The Austrian Accreditation Council (ÖAR)

ÖAR was established in 1999 as a state authority responsible for the quality assurance of the private higher education sector. Accreditation by ÖAR is mandatory for private universities. The criteria for accreditation and also the main tasks of ÖAR are set out in the University Accreditation Act. The Accreditation Council comprises eight members, who are acknowledged experts in the field of international higher education. www.akkreditierungsrat.at

Your contact person for the conference is Stephanie Zwiessler: stephanie.zwiessler@bmwf.gv.at

The FH Council (FHR)

The FH Council is a national authority that is responsible for external quality assurance within the Austrian FH sector. Its operations are based on the Fachhochschul Studies Act. The 16 FH-Council members constitute a body of experts who have the relevant academic qualifications and professional experience. The FH Council ensures and promotes the quality of education in the FH sector. Two procedures of external quality assurance are carried out: programme accreditation and institutional evaluation. While programme accreditation is primarily committed to the purpose of accountability, the institutional evaluation procedure is mainly adjusted to serve the purpose of quality enhancement. www.fhr.ac.at