Quality Enhancement Strategy
The University for Continuing Education Krems assures its success in the core university activities of research and teaching and learning/academic continuing education as well as cross-cutting and support areas, and continuously develops their quality. The mainstay is an integrated, process-oriented quality management system in conjunction with a deep-rooted, firmly established quality culture practiced by all University members. Information, communication and participation are the foundation on which all members of the university base their active contributions to quality development. Quality is not regarded as static but rather as an ongoing development process.
In the area of research, the University focuses on basic research with high societal impact as well as applied research in collaboration with partners from business, science, and public institutions both domestically and internationally. The six university-wide main fields of research enable innovative, transdisciplinary interconnections.
The University for Continuing Education Krems takes on the societal challenge of lifelong learning and offers part-time academic studies and continuing professional development. It is familiar with the specific requirements of part-time university teaching and combines scientific grounding with practical applicability. The teaching and learning methods allow for a maximum degree of temporal and spatial flexibility, and the pedagogical approach is designed to meet the needs of experienced professionals.
Quality Management System – Internal Quality Assurance
An integrated quality management system was implemented to assure quality and performance. Its success is based on continuous development, expansion and integration of the quality instruments to a comprehensive quality management system and on establishing an encompassing quality culture.
Societal impact, innovation and quality are the three key principles that shape all the university’s activities. The quality awareness of all employees shapes and sustains the quality culture of the University for Continuing Education Krems.
The foundation of the quality management system is the legal framework (primarily the Universities Act, UG, and the Higher Education Quality Assurance Act, HS-QSG) as well as European and international standards.
PDCA cycle
Quality in research, teaching and learning, as well as administration, evolves iteratively through planning, implementation, evaluation, and assessment (Plan-Do-Check-Act or PDCA cycle) in collaboration with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
Planning: The Development Plan and Performance Agreements steer the strategic development of research projects in line with the University’s main fields of research and of its study programs.
Implementation: Directives and guidelines as well as the Quality Manual specify the implementation of specific deliverables in research, teaching and learning, and administration. Defined processes and responsibilities provide orientation for delivering high-quality services. Consultation and dialog with and among university members promote quality-oriented action.
Evaluation: Internal information systems and continuous monitoring of research, teaching, and learning provide insights into the quality of these areas. The University also regularly commissions external evaluations of its faculties and administration and audits its teaching partners.
Assessment: The University appoints internationally recognized experts to review the quality of its outputs in research, teaching and learning, and administration through peer-review procedures and external quality assurance. An indicator-based evaluation of results supports the peers’ assessment. University reporting completes the evaluation process. The University incorporates these results into its development planning, thereby closing the quality cycle.
External Quality Assurance
The University for Continuing Education Krems undergoes a number of external quality assurance procedures:
- Quality management system audits/certification in compliance with the Act of Quality Assurance in Higher Education
- PhD programs accredited
- Study program accreditation by specialized Higher Education Quality Assurance Agencies
- Quality certification of individual departments or centers
- Accreditation by professional associations
- Recognition and professional qualifications through continuing education study programs
- Accredited educational institution in accordance with the Bildungszeitgesetz Baden-Württemberg
Quality management system audits/certification in compliance with the Act of Quality Assurance in Higher Education
In 2015, the quality management system of the University for Continuing Education Krems underwent the first external audit procedure in compliance with the Act of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (HS-QSG). Seven years later, in 2022, a new external audit was carried out as required by law. For this purpose, UWK has chosen AQ-Austria as the external quality assurance agency.
These are the areas the audit was conducted (according to HS-QSG):
- Quality strategy and the integration of it into the university's management instruments.
- Structures and procedures of quality assurance in the fields of studies and teaching, research or development and development of the arts or applied research and development or scientific-professional research, organization and administration and staff.
- Integration of internationalization and societal objectives into the quality management system.
- Information systems and stakeholder participation.
- Structures and procedures of quality assurance of university courses according to § 56 UG, of university courses according to § 9 FHG and of university courses according to § 39 HG.
- Structures and procedures of quality assurance regarding public university colleges of education and recognized private university colleges of education monitoring and advising educational institutions.
- Structures and procedures for quality assurance pursuant to section 14(2) UG at universities.
In its meeting on 20 May 2022, the Board of AQ Austria decided to certify the internal quality management of the University for Continuing Education Krems without any conditions.
The certification is valid until 19 May 2029.
The report on the results is available to the public on the website of the AQ Austria.
PhD programs accredited
The PhD programs at the University for Continuing Education Krems have been accredited by the AQ Austria in accordance with §§ 18 ff and 24 ff of the Act of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (HS-QSG), BGBl. I Nr. 74/2011.
- PhD Regenerative Medicine
- PhD Migration Studies
- PhD Technology, Innovation, and Cohesive Societies
- PhD Applied Evidence Synthesis in Health Research
With the amendment of the University Act (UG) in 2024, the accreditation requirement for establishing PhD programs at the University for Continuing Education Krems was abolished. Since then, the university has had the quality of its PhD programs externally reviewed by peers.
Study program accreditation by specialized Higher Education Quality Assurance Agencies
The following degree programs have been accredited by the FIBAA – Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation:
- Controlling and Financial Leadership MSc
- MBA General Management
Quality certification of individual departments or centers
The Danube Business School (Department for Management and Economics) received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The accreditation was preceded by an extensive quality assurance process, which included comparing the learning outcomes of students with those of other business schools (primarily in the USA). Quality assurance reports were successfully submitted in 2021 and 2025 to confirm the accreditation.
Accreditation by professional associations
The following degree program has been accredited by the European Association of Real Estate Professions (CEPI):
- Real Estate Management, MSc
Recognition and professional qualifications through continuing education study programs
Some continuing education programs at the University for Continuing Education Krems confer the right to practice a specific profession. This national or professional recognition as a prerequisite for a specific professional qualification is linked to external quality assurance, as these programs must meet specific training requirements.
A list of continuing education programs with professional qualifications is published annually in the Intellectual Capital Report.
Accredited educational institution in accordance with the Bildungszeitgesetz Baden-Württemberg
The University for Continuing Education Krems was granted the status of an accredited educational institution according to the Baden-Württemberg Education Time Act by the Regional Council of Karlsruhe. The conferment was held on the bases of AQ Austria’s seal of approval, which is a certification of the quality management system in accordance with the Austrian Higher Education Quality Assurance Act.
Office for Quality Management and Quality Enhancement
The Office for Quality Management and Quality Enhancement is responsible for the implementation and development of the quality management system.
Tags
