an overall framework of quality for adult education in Austria
Ö-Cert (AT-Cert)
1. Background
The Austrian Adult Education is characterized by a great number of heterogenous providers (about 3.000) and offers. Different Quality Management Systems and Quality Assurance Procedures are in use.
During the last 10 years some of the nine Austrian provinces created their own external Quality Assurance Procedure (as a basis for subsidies for course participant). Providers with offers all over Austria or in various provinces have to pass and pay for the admission to several provinces Quality Assurance Procedures.
For transparency, simplified administration and to promote an overall strategy of quality, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture
developed the Ö-CERT (AT-Cert) - in cooperation with leading Austrian experts, representatives of the nine Austrian provinces and providers of Adult education.
2. Benefits
3. How to get the Ö-Cert (AT-Cert) and the registration as one of the Quality Providers of Adult Education in Austria:
Identification as a provider of adult education:
The provider has to fulfil basic requirements (= criteria, if it is a provider of adult education):
Confirmation of quality efforts:
The provider must have one of the valid Quality Management Systems or Quality Assurance Procedures – according to the Ö-Cert-List, which itemise nine accepted QMS and Quality Assurance Procedures. The most important selection criterion: they all must have an External Audit.
Registration as one of the Quality Providers of Adult Education in Austria and receipt of Ö-Cert.
Interim Solution until 31/12/2012 for providers without any quality efforts till now: provisional registration to fulfil the Criteria of Quality:
basic requirements and implementation of one of the valid Quality Management Systems or Quality Assurance Procedures – according to the Ö-Cert-List. Obligation to report every six months (progress in the matter of quality efforts).
The Austrian Adult Education is characterized by a great number of heterogenous providers (about 3.000) and offers. Different Quality Management Systems and Quality Assurance Procedures are in use.
- A lot of providers, a lot of systems …… difficult to compare ….
During the last 10 years some of the nine Austrian provinces created their own external Quality Assurance Procedure (as a basis for subsidies for course participant). Providers with offers all over Austria or in various provinces have to pass and pay for the admission to several provinces Quality Assurance Procedures.
- This is an extraordinary expense and very time-consuming!
For transparency, simplified administration and to promote an overall strategy of quality, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture
developed the Ö-CERT (AT-Cert) - in cooperation with leading Austrian experts, representatives of the nine Austrian provinces and providers of Adult education.
2. Benefits
- transparency for customers/learners and for public authorities:
At first glance the customers and public authority see, who’s a quality provider - because of the rating Ö-Cert (AT-Cert).
- simplified administration:
One certificate will be enough. It’s not necessary anymore to pass and pay for the admission to nine Austrian provinces Quality Assurance Procedures. Ö-Cert (AT-Cert) is accepted all over Austria.
- quality improvement for adult education:
Providers without any quality efforts till now should be motivated to acquire one quality certificate.
3. How to get the Ö-Cert (AT-Cert) and the registration as one of the Quality Providers of Adult Education in Austria:
Identification as a provider of adult education:
The provider has to fulfil basic requirements (= criteria, if it is a provider of adult education):
- general basic requirements
- basic requirements concerning the organization of the provider
- basic requirements concerning the offers of the provider
- basic requirements concerning principles of ethics and democracy
- basic requirements concerning quality assurance
Confirmation of quality efforts:
The provider must have one of the valid Quality Management Systems or Quality Assurance Procedures – according to the Ö-Cert-List, which itemise nine accepted QMS and Quality Assurance Procedures. The most important selection criterion: they all must have an External Audit.
- ÖNORM EN ISO 9001:2008 (International Organisation for Standardization)
- EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management: “Committed to Excellence” and “Recognised for Excellence”)
- LQW (Lernerorientierte Qualitätstestierung)
- QVB (Qualitätsentwicklung im Verbund von Bildungseinrichtungen)
- EduQua (Schweizerisches Q-Zerifikat für Weiterbildungsinstitutionen)
- and also four Quality Assurance Procedures of Austrian provinces: OÖ-EBQS, CERT-NÖ, S-QS, wien-cert
Registration as one of the Quality Providers of Adult Education in Austria and receipt of Ö-Cert.
Interim Solution until 31/12/2012 for providers without any quality efforts till now: provisional registration to fulfil the Criteria of Quality:
basic requirements and implementation of one of the valid Quality Management Systems or Quality Assurance Procedures – according to the Ö-Cert-List. Obligation to report every six months (progress in the matter of quality efforts).