The Accreditation Council’s aim is to ensure continuous quality assurance efforts at the Danish higher education institutions in order to develop the quality and relevance of higher education in Denmark.
The Council secures this aim by accrediting higher education institutions, existing and new study programmes as well as new provisions of programmes.
Decisions of the Accreditation Council
The Accreditation Council’s decisions constitute an overall assessment based on accreditation reports made by the Danish Accreditation Institution in coorporation with accreditation panels. The methods and processes used by the Accreditation Institution to examine the quality of institutions and study programmes are under continuous oversight by the Council.
The Council operates in accordance with the European Standard Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the Higher Education Area (ESG). As an independent body, its decisions cannot be influenced by third parties such as higher education institutions, ministries or government.
The Council’s decisions are given on a three-point scale;
- Positive
- Conditionally positive
- Refusal of accreditation
Read more on the categories of decisions and their consequences here.
Council decisions and accreditation reports are published online in order to provide higher education institutions, students and other stakeholders with an insight into the expert panels’ assessments of institutions’ quality assurance systems and of the quality and relevance of educational programmes.
Composition of the Council
The Accreditation Council consists of a chairman and eight members:
- The Minister for Higher Education and Science appoints the chairman.
- The Minister for Higher Education and Science appoints the remaning members. However, two student representatives are appointed upon nomination by student bodies from the higher education institutions within the competence of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
The chairman and members of the Council can be appointed for a maximum of eight years, comprised of at least two terms of appointment. Student representatives can be appointed for a maximum of two years, comprised of at least two terms of appointment.
Together, the Council must hold experience within and knowledge of:
- quality assurance
- the higher education sector
- scientific research and research-led education
- labour market conditions for graduates
At least of one the Council members must have international experience within accreditation.
Council meetings
In accordance with its Rules of Procedure, the Council holds minimum four annual council meetings, during which the Council makes decisions on accreditation matters.
The accreditation reports and the potential consultation response from the education institution is forwarded to the Council in advance of the meetings. The reports are also published on the Danish Accreditation Institution’s website.
At the council meeting the chair of the accreditation panel presents the report before leaving the Council makes their decision on institutional accreditation. The chair does not take part in the Council’s discussion prior to the decision.
Sharing knowledge on educational quality and quality and assurance
In addition to its principal task of accreditation, the Council aspires to draw attention to the quality of institutions and programmes. The Council invites stakeholders to seminars and conferences and engages in debates on the quality of higher education.
Moreover, the Council aims to draw on international expertise within accreditation in order to ensure that the quality assurance systems of Danish higher education institutions meet international standards.