Rules of conduct for members, deputy members
and permanent guests of the Accreditation Council
(Resolution of the Accreditation Council dated September 23, 2025)
The German Accreditation Council has the central task of accrediting study programmes and internal university quality assurance systems.
In carrying out their duties, the members of the Accreditation Council[1] shall observe the following principles:
Members of the Accreditation Council act and make decisions as experts in the field of quality assurance at higher education institutions solely on the basis of quality considerations and are not bound by instructions from third parties. They are obligated to act conscientiously and impartially and to maintain confidentiality. The disclosure of meeting documents to third parties for the purpose of discussing accreditation issues is permitted provided that the third party also maintains confidentiality.
Members of the Accreditation Council do not use their membership to assert their own interests or the interests of third parties and rule out any misuse of the information obtained in the course of their activities.
Members of the Accreditation Council must immediately declare any conflict of interest or bias regarding an agenda item to be discussed to the Accreditation Council’s Head Office. In such cases, they shall not participate in deliberations[2] or decision-making by the Accreditation Council on this matter, nor shall they serve as rapporteurs. A potential conflict of interest generally exists for Members of the Accreditation Council when decisions are made regarding study programmes, internal quality assurance systems at higher education institutions, or Alternative Procedures at a higher education institution if they
- who were involved in the accreditation procedures,
- are members or affiliates of the higher education institution making the application,
- are members of a panel at the applying higher education institution,
- advise the applicant higher education institution on quality assurance issues,
- hold a teaching position at the higher education institution making the application.
If the activity or membership occurred up to five years ago, a potential conflict of interest is generally assumed if the member was directly involved with the relevant study programme, quality assurance system, or Alternative Procedures.
The agency representative does not participate in deliberations on applications that the agency itself has handled. Representatives of the states may participate in deliberations on applications from higher education institutions located in the state they represent. However, they do not vote on the resolution.
Membership in the Accreditation Council with voting rights is incompatible with concurrent employment
- in or on behalf of an accreditation agency approved by the Accreditation Council, or on behalf of an organization that is legally, institutionally, organizationally, financially, or personnel-wise affiliated with one of the aforementioned Agencies, provided that the matter concerns external quality assessments of higher education institutions within the German Accreditation system, or
- within or for organizations that conduct external quality assessments at higher education institutions under the German Accreditation System, such as through Alternative Procedures.
Participation in internal evaluations within accredited quality assurance systems and Alternative Procedures is compatible with membership on the Accreditation Council.
Since permanent guests and agency representatives participate in meetings in an advisory capacity only—that is, without voting rights—these groups of individuals are not precluded from simultaneously working for an accreditation agency.
Members of the Accreditation Council shall only accept gifts or hospitality from third parties if they are appropriate to the occasion in terms of reason, type and scope and if neither the impression of influence or expected consideration can arise for those involved or third parties. The corresponding regulations of the country in which the North Rhine-Westphalia Foundation is based shall apply by analogy. [3]
[1] Unless otherwise specified, this refers to members, Alternate Members, and Permanent Guests.
[2] The Accreditation Council may obtain factual information from members with a conflict of interest outside of its deliberations.
[3] See, in particular, the administrative regulations regarding § 42 of the Civil Service Status Act (BeamtStG) and § 59 of the State Civil Service Act (LBG NRW). Cf. https://recht.nrw.de/lmi/owa/br_text_anzeigen?v_id=75820170731112240978
