19.04 Which study programmes and criteria are included in the random samples?

The random samples consist of at least two of the following:

1. section 31 (2) no. 1 MRVO “Program sample”

For the sake of clarity, the random samples in accordance with Section 31 (2) no. 1 MRVO will be referred to below as the “program sample”.

In the program random sample, the peer review panel should review the consideration of all formal and academic criteria (with the exception of §§ 17 and 18) of the applicable legal regulation at least within one study programme (§ 31 para. 2 no. 1 MRVO). In order to assess whether the intended effects of the quality management system to be assessed occur at the level of the study programme (§ 31 para. 1 MRVO), it may be necessary to reproduce the course of an internal university accreditation procedure as an example.

If the higher education institution offers study programmes that also prepare students for a regulated profession, further study programmes are added (see regulatory sample, point 3).

2. section 31 (2) no. 2 MRVO “Criteria sample”

For the sake of clarity, the random samples in accordance with Section 31 (2) no. 2 MRVO will be referred to below as the “criteria sample”.

In the criteria-based sample, the consideration of formal and academic criteria (with the exception of Sections 17 and 18) in the study programmes is to be examined on a case-by-case basis, with the selection of the criteria and study programmes to be considered to be made at the discretion of the peer review panel. The selection must include at least one formal criterion and at least one subject-specific criterion.

The criteria sample deliberately provides for a large degree of freedom in order to enable the peer review reports to make a targeted selection of criteria and study programmes based on the knowledge they have already gained. In this context, the criteria sample also opens up the possibility, for example, of checking whether Quality Management is applied throughout the university. When selecting a sample, the higher education institution’s range of academic disciplines should therefore be taken into account as appropriately as possible (see § 31(2), second sentence, MRVO).

3. section 31 (3) MRVO – “Regulatory sample”

For the sake of clarity, the random samples in accordance with Section 31 (3) MRVO will be referred to below as the “regulatory sample”.

The regulatory sample is conducted—where applicable—in addition to the program sample, which generally focuses on a non-regulated study programme. Methodologically, the program and regulatory samples are implemented in the same way. In the case of the regulatory sample, however, the primary focus is on determining whether the quality management system is capable of addressing aspects that arise from the formal and academic criteria in light of any applicable regulations.

In this context, it is also necessary to examine whether the university’s internal accreditation procedures for study programmes also take into account the requirements for participation and approval pursuant to § 18(2) in conjunction with § 25(1), sentences 3 through 5, of the MRVO and, where applicable, additional provisions under state law and professional regulatory requirements

For the scope of the regulatory sample, see FAQ 19.05 and 19.06; for the participation of professional licensing bodies, see FAQ 19.07.