Programme Committees

As a system-accredited university, Leuphana ensures and develops the quality of its study programmes under its own responsibility. Internal review procedures have replaced external programme accreditation at Leuphana since 2014. Study programmes undergo an internal review procedure when they are newly established and every eight years. The central element here is the so-called Programme Advisory Board, whose members - external experts from academia and the labour market as well as alumni of the university - support the university in the further development of the study programmes.

Agreement on measures and quality seal

The person responsible for the programme formulates concrete suggestions for improving the programme based on information from the advisory board and a formal review by the Team Q. These suggestions are reviewed in an internal university development meeting and adapted if necessary. The results are recorded in writing in the development agreement and must be confirmed by consensus by all authorised voters. If an agreement is not possible, defined escalation levels apply.

If the development agreement is signed by all voting members of the development meeting, the Executive Board awards the Leuphana Quality Seal for Teaching and Learning. This corresponds to the requirements of the German Accreditation Council for programme accreditation.

Team Q is responsible for monitoring the agreed measures in coordination with the School and the Faculty.

Process steps and basic principles

The programme advisory boards take on two tasks:

• They advise the programme officers on the further development of the content of the study programmes.
• As part of an internal university review process (control cycle for the development of study programmes), they review the programme documentation and issue a statement on it.

An internal review process runs as follows:

1. Kick-off meeting: The study programme officers, representatives of the School, the Dean's Office and Team Q discuss the procedure and responsibilities in the process
2. Description of the study programme: The so-called programme folder documents all essential information about the study programme

The individual process steps are set out in the Presidential Board's guidelines on quality development in teaching and learning (Leuphana Gazette 01/21)

Involvement of external expertise

At Leuphana, independent programme advisory boards¹ are set up for all study programmes and overarching study programme elements. The members of a programme advisory board are appointed by the Executive Board on the recommendation of the person responsible for the programme. 

A programme advisory board is appointed for five years and usually consists of at least four and no more than six external members:

• at least two members from Science & Research
• at least one member from professional practice
• at least one internal or external student member.

Based on the presentation in the programme folder and a meeting, the programme advisory board evaluates the study programme in a written statement. The results of the review are published in a summary on the Leuphana website. The names of the members of the programme advisory board are mentioned and their recommendations are briefly outlined.

As critical friends, the members of the programme advisory boards represent a critical position and confront those responsible with their external view. Through their committed and critical examination, the external experts make a central contribution to the further development of the study programmes.

For employees of Leuphana, forms and specifications for the programme advisory boards are available on the intranet.

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¹The following exclusion criteria apply in order to ensure the independence of the members of programme advisory boards. Compliance with these criteria is checked by Team Q as part of the nomination process. After completion of the examination, Team Q makes a recommendation to the Executive Committee for the appointment of the Advisory Board members.

Exclusion criteria for members of programme advisory boards from science & research and professional practice:
   - Membership, application (for professorship) or teaching positions at Leuphana University and associated institutions in the last three years.
   - Supervision relationship (doctorate or habilitation) with programme officer, dean of studies or full-time lecturer of the study programme in the last three years.
       years.

Exclusion criteria for external student members of programme advisory boards:
   - Current supervision ratio (Bachelor's or Master's thesis, doctorate) with programme officer or Dean of Studies in the study programme.
   - Financial dependency (e.g. activity as student assistant, scholarship) on subject coordinator, full-time lecturer of the study programme, or
       Dean of Studies.