We regularly evaluate the situation regarding teaching and studying on various levels and continuously assess the QM system in terms of structural and process-related requirements and potential for development. Various QM tools have been established at FAU for this purpose.
Some, but not all, aspects of evaluation concerning teaching and studying are organized centrally. For example, our centralized evaluation concept sets out how evaluation contributes to quality assurance at FAU, states who is responsible for what and includes the data we have at our disposal
Evaluation at FAU
The framework for evaluations is defined in the Evaluation regulations of FAU. FAU takes a decentralized approach to evaluation, as it does to all quality management measures. We focus on collecting data and carrying out evaluations at the relevant level.
The faculties are responsible for the evaluation of teaching units, modules and degree programs. This allows evaluations to be integrated into the decentralized quality development and assurance processes and to be used in the way that makes most sense. Each faculty has developed its own evaluation concept.
The following tasks are carried out by the Evaluation working group at L1: Legal Affairs and Academic Quality Management:
- Conducting the annual general student survey “FAU-St”
- Conducting a survey among FAU graduates every two years
- Processing and providing administrative data in conjunction with Data and Management Information.
- Organizing and coordinating other (external) surveys across the University
FAU-St – FAU’s student survey
The FAU-St student survey is a key element in teaching and studying and has been conducted annually at FAU at a central level since 2011. It provides a detailed overview of students’ opinions and what they think about study conditions and their study situation at FAU.
We now have data available from a total of 13 surveys (2012 to 2024). The series “FAU-St in images” gives an overview of the results from FAU-St 2020, showing how various aspects have developed over time. The next FAU student survey will be held from May until June 2025.
The survey collects information which gives an impression of the studying conditions at FAU in general. FAU-St supplements evaluations of individual lectures, seminars and modules, as well as the analysis of study progress based on administrative data. The survey gives the University the opportunity to discover what students think about various topics and provides important impetus for further developing degree programs and study conditions at FAU. The survey covers various topics, including:
- Satisfaction of students and their study situation
- Initial experiences at FAU as well as motivation and reasons why students chose to study at FAU
- Expectations and evaluations about FAU’s infrastructure and the services it provides
- Promoted areas in their degree programs, perspectives for the future and starting a career
The central student survey was first conducted across the various faculties and subjects in December 2011. The objective was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of courses offered and initiate specific measures aimed at improving teaching if necessary. The survey was fundamentally revised in the summer of 2015 due to falling participation and a rising number of participants not completing the survey. It was renamed from “FAU Panel” to “FAU-St” and more detailed questions regarding specific groups of students and study situations were developed within newly defined survey focus areas. Students receive different questions depending on their personal study situation and the experiences associated with it (e.g. new students, returning students, students about to complete their studies).
The evaluation concept of FAU-St is continuously revised according to the evaluations required. Since 2021, the study has focused on particular topics, with the focus alternating every two years between cross-disciplinary and degree-program specific topics.
The FAU-St final reports are published in FAU’s online publication system OPEN FAU as part of the “Student survey” publication series.
The survey findings are an opportunity for decision-makers at FAU to use the empirical evidence as a basis to make contact with students and discuss specific situations in individual degree programs and to initiate processes of change there as well.
In addition to the final report, the findings of the student survey are sent in writing to the faculties, and to the degree programs (where data protection regulations allow). They are presented and discussed in various committees at faculty and University level. The internal accreditation process ensures that the findings of the student survey are taken into account when making any changes to degree programs. If requested, the results are also presented in other university committees (e.g. in the Commission for Teaching and Studying (Uni-LuSt) or in the Student Council).
FAU’s student success strategy
Based on FAU’s mission statement, we have designed a strategy to increase student success at FAU. This strategy provides the framework for discussions about maintaining and establishing measures tailored to student success. It is intended to enable consistent use of the terms defined in the strategy across the whole of the University. As well as an overview of influential factors, it also gives an overview of the key terms used in connection with student success, which is defined on the basis of five criteria. Furthermore, the strategy describes various measures aimed at increasing student success at FAU.
Within this context, the quality development focus “Student success – exploiting potential for improvement” was established as an instrument aimed at intensifying consideration of the topic at degree program level and within the context of internal accreditation, at the same time as increasing visibility of existing processes.
FAU’s student success strategy and the QES handout can be downloaded from Quality management at intern.fau.de.
Continued development of degree program portfolio and the entire QM system
The Vice President Education (VP-E) meets all deans of studies for the annual Q interviews to monitor whether our QM system is still as functional and effective as possible, and to pinpoint any areas with room for improvement. Topics concerning developments in the area of teaching and studying are discussed during the Q interviews. The deans of studies decide on the topics for the Q interviews. The results are published in the Q Report that is communicated by the deans of studies to the Faculty Boards and via VP-E to the Executive Board and the Commission for Teaching and Studying (LuST) before being made available to all members of the University via StudOn after approval.
Praise and criticism – complaints channels at FAU
We would like to provide all members of FAU the opportunity to pass on any positive feedback or forward any urgent problems regarding teaching and studying to the right place and make a direct contribution to improving the situation with constructive suggestions for solutions. In this way, we hope to meet the requirements of our participative and communicative approach to quality management.
There are several options for filing complaints or making suggestions for improvements:
Teaching
If you have problems with teaching, we recommend always first contacting the relevant lecturer directly. FAU Students’ Representatives have drawn up a flowchart showing further options for raising and clarifying any issues or concerns regarding teaching.
Flowchart “Complaint concerning a teaching session or lecturer”
Internal accreditation
If you have any feedback or complaints on the internal accreditation process, or on any aspects of the QM system in general, we would recommend first contacting staff responsible for quality management across the university as a whole (L1), or the QM officers at the faculties.
Flowchart “Complaints concerning the QM system or an accreditation decision”
Feedback
Please feel free to use our feedback form for general feedback, praise, criticism and suggestions for improvement if you would like to give us (anonymous) feedback on our QM system and topics relating to teaching and studying.
Have you got any critical or positive feedback or suggestions for improvements on the topic of teaching and studying?
Please feel free to send your comments to the central quality management department. Your feedback will treated as strictly confidential. Please include your name and email address in the form if you would like a response.