Integrity in higher education institutions: Context and quality assurance processes

Since the 2024 amendment to the Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education, integrity in academic and artistic study, teaching, and research activities (Section 2a HS-QSG) has been established as a central quality theme for AQ Austria.

AQ Austria’s goal is to strengthen external and internal quality assurance processes as “enablers” for integrity. Its strategic work is based on three pillars:

  • Supporting implementation: Assisting higher education institutions in proactively implementing statutory integrity standards
  • Expertise and resources: Providing good-practice resources and specifically preparing experts for accreditation and audit procedures
  • Networking: Engaging in national and international initiatives through collaborative stakeholder dialogue

Academic integrity and artistic integrity in accreditation processes

As part of the 2024 Higher Education Amendment, the existing criteria for assessing integrity at Austrian higher education institutions were clarified and expanded in accordance with the 2024 Higher Education Legislation Act. In accordance with the new legal provision in § 2a (4) HS-QSG, the obligation for educational institutions to include detailed regulations on integrity in their statutes was introduced as a separate assessment criterion. Additionally, the requirements for quality assurance of study programmes were supplemented with relevant provisions on integrity in academic and artistic study, teaching, and research activities.

Further information can be found in the AQ Austria regulations for Universities of Applied Sciences and Private University Colleges. 

Scientific integrity and artistic integrity in audits

Under AQ Austria’s 2021 audit guidelines, the topic of academic integrity or artistic integrity was not an explicit part of audits—with the exception of the option for “in-depth examination,” i.e., a focus area chosen by the higher education institution itself that it considered a priority for its development. Between 2021 and 2025, one Austrian higher education institution has chosen this in-depth focus with an emphasis on integrity. The revision of the audit guidelines is currently in progress.

Further information can be found in the AQ Austria Audit Guidelines.