterm evaluation and other sources, the partner universities are continuously refining the Quality Advisory Board Model.
Stronger together
Furtwangen University developed the Quality Advisory Board model in collaboration with Stuttgart Media University and Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences. Through cooperation and the exchange of experiences in the spirit of benchlearning, the partner universities aim to learn from one another. The member universities are advised and supported by the quality assurance agency External link opens in a new window:evalag – the Quality Assurance Agency of Baden-Württemberg.
Legal framework
Alternative procedures are legally permissible due to the flexibility provided by the State Treaty on Study Programme Accreditation, which entered into force in 2018, and the Study Programme Accreditation Ordinance of the State of Baden-Württemberg. In addition to the existing programme and system accreditations, they also permit alternative procedures for the accreditation of degree programmes and quality management systems (see Art. 3(1)(3) StAkkrStV and § 34 StAkkrVO Baden-Württemberg). According to Section 34(3) of the StAkkrVO, alternative procedures are intended, among other things, to provide fundamental insights into alternative approaches to external quality assurance beyond traditional programme and system accreditation, thereby contributing to the further development of the accreditation system.
The HFU Quality Management System
Furtwangen University has a quality management system for academic programmes and teaching (QMS). The quality management system at our university ensures that academic programmes, teaching, research, and services are continuously improved and maintained at a high standard. It establishes transparent structures, clear responsibilities and binding processes that guarantee reliable quality in all areas. It is based on recognised national and international standards, such as those formulated by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ESG).
Through regular evaluations, surveys, and internal reviews, the experiences and feedback of students, faculty, and staff are systematically collected and analysed. The insights gained are directly incorporated into improvement measures and strategic development processes. In this way, we foster a culture of openness, reflection and continuous improvement.
In particular, the QMS serves to continuously safeguard and further develop our academic programmes. To this end, faculty, external and internal students, staff from academic and administrative departments, as well as external and internal representatives from academia, industry and alumni are involved in the ideation, design, and also the review and evaluation processes.
Our quality management system thus plays a key role in enhancing the appeal of our academic programmes, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustained excellence in teaching and administration.
The QM Board as a key regulatory body within the HFU QMS
The Quality Management Board at Furtwangen University is an advisory committee of the Senate established pursuant to Section 19(1) of the Higher Education Act (LHG), playing a central role in quality assurance and development of academic programmes and teaching. It discusses and evaluates quality-related issues and prepares draft resolutions for the Senate and the President's Office, which make decisions within the scope of their statutory responsibilities.
In the area of quality assurance, the QM Board deals, among other things, with the implementation of requirements and recommendations from the Quality Advisory Board, reviews internal accreditation procedures and prepares accreditation decisions. In addition, it regularly evaluates degree programmes and derives improvement measures.
In the area of quality development, the QM Board contributes to the further development of the mission statement for teaching as well as the quality management system for degree programmes and teaching-related performance areas. In doing so, it assumes a central steering role within the university’s quality management system.
The QM Board of Furtwangen University
The QM Board of Furtwangen University consists of the following members:
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Georg Enkler, Vice-President Academics and Diversity (Representative of university faculty members)
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hartmut Katz, Vice-Dean Academics, Faculty I (Representative of university faculty members)
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Krause, Vice-Dean Academics, Faculty II (Representative of university faculty members)
- Prof. Dr. Melanie Schnee, Vice-Dean Academics, Faculty III (Representative of university faculty members)
- Prof. Dr. Gabriel Rausch, Vice-Dean Academics, Faculty IV (Representative of university faculty members)
- Jörg Fischer, Quality Management and Accreditation
- Lena Neumann-Droll, Quality Management
- Peter Umbscheiden, Student
The QM Board meets twice per semester. The close collaboration between the HFU Quality Management and the QM Board is coordinated by the Vice-President for Learning and Diversity, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Georg Enkler, and the Representative for Quality Management and Accreditation, Jörg Fischer.
Internal accreditation of degree programmes
The internal accreditation (concept, initial, and reaccreditation) of degree programmes consists of an assessment of formal criteria (in accordance with Sections 3–10 of the StAkkrVO), the peer review process involving external reviewers from outside the faculty for the evaluation of academic content (in accordance with Sections 11 - 15 and, where applicable, Sections 19 and 20 of the StAkkrVO), as well as – if applicable – the verification of compliance with conditions. It forms a central component of the university’s internal quality management system. The evaluation is carried out by so-called peer groups. These bodies are composed of faculty members from other departments and other universities, representatives from the professional field, and external student representatives. The peer review is based on comprehensive programme documentation. The peer groups assess compliance with the criteria of the Study Programme Accreditation Ordinance as well as the university’s own quality standards. In addition, they provide a professional assessment of the programme's strengths and areas for development and formulate recommendations for further quality improvement.
If the relevant criteria are deemed to have been met, the Senate decides on the internal accreditation of the programme for a period of eight years. The implementation of any requirements or recommendations is reviewed as part of a structured process.