Swiss quality label for further education institutions
| Abbreviation | EduQua |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Non-profit organisation |
| Purpose | Quality label for adult education |
| Location | |
Region served | CH |
Parent organization | Swiss Federation for Adult Learning (SVEB) |
| Website | EduQua |
Swiss quality label for further education institutions (eduQua) (in German: Schweizerisches Qualitätszertifikat für Weiterbildungsinstitutionen "eduQua" ), is a Swiss quality label for continuing and adult education.[1] eduQua was founded by the Swiss departments of economy as well as professional education and the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning (SVEB). It is now owned and operated by the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning (SVEB). The eduQua label certifies that an adult education institution follows the minimum prescribed quality standard eduQua:2021[2] (previously eduQua:2012).
Certification
The eduQua certification is open to all institutions in the field of further education or adult education. Continuing education includes all structured forms of learning. Further training is the continuation or the start of organized learning after the completion of a first educational phase in college, school and work. eduQua has the goal to renew acquired knowledge, skills and abilities, to deepen and expand or to learn them anew. Further education also includes the offers of personal, professional social and cultural further education, which is used in all aspects of adult professional life.
More than 1,000 schools, institutes and academies in all of Switzerland are eduQua certified.
Accreditation
Getting an eduQua certification does not lie within the competence of the eduQua body, and the SVEB. The certification is carried out by six independent certification bodies[3] which have been accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service SAS to support SAS in their accreditation of individual institutions. The certification bodies comply with eduQua standards, which are in conformity with international standards, through their certification process that includes process, manpower and system evaluation, local audits, and recertification. Certification bodies (such as EduQua) are responsible for conforming with the accreditation requirements and must also be able to prove this. The SAS assesses the manner in which the certification bodies fulfil this responsibility. The certification bodies therefore must create the required transparency when dealing with the SAS to ensure that the latter is able to perform its controlling activities in compliance with the accreditation specifications which apply to it. The guidelines with the explanations for the individual criteria and the practical assistance for controlling and implementing the Quality management is continuously monitored by the eduQua office.
The SAS is a member of the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA), the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
Validity
The eduQua certificate is valid for three years. The responsible certification body undertakes annual interim audits, which may - in extreme cases - lead to the early withdrawal of the eduQua certificate. The certificate in that case may be reacquired after three years.
References
- ^ "The quality label in adult learning".
- ^ eduQua:2021 Qualitätsnorm. Schweizerischer Verband für Weiterbildung SVEB
- ^ "Certification bodies". alice.ch. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
External links
- eduQua Official website (English Ver.)
- https://www.sas.adm.in.ch/sas/en/home/akkrededitierung/international.html Swiss Accreditation Service
- Addendum to SAS Document 741 for the Accreditation of Certification Bodies / Doc. No. 509 Rev. 15 (PDF, 1 MB, 25.06.2019)