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
Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralp ...
. 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 (previously eduQua:2012). EduQua does neither certify nor accredit any institution.
Certification
The eduQua certification is open to all institutions in the field of
continuing education
Continuing education (similar to further education in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Ireland) is an all-encompassing term within a broad list of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United ...
and
adult education
Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralp ...
meeting the prescribed basic quality assurance standard. It is intended to promote transparency, comparability, and quality of continuing education offerings.
More than 1,100 schools, institutes and academies in all of Switzerland are eduQua certified.
Accreditation
Neither eduQua, nor its governing body the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning (SVEB), nor the independent certification bodies are accrediting higher education institutions such as universities. Academic accreditation is, by federal law (Art. 21 HEdA), exclusively done by the Swiss Accreditation Council.
In this sense, eduQua certification is not a stand-in for higher education accreditation.
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
{{Reflist
External links
English website
Quality assurance
Schools in Switzerland