Seminar für Englische Philologie

The Reaccreditation Review Process in Summer Semester 2020

A Brief Overview of the Review Process

In their meeting on Feb 12, 2020, the Department decided to review their study programmes according to four core criteria in the summer semester of 2020: (4) equipment and endowment, (5) transparency and documentation, (6) diversity, gender neutrality and equal opportunities, and (7) quality management. The video below outlines how we will set about the review process. The criteria themselves are explained in greater detail below. The university-wide list of criteria and their explanations can be accessed through the start page of the systemic accreditation review process at the English Department.



The Discussion Rounds

In their meeting on 24 June 2020 the Departmental Managing Board decided to use Zoom as a platform for the discussion rounds. For administration purposes, there is a StudIP course for each of the criteria, through which the Zoom links will be communicated. Registration for the rounds is open between 24 June and 30 June 2020, 11.59pm.

The rounds themselves take place in parallel sessions on 1 July 2020: criteria 4 Equipment and Resources and 5 Transparency will be discussed between 10 and 12am, while criteria 6 Diversity and 7 Quality Management will be the focus of attention between 12 and 2pm.

Direct links to the StudIP entries:



4 Equipment and Endowment/Resources

With this criterion, staffing levels are reviewed, as are the coordination of the programmes and the Department's infrastructure, as far as is relevant for studying. The process will review whether the number of staff are adequate for the degree programmes, and whether staff are adequately qualified for their teaching duties. Guest lecturers and professionals as extra teaching staff will also be discussed. As for reviewing the programme coordination, this is expected to take all instructors into account. The review process of infrastructure considers room equipment, the IT equipment and also the library, as far as are relevant for studying.

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    • 5 Transparency and Documentation

    This point looks at how transparent and well-documented rules and regulations are. It can be considered met if the rights and duties of all parties – instructors, students, staff at Faculty level – are mandatory and laid out clearly. Rules and regulations must be available to all parties in the main language of instruction, and they must be easily accessible. As regards modules, courses and exams, requirements must be communicated clearly, and rules must be kept by all parties. After the completion of a degree programme, any certificate documents – such as the degree certificate or the diploma supplement – must be issued promptly, and they must be comprehensive and clearly laid out, as far as their contents are concerned.

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      • 6 Diversity, Gender Neutrality and Equal Opportunities

      With this criterion, we discuss teaching and learning in terms of diversity and gender equality as well as regarding special situations in life (e.g. studying with handicaps, chronic illnesses, caring for children or aged parents, ... ). The criterion is met if the university-wide concepts on diversity, gender equality and dealing with students in special situations of life are fully taken into account and implemented at programme level. Applying for compensation for disadvantages is regulated transparently for students and instructors.

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        • 7 Quality Management

        The criterion is met if the university-wide measures for ensuring the quality of teaching and learning – e.g. through course evaluation and student progress monitoring – are implemented regularly and with an eye to the overall improvement of the degree programmes. This also implies that students' workload is regularly discussed and the courses and modules are adapted accordingly. Any results from graduate surveys that pertain to the degree programmes are discussed and used for improving the degree programmes.

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