Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Health and Social Sciences

Overview

The Akkreditierungsagentur für Studiengänge im Bereich Gesundheit und Soziales e.V. (AHPGS) is a non-profit accreditation agency based in Freiburg, Germany. Established in 2001, AHPGS specialises in accrediting Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in health and social sciences, as well as related fields such as medicine and psychology. The agency also evaluates internal quality assurance systems at universities, universities of applied sciences, pedagogical universities and art and music colleges. AHPGS is recognised by the German Accreditation Council (Akkreditierungsrat) and is listed in the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR), affirming its commitment to high-quality standards in higher education.

Historical and Legal Framework

Founded in 2001, AHPGS operates as a registered non-profit association under German law. The agency was established to address the need for specialised accreditation in the fields of health and social sciences. Since its founding, AHPGS has been authorised by the German Accreditation Council to conduct accreditation procedures for study programmes and quality management systems in these disciplines. The agency's legal status as a non-profit association allows it to operate independently and focus on its mission to enhance the quality of higher education.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

AHPGS's mission is to ensure and enhance the quality of study programmes in health and social sciences. The agency aims to:

• Conduct rigorous accreditation procedures for study programmes and quality management systems.
• Promote the international recognition and comparability of academic degrees.
• Support higher education institutions in developing and implementing quality assurance measures.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of teaching and learning in the accredited disciplines.

Through these objectives, AHPGS strives to foster excellence in higher education and meet the evolving needs of students, employers and society.

Governance, Structure and Independence

AHPGS operates as a registered non-profit association, governed by a board elected from its members, which include universities, professional associations and scientific societies. The agency's structure ensures broad representation and stakeholder involvement in decision-making processes. AHPGS maintains strict independence in its accreditation procedures, with decisions made based on objective criteria and expert evaluations. This independence is crucial for upholding the credibility and integrity of the accreditation process.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

AHPGS offers two main types of accreditation services:

• Programme Accreditation: Evaluation of individual study programmes to ensure they meet established quality standards and align with national and international frameworks.
• System Accreditation: Assessment of an institution's internal quality management system, enabling the institution to accredit its own programmes in the future.

These services are designed to support higher education institutions in enhancing the quality of their academic offerings, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring alignment with national and international standards.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

AHPGS is actively involved in several international networks and organisations dedicated to quality assurance in higher education. Its memberships include:

• ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education)
• ECA (European Consortium for Accreditation in Higher Education)
• EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education)
• ENAEE (European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education)

These affiliations enable AHPGS to stay abreast of global trends in quality assurance, participate in international dialogues and contribute to the development of best practices in accreditation.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

AHPGS's role in higher education continues to evolve as it adapts to changing educational landscapes. Its impact includes:

• Enhancing the quality and international recognition of German higher education degrees.
• Supporting institutions in aligning their programmes with international standards and expectations.
• Contributing to the development of a more transparent and accountable higher education system.
• Facilitating the international mobility of students and graduates through recognised accreditation.

Looking forward, AHPGS aims to expand its services to include more institutions globally, further strengthening the internationalisation of higher education.

Summary

The Akkreditierungsagentur für Studiengänge im Bereich Gesundheit und Soziales e.V. (AHPGS) is a key player in the German and international higher education landscape. Through its rigorous accreditation processes, it ensures that academic programmes meet high-quality standards, contributing to the continuous improvement of teaching and learning. Its active participation in international networks underscores its commitment to global best practices in quality assurance.

FAQs

• What is AHPGS?
  AHPGS is a non-profit accreditation agency based in Freiburg, Germany, authorised to evaluate and accredit higher education programmes and quality management systems.
• When was AHPGS established?
  AHPGS was founded in 2001 in response to the need for specialised accreditation in health and social sciences.
• What types of accreditation does AHPGS offer?
  AHPGS offers programme accreditation and system accreditation services to higher education institutions.
• Is AHPGS recognised internationally?
  Yes, AHPGS is a member of several international quality assurance networks, including ENQA, ECA, EQAR and ENAEE.
• How does AHPGS ensure the independence of its accreditation processes?
  AHPGS maintains strict independence by ensuring that accreditation decisions are made collectively by a board elected from its diverse membership, with no single institution influencing the outcomes.

Organization Name

Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Health and Social Sciences
Akkreditierungsagentur für Studiengänge im Bereich Gesundheit und Soziales

Acronym

AHPGS

Year of Establishment

2001

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

International

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA); European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA); Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENQA); International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies (INQAAHE)

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Sedanstrasse 22
Freiburg
79098 Baden-Wurttemberg Germany

Phone

+49 (761) 208533 0

Fax

+49 (761) 208533 16

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Not available

X (Twitter)

Not available

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Not available

Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Health and Social Sciences's Wikipedia article

Unlock your University's potential: spotlight your Institution on UniRank for leads, local recognition and branding. Enquiry now to feature your University here.

Explore other German higher education-related organizations and authorities.

Find top-ranked Universities in Germany.

Search for courses and scholarships with the uniRank World Universities Search Engine.