Pursuant to a resolution of the Accreditation Council dated June 25, 2026, the university has been granted institutional accreditation retroactive to April 1, 2026. The seal certifies that the university has a very good internal quality management (QM) system. For the next eight years, the university can now independently review and accredit its study programs, which represents a gain in autonomy and agility.
With this, the university has permanently replaced the so-called program accreditation process, under which study programs previously had to be evaluated by external agencies. This was preceded by a multi-year, intensive review process conducted by the Accreditation Council—an inter-state body dedicated to ensuring the quality of study programs—as well as a three-year pilot phase. The system accreditation is valid for a period of eight years (through March 31, 2034).
The Fachhochschule Dortmund can now evaluate its bachelor’s and master’s study programs through its own, now-certified quality management system. Study programs that successfully complete this internal process are immediately awarded the Accreditation Council’s official seal.
A Milestone for the University
“System accreditation is a milestone for the Fachhochschule Dortmund and a result of a collective effort,” emphasizes Rector Prof. Dr. Tamara Appel. “It is based on the extraordinary commitment of everyone involved over the past few years and confirms that our culture of quality is deeply rooted in the faculties and the administration. We have proven that we can reliably and systematically ensure the high quality of our degree programs on our own. My thanks go to all lecturers, staff, and students who have actively contributed to this process.”
Greater Agility and Innovation in Teaching
System accreditation bestows a high degree of trust upon the university. External audits are replaced by a reliable set of internal regulations that ensures legal, formal, and academic criteria are consistently adhered to and regularly reviewed. “System accreditation gives us the freedom to shape our own processes, but at the same time holds us accountable,” explains Prof. Dr. Stephan Weyers, Vice President for Teaching, Academic Affairs, and International Relations. “We are now even more responsible for structured processes, clear lines of responsibility, and measurable quality improvement. Our goal is to sustainably ensure the quality of our academic programs and tailor them precisely to our university’s profile.”
Die Qualitätsmanagement-System der Fachhochschule Dortmund: partizipativ und datengestützt
The quality management system of the Fachhochschule Dortmund deliberately places the faculties at the center of quality development. They are the driving force behind the continuous modernization of the academic programs. However, the system does not rely solely on data-driven feedback loops throughout the “student life cycle.” It is also based on subject-specific and practice-oriented input from external partners in academia and Business Studies. This ensures that new developments in the disciplines, as well as the demands of the job market, are incorporated into the curricula.
Ultimately, the university’s own Internal Accreditation Commission (IAK)—composed of lecturers, students, and administrative staff—decides on the granting of accreditation. By ensuring student participation at every stage of the process, Fachhochschule Dortmund guarantees that the further development of both content and organization does not merely comply with mandatory participation requirements, but always takes place through close, collaborative dialogue. In this way, the university reinforces its central promise: “We focus on students.”(Opens in a new tab)
Praise from the external review panel
The Accreditation Council’s positive decision was preceded by a multi-stage review process in which the university was evaluated by experts. They highlighted both the combination of centralized and decentralized elements and the structure and effectiveness of the quality management system, as well as its adequate resource allocation at both the central and decentralized levels, which guarantees sustainable quality assurance. The newly created dialogue formats and structures, which strengthen exchange across departmental boundaries, also received recognition. According to the evaluators, the system actively promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement and cooperation.