Quality Assurance (section 19, para. 2, sub-para. 3 of the 2002 Universities Act)
Principles
§ 1. According to section 14, para. 1 of the 2002 Universities Act, the University of Vienna develops a quality assurance system. The following principles apply:
1. Quality assurance concerns all facilities, tasks and activities of the University of Vienna, especially in the areas of research, teaching and administration.
2. Quality assurance takes into account the specific characteristics of the subjects, tasks and activities represented at the University of Vienna.
3. As a rule, related areas of activity are evaluated jointly. Thematic evaluations are intensified.
4. The University of Vienna implements quality assurance according to international standards.
5. “Comparative” evaluations in cooperation with other universities in Austria and abroad are intensified.
6. The faculties and the University as a whole use the services of scientific advisory boards, where established, in their capacity as advisory institutions for the process of quality assurance.
7. The results of the evaluations are published after the parties concerned have submitted their opinions and subject to the statutory provisions.
8. The University of Vienna bases its evaluations on the current standards of European evaluation agencies.
Task and objective of quality assurance at the University of Vienna
§ 2. (1) The task of quality assurance is the analysis and provision of basic information about the University’s performance in the areas of research, teaching and administration. This information primarily serves to support organisational and content-related improvements at the University.
(2) The quality assurance system serves to achieve the development objectives of the University of Vienna.
Evaluation plan
§ 3. (1) By December each year at the latest, the Rectorate informs the Senate about the evaluation plan for the following year and about the evaluations planned for the seven-year cycle.
(2) The evaluation plan is announced in the University Gazette of the University of Vienna.
Evaluation cycle
§ 4. (1) All academic organisational units and consequently the performance of the academic university staff are evaluated regularly, at least every seven years.
(2) All service units and other administrative units are evaluated regularly, at least every seven years.
(3) In justified cases, e.g. at the suggestion of the Senate, the head of an organisational unit or a subunit or at the suggestion of at least two thirds of the members of a faculty conference, centre conference or studies conference who are entitled to vote, the Rectorate may also carry out evaluations beyond the evaluation plan.
Evaluators
§ 5. (1) The evaluation of academic organisational units is carried out by appropriately qualified persons, usually from abroad, who are in no way biased in making an objective judgement.
(2) The number of evaluators per evaluated unit is defined in accordance with the requirements (heterogeneity of the academic areas, size of the unit to be evaluated) and the principle of economical management of finances after consultation with the head of the units to be evaluated.
(3) The head of the unit to be evaluated has the right to propose suitable persons as evaluators. The evaluators are appointed by the head of the Unit for Quality Assurance, who is not bound by the proposals made by the head of the unit to be evaluated. However, the selected evaluators are communicated to the head of the unit to be evaluated before being appointed. The latter may reject individual persons on the grounds of a well-founded bias.
Process flow and organisation of the evaluation
§ 6. (1) The Unit for Quality Assurance is entrusted with the organisation and implementation of the evaluations. Evaluations are carried out in cooperation with the unit to be evaluated.
(2) The unit to be evaluated draws up a self-evaluation report using quantitative and qualitative data, which is circulated to the evaluators as a basis. On the basis of this report and, as a rule, after a site visit, they prepare their report, which contains an assessment of and recommendations to the evaluated unit and the Rectorate in any case.
(3) The evaluated unit is entitled to make a statement on this report and the evaluators are also entitled to respond to this statement.
(4) The data and information required for the evaluations are provided by all responsible units of the University of Vienna.
(5) The reports are submitted to the responsible superiors.
Evaluation criteria
§ 7. (1) The assessments of the academic staff of the University take into account all achievements in teaching, research and administration as well as all other activities in the interest of the University.
(2) The evaluation of research achievements takes into account the specific characteristics of the subjects. In particular, criteria are used that measure the extent of research activities, research output and the social and academic impact. Here, the University of Vienna builds on the current standards of European evaluation agencies.
(3) When evaluating teaching performance, particular consideration is given to the acquired competences (learning outcomes), the teaching load, the organisation of teaching and the course evaluation by students.
(4) When evaluating organisational units (faculties, centres) and subunits, particular consideration is given to the flow of information, decision-making processes, the promotion of early-stage researchers, gender equality, the use of resources and the contribution made to the public image of the University.
Publication of results
§ 8. (1) The results of the evaluation are published in an appropriate (aggregated) form in compliance with para. 2.
(2) In any event, when publishing the results, it has to be ensured that the rights of the persons involved in the evaluation are safeguarded.
(3) Any results of the evaluation which specifically relate to persons are forwarded to the competent university bodies.
(4) The evaluation reports are made available to the staff of the evaluated unit.
Implementation of results
§ 9. (1) The results of the evaluations form a basis for decisions of the university bodies, in particular for the target agreements and development planning.
(2) As part of the target agreement negotiations between the academic organisational units and the Rectorate, the head of the academic organisational unit submits a report on the implementation of the evaluators’ recommendations.
(3) The results of the evaluations are taken into account in the individual target agreements between the heads of the organisational units and the academic university staff.
Entry into force
§ 10. (1) This regulation enters into force on 1 March 2005.
(2) Section 1, sub-para. 4, section 3, para. 1, section 4, para. 1 and section 5, para. 3 as amended by the University Gazette of 28 March 2014, 21st edition, no. 108 enter into force on the day following its announcement in the University Gazette.
As of: 29 March 2014
The only legally binding version is the German version published in the University Gazette.
Table of contents
- Guidelines for the Conferment of Honorary Degrees and Awards
- Electoral Regulations
- Rules of Procedure for Collegial Bodies
- Studienpräses
- Study Law
- Equal Opportunities Working Party
- Graduation Ceremonies for the Conferral of Academic Degrees
- Target Agreements between the Head of the Faculty/Centre and an Academic
- House Rules
- Form and Extent of the Graduates’ Involvement at the University
- Habilitation
- Expiry of the Authorisation to Teach
- Quality Assurance
- Affirmative Action Plan for the Advancement of Women and Gender Equality
- Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities and/or Chronic Illnesses at the University of Vienna
- University of Vienna Ethics Committee
- Honorary Professors
- Recruitment Procedure for Professorships according to Section 99, Para. 4 of the Universities Act for Associated Professors
- Appointment of Professors according to Section 99a of the Universities Act