Central Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation

The Central Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation (German: Zentrale Evaluations- und Akkreditierungsagentur, ZEvA) is a German quality assurance agency for higher education, headquartered in Hanover. It was founded in 1995 by the State of Lower Saxony and the higher education institutions of Lower Saxony, and in 2008 it was converted into an independent private foundation. ZEvA describes itself as one of the most experienced and versatile agencies in Germany for program accreditation, system accreditation, evaluation and certification, with more than 27 years of expertise in higher education and teaching. ZEvA's core activities cover external quality assurance and quality development in study and teaching, as well as higher education governance and management. Its services include the accreditation of degree programs (individually or in clusters), institutional procedures such as system accreditation, quality audits and institutional accreditation, evaluation of study and teaching, certification of university continuing education, validation of non-university education programs, and consulting on all questions of quality assurance. The agency is organized into five working areas: program accreditation, system accreditation, international procedures, certification and validation, and evaluation and consulting. On 4 February 2000, ZEvA was certified by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programs in Germany (Stiftung zur Akkreditierung von Studiengängen in Deutschland), making it the first German accreditation agency in the tertiary education sector. It is one of the few agencies active across disciplines and across higher education institutions, covering all major fields of study at colleges and universities in external quality assurance. ZEvA works with higher education institutions in Germany, Europe and beyond, drawing on experienced staff and a large pool of nationally and internationally recognized experts. ZEvA is a member of several European and German quality assurance networks, including the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), the European Consortium for Accreditation in Higher Education (ECA), the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR), and the German Society for Evaluation (DeGEval).

The Central Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation (ZEvA) was founded in 1995 by the State of Lower Saxony and the higher education institutions of Lower Saxony. It was established as part of the emerging German quality assurance system for higher education, at a time when accreditation and evaluation were becoming central instruments for ensuring and developing the quality of study and teaching. In its early years, ZEvA focused on evaluation of study and teaching, particularly in Lower Saxony, and expanded into accreditation as the German accreditation system took shape. A key milestone came on 4 February 2000, when ZEvA was certified by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programs in Germany (Stiftung zur Akkreditierung von Studiengängen in Deutschland). This made it the first German accreditation agency in the tertiary education sector. In 2008, ZEvA was converted from a state-linked institution into an independent private foundation (Stiftung) with its seat in Hanover. This change gave the agency greater independence and flexibility in its operations. Over the years, ZEvA broadened its portfolio beyond program accreditation to include system accreditation, institutional procedures such as quality audits and institutional accreditation, certification of university continuing education, validation of non-university education programs, and consulting on quality assurance. ZEvA has also developed a strong international profile. It works with higher education institutions in Germany, Europe and beyond, and is one of the few agencies active across disciplines and across institutions, covering all major fields of study. It participates in international procedures and is a member of several European networks, including the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), the European Consortium for Accreditation in Higher Education (ECA), the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR), and the German Society for Evaluation (DeGEval). Today, ZEvA describes itself as one of the most experienced and versatile agencies in Germany for program accreditation, system accreditation, evaluation and certification, with more than 27 years of expertise in higher education and teaching. It continues to offer a broad range of services and to collaborate with a large pool of national and international experts.

• 2008

  Converted into an independent private foundation with its seat in Hanover.

• 2000

  Certified by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programs in Germany on 4 February, becoming the first German accreditation agency in the tertiary education sector.

• 1995

  Founded by the State of Lower Saxony and the Lower Saxony higher education institutions.

One of Germany's leading and most experienced accreditation agencies, active across disciplines and institutions in external quality assurance.

• Program accreditation

  Accreditation of degree programs in individual or cluster procedures.

• System accreditation

  Accreditation of quality management systems at higher education institutions.

• Certification and validation

  Certification of university continuing education, validation of non-university education, and CeQuint assessments.

• Evaluation

  Evaluation of study and teaching in Lower Saxony.

• International procedures

  Accreditation and evaluation procedures abroad.

1. 1ZEvA - Zugelassene Akkreditierungsagenturzeva.org
2. 2Zentrale Evaluations- und Akkreditierungsagenturde.wikipedia.org
3. 3Central Agency for Evaluation and Accreditationwikidata.org