Quality Management

The TU Braunschweig uses the continuous improvement process (CIP/German: KVP) approach as the basis for quality management and defines quality management cycles for the head office and the decentralised areas.

At the central level, it distinguishes between regular tasks and temporary activities (measures and projects). All activities are derived from the objectives and guidelines and are subject to regular review on the basis of key figures and evaluations. The guidelines and concepts are also reflected in key figures. The successful measures and projects are consolidated.

Analogous to the quality management cycle of the head office, there is one for the faculties, which carry out processes such as course design largely under their own responsibility. The faculties are actively involved in achieving the goals of the TU Braunschweig. Both cycles are interlinked. For example, the faculties participate in the central regular tasks (see agreements on objectives with the faculties), receive additional funds for the implementation of projects and provide the central office with information for the reporting system.

(Kopie 7)

You will find an overview of the current guidelines/concepts, rule processes/cooperation formats/measures and projects as well as the associated key figures/evaluations and consulting/decision committees in the quality management panel.

The agreements on objectives in teaching and study between the Executive Board and the departments are used for the continued development of teaching and study; they generally run for three years.

The topics in these agreements are based on the fields of action for teaching and study, on current policy and social challenges, and on the agreements on objectives between TU Braunschweig and the Ministry of Science and Culture. The departments report to the Executive Board on any special activities. They collaborate closely on teaching and study with other university departments and facilities.

The departmental budget is linked to the achievement of the agreed objectives. The annual teaching reports submitted by the disciplines include status reports on the achievement of objectives.

A major element of quality management in teaching and study are the teaching reports, which the disciplines submit to the Executive Board. The teaching reports cover all key developments and plans. Teaching reports include status reports on the achievement of objectives, a summary of the evaluation results from the evaluation of courses and other surveys, a list of best practice examples, and data on meeting the teaching load and on capacities.

The commission for study and continuing education and the Executive Board discuss the teaching reports and give feedback to the disciplines. If required, additional meetings are arranged between the Vice Presidents concerned and the disciplines, to find common solutions. The disciplines can also rely on central support services (such as didactic advice, moderation).

• Call for submission of teaching reports
• Guide/form for teaching reports
• Submission procedure for teaching reports

Evaluations in teaching and study are intended for continuous quality assurance and improvement. They form the basis for a constructive dialogue. Evaluations can be used to plan actions for the continued development of courses in the degree programmes. This ensures that the decentralised and central quality management cycles are linked, as required, for instance, by accreditations.

Section 5 (1) of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act states that the universities should let students evaluate courses at least once a year.

At TU Braunschweig, course evaluations are either quantitative (EvaSys questionnaire) or qualitative surveys (evaluation meetings or classroom observations with feedback).

The results of qualitative evaluations are logged in recording sheets.

• TU Braunschweig evaluation regulations
• Instructions: use of evaluation results to improve teaching and for teaching reports
• Classroom observations – course feedback from staff trained in higher education didactics and, on request, taking into account students

Another element of quality management is the central ideas and complaint management for students, which is run by the Executive Office and takes the form of a blog called Sag’s uns (Tell Us). Students can voice ideas or raise problems on this platform and, if they wish, send them to the Executive Board anonymously.

The overarching goal is to improve the quality of teaching and study, student satisfaction with studies, and service performance. On the blog, students can discuss problems with fellow students or with TU Braunschweig staff, and jointly develop possible solutions and ideas.

Suggestions received via Sag’s uns are carefully considered: within the university, they are addressed in discussions and by committees; wherever possible, solutions and ideas are implemented.