Memberships and Co-operations

AQ Austria is firmly established in the Austrian and European higher education sector. Key cornerstones at these levels are memberships in national and international associations and organizations, as well as diverse networking activities. These areas are closely intertwined and enable synergies that are further strengthened through co-operation and joint tasks. In this way, AQ Austria contributes to quality assurance and quality enhancement in higher education at both the national and European levels.

European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA)

Active full membership in ENQA is highly relevant for AQ Austria, as it not only confirms the agency's compliance with European Standards, but also means that ENQA actively develops quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area in a variety of ways, both politically and in practice. 

Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENQA)

AQ Austria has been a full member in its current form since its foundation in 2012. The main focus of CEENQA is regionally focused exchange on topics and developments in international quality assurance.

International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE)

At the global level, INQAAHE primarily serves to promote exchange and mutual learning between regions and countries with different higher education and quality assurance structures.

European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR)

Registration in the European register is a de facto requirement for operating as a quality assurance agency in an international environment, e.g., in Germany. 

European Association for the Applied Sciences in Higher Education (EURASHE)

Partial membership of EURASHE gives AQ Austria direct access to representatives of this key European higher education association.

European University Association (EUA)

Partial membership of the EUA gives AQ Austria direct access to representatives of this key European higher education association.

Austrian Platform for Research and Technology Policy Evaluation (fteval)

AQ Austria is one of a total of 27 members of the fteval platform, which represents a large proportion of the players in Austrian research, technology, and innovation (RTI) and works on the quality improvement of the evaluation culture in Austria. The aim of this exchange is to promote a better understanding of evaluations in the RTI sector among planners, funding bodies, and evaluators. This involves discussing methods, developing and sharing best practices, and exchanging experiences with other European countries at expert level. Through regular events, the publication of its own fteval journal, and the fteval podcast, the evaluation culture in Austria is constantly being developed. New additions include training courses for the evaluation community, which provide a comprehensive overview of the entire evaluation process and are aimed at both new and experienced actors in the RTI sector. 

Evaluation Society (DeGEval)

Since 2020, AQ Austria has been a member of DeGEval, an association of individuals and institutions active in the field of evaluation. Its objectives are to professionalise evaluation, bring together different perspectives on evaluation, and provide information and exchange on evaluation.

Bologna Follow-Up Group: TPG C – Quality Assurance

Since 2018, AQ Austria has represented Austria's positions in Thematic Peer Group C (TPG C): Quality Assurance of the Bologna Follow-Up Group. The aim is to promote mutual exchange and comprehensive support for the agencies and ministries of the participating countries and regions. 

Global Academic Integrity Network (GAIN)

The Global Academic Integrity Network (GAIN) is a worldwide association of agencies for education, quality assurance, and integrity dedicated to jointly combating the increasing commercial fraud in the academic sector.

Founded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and Australia's Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the network aims to counter commercial deception and protect students, qualifications, and the integrity of national education systems.

Informal platform: Quality assurance in health professions training at universities of applied sciences

Within the framework of the informal platform for quality assurance in health professions training at universities of applied sciences (Informelle Plattform FH-QS), representatives of the health and science ministries, the Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences, and AQ Austria have reached an agreement. It is coordinated by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) and works on issues relating to new developments in higher education for health professions at universities of applied sciences and, in particular, on issues of health law quality assurance in coordination with higher education law quality assurance. The informal platform FH-QS usually meets twice a year.

(National) Bologna Follow-up Group

The National Bologna Follow-up Group (nat. BFUG) is one of the stakeholders in the Bologna Process. From the outset, the implementation of the objectives of the European Higher Education Area (EHR) in Austria has involved as many higher education stakeholders as possible. Fourteen institutions are represented in the National Bologna Follow-up Group. One of the primary tasks of the National BFUG is to develop Austria's positions on current issues at the European level. In addition, this stakeholder group also discusses issues with the experts responsible for implementation at the national level and develops possible solutions that are brought to the group from the Austrian higher education sector. At the same time, BFUG members are expected to ensure the flow of information about European developments to the organisations they represent, thereby supporting the implementation of the Bologna objectives.

Dual study program platform

The Dual Study Program Austria platform was founded in 2014 and is a joint initiative of Austrian universities of applied sciences that offer dual study programs and other institutions that deal with the specific issues and challenges of dual study programs. Its common goal is to make dual study models more understandable and transparent.

European RPL Network

The European RPL Network is an association of national networks at the European level that work on the topic of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Detailed information.

It Matters! Equality and Diversity in External Quality Assurance - European Peer-Learning Network

Since 2018, AQ Austria has been increasingly focusing on issues of equality and diversity in external quality assurance. In 2021, AQ Austria initiated a peer learning network for representatives of European quality assurance agencies under the motto “It matters! Equality and Diversity in External Quality Assurance.” The aim of the network is to strengthen collegial exchange and awareness of equality and diversity between the agencies.

RPL Network Austria

The RPL Network Austria has developed from years of project-related cooperation between AQ Austria and higher education institutions from all sectors. Initially, an informal network of ten HEIs was formed, from which a permanent Austrian network was founded in 2021. This network is coordinated by AQ Austria. Detailed information.

QAN – Quality Audit Network

As an informal association of audit-oriented agencies from various European countries, the network offers the option of conducting studies, comparative analyses, and exchanges of experience in various formats on a permanent basis.