Private university

A private university is a private university with the rank of a university. In Austria, private university is accredited by the state, non-state university. You can have a private carrier, but the carrier may also, for example, a state or a religious community to be.

In Germany, the term private high school is used as the name of the University is usually reserved for state universities.

  • 3.1 Private universities, whose degrees are recognized internationally
  • 3.2 Private universities whose degrees are not recognized internationally
  • 3.3 institutions that call themselves universities, but are not recognized as such

Germany

Since the concept of the university in some German countries is subject to state universities, the term private college or private university used in Germany for private universities, colleges, and art and music colleges. There are some exceptions such as EBS University of Economics and Law, University of Witten / Herdecke, the German University for Professional Studies in Berlin, Jacobs University Bremen or the Zeppelin University.

A list of state-approved private schools in Germany, including private universities and equivalent institutions under private ownership, can be found in the article Private College. A list of ecclesiastical universities in Germany, including ecclesiastical universities, can be found in the article Theological College.

Austria

Accreditation

Since 2001, the accreditation of private universities is also possible in Austria. Accreditation is granted by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria, until 29 February 2012, the Austrian Accreditation Council was responsible. Up to and including 2010, there were 120 project operators, of which 47 have applied for accreditation and accredited 16. Four private universities have lost accreditation or waived, thus ( December 2012) are currently accredited 12 institutions.

On 1 March 2012, the University Accreditation Act was replaced by two new laws, the University Quality Assurance Act (HS -QSG ) and the Federal Law on Private Universities (PUG ). The new laws bring the private universities some innovations: So it will be possible, for example, in the future, private universities to award academic honorary degrees, and they are allowed to apply for competitively awarded government research funds from which they so far ( in contrast for example to private companies ) were excluded.

Until the end of August 2012, the Austrian Accreditation remained responsible for procedures that were initiated before 1 March 2012. Then his job for the new Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria, in charge of quality assurance in all three higher education sectors ( private universities public universities and polytechnics ) is responsible.

The accreditation is valid for five years, with accreditations from 2012 for six years; after two periods, the third accreditation accreditation to twelve years may be imposed.

Requirements for accreditation

By the competent agency fulfilling the legal requirements for the private university status is checked:

  • Sufficient scientific or artistic qualified permanent staff (professors and postdoctoral fellows )
  • Research ( institutionalized knowledge production with feedback to teaching)
  • Transparent and quality- led personnel selection procedures
  • Curricula and examination regulations in accordance with international standards
  • Adequate space and technical facilities
  • Sufficient breadth and variety of courses offered, which must be based on the European university term
  • Secure the medium-term financing
  • Presence of a development plan

Effects of accreditation

As in the past in Austria was also not high school private providers possible to award degrees (so-called " university-type courses " ) - this possibility is eliminated by the end of 2012 - is the accreditation as a private university is an important quality differentiator represents the accreditation is the legal requirement that the educational institution may call for the duration of accreditation as a private university, and that they must rely university professors. The rights conferred by Private Universities academic degrees may be conducted as in statements at public universities and unfold according to the law the same legal effect as such degrees. The teachers and students are treated the teachers and students of state universities in terms of the foreign law and the Aliens Employment Act. For student support, family assistance and social security are for students of private universities, the same rules as for students at state universities. Donations to private universities are treated for tax purposes as donations to public universities. Another advantage is the false sales tax exemption, that is a private university must provide for the tuition fees do not charge VAT, in contrast to non-accredited educational institutions.

Seal of Quality

Accredited private universities may use the quality label of the Accreditation Council. This is to facilitate students and employers to assess the offers and assist private universities to position themselves better.

Debate about academic honorary degrees

As had been forgotten on a system for the grant of honorary academic degrees from private universities in the original Act ( UniAkkG ), there was about a public debate that occupied the courts. The Austrian Accreditation Council ( ÖAR ) took the view that, according to Austrian and international practice, only those degrees can be awarded honorary conferred at the private university in the control study. According to this view, for example, the award of a " hc " by a private university would be allowed if it has a right to award doctorates. At least three private universities - which equipped with doctoral degrees Catholic Theological Private University Linz and the University for Health Sciences, Medical computer science and technology and the promotion is not eligible IMADEC University - awarded honorary doctorates as well as other honorary titles. After the ÖAR had repeatedly complained in writing, an administrative criminal proceedings were brought against the Managing Director of IMADEC University, which was fought by the Administrative Court and ended with a confirmation of the conviction.

The judgment set out above clearly that private universities - were awarded by then current law ( UniAkkG ) no honorary degrees - regardless of any right to award doctorates. This was considered by legal scholars as constitutionally problematic, as state educational institutions such a right even deserve when they have no right to award doctorates ( teacher training colleges, Danube University Krems). A fight before the Constitutional Court but was considered difficult because this condition was not caused by a law, but by inaction of the legislature. The ÖAR campaigned for a change in the law in the sense of private universities and called for the addition of UniAkkG to the effect that the awarding of honorary degrees should be explicitly provided for therein. With the entry into force of the new higher education quality assurance Law on March 1, 2012, this legal vulnerability has been eliminated. It is now allowed private universities with doctoral right to award honorary doctorates. Private universities may now assign other customary in the university system honorary titles such as " Honorary Senator " or " honorary citizen ".

In Austria accredited private universities

The ownership structure of Austrian private universities is heterogeneous. Some are 100 % privately owned, others are partially by public bodies (eg provinces or religious communities ) financed. The law is only excluded the financing by the Republic of Austria.

Currently, the following private universities are accredited:

  • Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz
  • Danube Private University in Krems an der Donau
  • Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences in Krems an der Donau
  • Catholic Theological Private University Linz
  • Vienna Conservatory in Vienna
  • MODUL University Vienna, Vienna
  • Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg
  • Private University of Creative Industries in St. Pölten
  • University for Health Sciences, Medical computer science and technology in Hall in Tirol
  • Private University Seeburg Castle (formerly UM private business university ) in Neumarkt am Wallersee ( Salzburg)
  • Sigmund Freud University Vienna in Vienna
  • Webster University Vienna in Vienna ( also accredited in the U.S.)

No longer are accredited:

  • International University Vienna: Accreditation in 2003 was withdrawn prematurely.
  • IMADEC University: Accreditation ended in 2006 and was not renewed.
  • TCM Private University Li Shi Zhen: The accreditation expired in August 2009, as the university had not presented any application for renewal. All students were able to complete their studies before.
  • PEF Private University of Management: The University has set the trial operation in March 2012.
  • European Peace University in Stadtschlaining: The accreditation was revoked in July 2013, for the ongoing master program is a temporary program accreditation until September 2014 was granted.

Erroneously, the University of Continuing Education Krems by the media is sometimes counted in the category of private universities. These funded by the state of Lower Austria jointly with the federal government facility, however, was raised by a separate federal law to college.

Courses offered by the private universities

2010 159 courses were offered at private universities. Of this total, 67 (42%) in an artistic, 30 ( 19 %) to social and economic sciences, 28 (18%) to medical and health sciences, and 18 (11 %) to the humanities and cultural studies programs. In addition, there were seven of information science and theology as well as two technical studies. A total of 6301 persons were studying at private universities.

Austrian Privatuniversitätenkoferenz

Representing the interests of the private universities is the Austrian Private University Conference ( ÖPUK ).

Switzerland

In Switzerland, there are a large number of private universities. The financial statements of some of these universities are internationally recognized, others are recognized only in Switzerland, others only at the cantonal level.

Private universities, whose degrees are recognized internationally

  • Private Hochschule Wirtschaft ( PHW ), in Bern, Basel, Zurich and St. Gallen ( University of Applied Sciences )

( List may be incomplete )

Private universities whose degrees are not recognized internationally

Whether a degree in Germany is recognized, can be viewed at the website of the German Standing Conference.

The following educational institutions are there out as a high school type " H " ( Not Recognized university):

  • Benjamin Franklin College in Baar
  • Private University Educatis in Altdorf
  • Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training in Zollikofen
  • Europe EurAka College in Lugano
  • European Graduate School in Leuk
  • Geneva School of Diplomacy in Geneva
  • Graduate School of Business Administration ( GSBA ) in Horgen ( no longer exists )
  • International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne
  • State Independent Theological College Basel in Riehen
  • University Center ' Cesar Ritz " in Brig

This is justified as follows: " It is an institution that is not in the list of recognized colleges for equivalency agreements Germany - led Switzerland. It is quite possible that a cantonal recognition is present; However, it is not decisive for the recognition in Germany. "

Institutions that call themselves universities, but are not recognized as such

Some training institutions in Switzerland lead designations such as "university" or " university", but are not recognized as a university, for example:

  • Albert Schweitzer International University in Geneva
  • University of Business & Finance Switzerland in Wettingen
  • Euro Swiss University in Neuhausen
  • Baptist Theological College in Rüschlikon

Swell

Baar, Switzerland
661745
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