Quality management
The HdM has a university-wide system for quality assurance and quality development in teaching and study programmes. It was the twelfth university in Germany to successfully complete system accreditation in 2013. On this basis, HdM can accredit its degree programmes internally and award them the seal of the German Accreditation Council. For the university, the gain in autonomy through system accreditation is an incentive for more initiative and responsibility.
In order to receive more individual and sustainable impulses for the further development of its quality management system, the HdM has opted for an alternative procedure instead of a classic system reaccreditation. This approach is made possible by the freedom offered by the State Treaty on the Accreditation of Studies, which came into force in 2018, and the Study Accreditation Ordinance in accordance with Art. 3 Para. 1 No. 3 StAkkrSV and § 34 StAkkrVO Baden-Württemberg. Together with Furtwangen University (HFU) and Nürtingen-Geislingen University (HfWU), it has developed an alternative procedure. The so-called quality advisory board model provides for continuous and structured monitoring of universities by external quality advisory boards.
As the first alternative to a system (re)accreditation, the Accreditation Council accredited the quality advisory board model at its 116th meeting on 30/31 March 2023. HdM has the seal of the Accreditation Council until 30 September 2029 and is therefore entitled to accredit its study programmes internally. The review of its quality management system for conformity with the requirements of the Study Accreditation Ordinance for Quality Management Systems is carried out by the members of the Quality Advisory Board.
The Hochschule der Medien has a quality management system for teaching and studies that involves lecturers, students, academic staff, administrative staff, representatives from academia and industry as well as graduates. It is aimed at the continuous improvement of teaching and studies as well as the neighbouring service areas. The system provides for measures to ensure the quality of management, structure, processes and results. These include clear target definitions, adequate structures and resources, defined processes and suitable mechanisms for measuring, analysing and improving results.
- Diagram of the quality management system process
- The QM documentation provides information about the HdM's quality management system.
The members of the degree programmes reflect on the further development of the subject and content of their degree programmes at study programme meetings, jour fixes and strategy conferences. The concepts of the degree programmes are recorded in writing in standardised university-wide documentation formats. Basic criteria such as the programme structure and duration of studies are documented in the information sheets (cf. formal criteria according to §§ 3-6 StAkkrVO). Part B of the study and examination regulations provides information about the modularisation and the credit point system of the degree programme (cf. formal criteria according to §§ 7-8 StAkkrVO). In the module descriptions the degree programmes bundle information on the module objectives, module content, teaching and examination arrangements and other formal criteria. The degree programme concepts provide information on the profile and specialisations, qualification objectives, study structures, teaching and examination forms, research topics, etc. (cf. subject-related content criteria in accordance with §§ 11-15 StAkkrVO).
Audits are integrated into the processes for the establishment, further development, unscheduled review and closure of degree programmes. They form the centrepiece of the HdM's quality management system. The audits are conducted by groups of experts made up of members of the Rectorate, the Dean's Offices, other faculties, external academic and business representatives, students and the Equal Opportunities Officer. On the basis of comprehensive study programme documentation and in two on-site meetings, the study programmes are checked for compliance with the criteria of the Study Accreditation Ordinance and the university's own quality criteria. In addition, the team of experts provides those responsible with an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the degree programme and advises them on further quality development. If the expert team considers all criteria of the Study Accreditation Ordinance to be fulfilled, the study programme is internally accredited by the Senate for eight years. The fulfilment of any conditions or recommendations is reviewed by the Senate as part of a follow-up process.
In order to ensure professional exchange with academia and professional practice, all degree programmes at the HdM have established academic or industry advisory boards. The advisory boards are integrated into the HdM's QM system as a permanent feedback instrument. The degree programmes see them as a source of ideas or critical friends for the development of degree programmes. The external input of the advisory boards ensures that the programme content is further developed in line with practical requirements. Among other things, the members report on current topics and trends in business and science, desired qualifications and competence profiles of graduates.
Accreditation of study programmes
As a system-accredited university, the HdM is entitled to independently check the quality of its study programmes using internal procedures and to accredit the study programmes internally as a result. Click on the following button to find out more. You will also find accreditation certificates and quality reports on our degree programmes.
Evaluation and static data
The dialogue with students and their feedback provides decisive impulses for the further development of studies and teaching. Various formats are available for dialogue at the Hochschule der Medien. In addition, regulated QM instruments ensure that ideas and results are incorporated into the improvement of courses, modules, study programmes and the framework conditions.
Teaching and study conditions at the HdM are comprehensively evaluated every semester on the basis of an online system. The questionnaire includes questions about the individual courses, the degree programme and the university. The results of the course critique are analysed centrally and made available to lecturers and the university management in aggregated form. Teachers are obliged to discuss the results of the course evaluation with their students and, if necessary, to implement improvement measures.
The HdM regularly conducts surveys of students in their first semester. The questionnaire includes questions on education/study experience prior to enrolment at HdM, application behaviour, sources of information for prospective students, study selection criteria and expectations of the course. The criteria are analysed for the entire university and for each degree programme (benchmark).
Until 2019, the HdM regularly participated in the graduate surveys of the Baden-Württemberg State Statistical Office. From the winter semester 2021/22, graduate surveys will be conducted annually in cooperation with the Institute for Applied Statistics (ISTAT). The results of the survey will be prepared for specific universities and degree programmes. Among other things, the studies provide information on satisfaction with the degree programme, aspects that could be improved, retrospective evaluation, paths and experiences in job searches, use of the qualifications acquired, satisfaction with salary, satisfaction with professional situation.
The university information system HIS/POS provides relevant statistical data on studying and teaching. The administration also collects data on the following areas: students, finances, personnel and research. The statistical surveys contribute to evidence-based university development. Various quantitative and qualitative data is made available to the study programmes as part of the semester report.
System accreditation
On 26 June 2013, the Hochschule der Medien completed the system accreditation procedure for the first time. It thus completed the first dozen universities and universities of applied sciences in Germany to receive the seal of the Accreditation Council for their quality management system.
Graduate survey
The HdM is very interested in finding out more about the careers of its graduates and benefiting from their experiences with their studies, the transition to working life or further professional developments. To this end, we conduct an annual graduate survey.
Contact: The QM team of the HdM
- is involved in the alternative accreditation of the Hochschule der Medien in accordance with the quality advisory board model
- is responsible for the strategic development of the quality management system in collaboration with the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Quality Management
- is involved in the implementation of newly developed structures, processes and instruments for quality assurance and quality development
- is responsible for the operational implementation of quality assurance and quality development measures, such as the organisation of audits, the review of study programme documents and the coordination of surveys
- informs, advises and supports university members in matters of internal accreditation, operational quality assurance and quality development
- prepares guidelines, handouts, documentation and statistical data
- maintains contact with other stakeholders in the field of quality management and accreditation (Ministry of Science, Accreditation Council, accreditation and evaluation agencies, project partners at other universities, etc.)
- monitors the further development of the legal framework for accreditation
