Governance Q³UoC
The structures established for the governance of teaching and learning aim to achieve this:
- to define and implement strategic goals in the sense of a learning organization,
- to ensure the quality of teaching and learning as well as
- to enable innovation.
The university and administrative structures are formative for this and interact with new, agile and co-creative formats, processes and functions created for Q³UoC. In the diagram on the right, the roles and structures that support Q³UoC or are new to it, and from whose interaction the Q³UoC system is primarily constituted, are highlighted in green.
Overview: Boards and Committees within Q³UoC
QM Committee
Task
The QM Committee advises the Rectorate and the Faculty QMs on the operational implementation and further development of quality development and accreditation processes. Work results are passed on by Q³, the Faculties and study programme managers and/or the central units of the University of Cologne to the Faculty committees, the Teaching and Learning Committee, the Senate or the Rectorate for coordination within the framework of the further development and accreditation of study programmes. The QM Committee also ensures continuous exchange and critical reflection on the QM system. The QM Committee can set up working groups to work on specific topics.
Board members
The QM Committee is composed of
- the head of Q³,
- one representative from each of the six Faculty QMs,
- a representative of the Centre for Teacher Education (CTE),
- the management of the Teaching/Learning Reporting Team,
- a representative of the Strategic Controlling & Information Management Department,
- a representative of the campus management team,
- the head of the Student Application and Registration Office and
- a representative of the International Office.
Members
| Position | Members | Deputy |
| Q³ (Head) | Sarah Smikale Dr.‘ Sabine Koch | Frederike Wilthelm |
| Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences | Alice Anna Oeter | Andreas Kloecker |
| Faculty of Law | Lena Mörsch | Dr. Jan Kruse |
Faculty of Medicine | Dr. h.c. Christoph Stosch | Dr. Yassin Karay |
Faculty of Arts and Humanities | Dr. Guido Lauen Jessica Käss | Karolin Pohle Lilian Steinbach |
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences | Ann-Christin Schmädicke | Roman Wienands |
Faculty of Human Sciences | Christoph Salzer | Sabrina Keller |
Centre for Teacher Education | Daniela Maas | Dr.‘ Nadia Dimassi |
Teaching/Learning Reporting Team (Head) | Dr.‘ Katrin Sommer | Ralph Mayworm |
Dept. 11 Strategic Controlling & Information Management (D1) | Dr. Sabrina Edeling | Kathrin Meyer |
| Campus Management Team | Andreas Rings | Santiago Maraia |
Student Application and Registration Office (Head) | Dr. Torsten Preuß | N.N. |
| International Office | Christiane Biehl | Dr.‘ Susanne Preuschof |
Key points
- Chair: Head Q³
- Meeting rhythm: as the occasion arises, at least once a month term time
- Representation regulation: A deputy is appointed for each member.
- Legal basis: QM Regulations
- Duration of mandate / term of office: 2 years
Foresight Team QM
Task
The Foresight Team QM advises as an internal university group on the strategic further development of the QM system and develops concepts in this regard.
Board members
The Foresight Team QM is composed of
- the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Learning,
- the head of Q³,
- two representatives from the Deans of Teaching and Learning,
- two representatives from the Faculty QM,
- two internal Q3 UoC experts,
- a student and
- a representative of the Centre for Teacher Education (CTE).
Members
| Position | Members | Deputy |
Vice-Rector for Teaching and Learning | Prof.‘ Dr.‘ Beatrix Busse | |
Q³ management | Sarah Smikale, Dr.‘ Sabine Koch | Markus Koppenborg |
Representatives from the circle of the Deans of Studies | Prof. Dr. Andreas Michel (Phil) Prof. Dr. Dr. Waßmer (ReWi) | Prof.‘ Dr.‘ Birgit Weber (HF) PD Dr. Peter Neugebauer (Med) |
Representatives from the Faculty QM | Alice Anna Oeter (WiSo) Christoph Salzer (HF) | Dr. Guido Lauen (Phil) |
Internal Q³UoC experts | Dr.‘ Petra Neubauer-Günther (MNF) Dr. Christoph Stosch (Med.) | N.N. |
Representative CTE | Dr.‘ Gesine Boesken | Dr. Claus Dahlmanns |
Student representative | Ben Himmelrath (AStA) | N.N. |
Key points
- Chair: Vice-Rector for Teaching and Learning
- Meeting frequency: as the occasion arises, but at least once a semester
- Representation regulation: A deputy is appointed for each member.
- Legal basis: QM Regulations
- Duration of mandate / term of office: 2 years
External Advisory Board QM
Task
The External Advisory Board for Quality Management advises the Rectorate as a group external to the university on strategy development in the area of quality management for teaching and learning and on the further development of the QM system.
Board members
The External Advisory Board QM is composed of
- a Rector of a system-accredited higher education institution,
- a Vice-Rector for Teaching and Learning/Quality,
- at least one expert on international affairs,
- a head of a QM unit,
- a QM representative from abroad,
- one representative from professional practice and
- a representative of a science ministry outside North Rhine-Westphalia with knowledge of accreditation and
- a student from another system-accredited higher education institution.
Members
| Position | Members | Term of office (3 years) |
Rector of a system-accredited higher education institution | Prof.’ Dr.‘ Eva Inés Obergfell University Leipzig, Rector | March 2026 |
Vice-Rector for Teaching and Learning/Quality | Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Müller TU Munich, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs | March 2026 |
Expert for International Affairs | N.N. | March 2026 |
Head of QM Unit | Magdalena Lieb Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Head of QM Department | March 2026 |
QM representative from abroad | Prof.‘ Dr.‘ Bianka Lichtenberger Head of Quality Management Department, University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons | March 2026 |
Representative from professional practice | Petronella A. Vervoort Managing Director / Director Ernst Schmidheiny Foundation (CH) | March 2026 |
Representative of a Ministry of Science | Dr. Stephan Venzke Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, Head of Department 22 Universities, Arts Universities, Equality | March 2026 |
Student representative of a system-accredited higher education institution | Florian Lamert University of Freiburg, study of biology, chemistry and economics in the teacher training profile for grammar schools (M.Ed.) | December 2024* |
*) Mr Lamert is expected to be able to participate as a student representative until the end of December 2024.
Key points
- Chair: Members of the QM External Advisory Board elect a chairperson from among their number.
- Meeting rhythm: as the occasion arises, but at least twice a year
- Legal basis: QM Regulations
- Duration of mandate / term of office: 3 years
Accreditation Committee
The Accreditation Committee is responsible for preparing the decision of the Rectorate within the framework of the internal initial and re-accreditation procedures carried out by the University of Cologne for the quality assurance of its study programmes. Based on the recommendation of the Accreditation Committee, the Rectorate makes the accreditation decision. The Accreditation Committee is supported by the central QM Office Q³ and the Accreditation office.
You can find further information here.
Arena Quality Development and System Accreditation
The Quality Development and System Accreditation Arena is convened by the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Learning and the Head of Q3 as the occasion arises. It plays a decisive role in the participatory and co-creative strategic development and elaboration of topics and issues, as well as providing important internal impetus. As the former Arena System Accreditation, it was, together with other subarenas, an important body for central-decentral cooperation as well as for cross-departmental and cross-status group participation in the conception and development of the system already in the development phase of Q³UoC.
In addition to the Quality Development and System Accreditation Arena, which acted as a central source of impetus, especially during the system's development, the committees open up participatory communication spaces within Q³UoC and strengthen its co-creative character.
(Cf. report on the second inspection for system accreditation, 2023)
Overview: Committees of the University of Cologne
A central overview of the (academic) committees of the University of Cologne can be found here.