The quality management system of the University of Passau is the working basis for all units involved in studying and teaching and serves as a guideline for the University Executive Board in strategic decisions concerning the further development of the quality of its degree programmes. Quality assurance in the area of teaching and learning at the University follows internal and external quality objectives. These include, on the one hand, the formal legal requirements resulting from state law and from resolutions at federal level(Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act, Bavarian Study Accreditation Ordinance and State Treaty on Study Accreditation) and from resolutions at European level(Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area ). On the other hand, these include the strategic objectives of the university resulting from the target agreements concluded with the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the quality standards set out in quality assurance policy documents, such as the mission statement for teaching. The quality management system is regulated in the Regulations for Quality Assurance in Studies and Teaching.
The overall quality assurance process for degree programmes is based on three pillars, which coordinate the introduction, change and further development processes as well as recruitment processes and ensure the fulfilment of formal-legal and subject-related quality standards through multi-stage data-supported surveys, internal audits and external assessments. The Unit for Competency Development in Study and Teaching (KSL) supports degree programme development projects as a university didactics workshop. The Coordination of Degree Programme Development (KSE) ensures formal quality criteria and supports the implementation of the system. The Coordination System Accreditation (KSA) reviews the overall quality of the degree programmes at regular intervals. All three pillars are quality-assured in a meta control loop via monthly jour fixes and a quality conclave per academic year with the participation of KSL, KSE, KSA, the Coordination of Surveys and Evaluations, University Executive, and the responsible Vice President for Quality Assurance.
The quality assurance system is made up of control loops and meta control loops. They are used regularly and on an ad hoc basis. Control loops define responsibilities and are used selectively in defined processes for quality checks. The aim is to identify the need for action, introduce quality assurance measures and ensure their implementation and evaluation. The functionality of the control loops is continuously evaluated in regularly scheduled meta control loops. In these meta control loops, which are designed as process step-related dialogue formats, an entire control loop is evaluated on the basis of the process documentation and process-related feedback from the stakeholders involved. Similarly, process-related quality assurance measures are introduced in meta control loops and their implementation is ensured. All control loops are continuously evaluated by meta control loops, taking into account the results of roundtables and jour fixes, at least once per academic year by the units involved in the control loops (including students, faculties, legal department, International Office, Student Registration Office, Examinations Office, Student Advisory Service, Quality Development Department) and, if necessary, corrected through quality development measures.
