HTW Chur "Recognised for Excellence
In order to ensure high-quality teaching and research, the HTW Chur University of Applied Sciences has successfully recertified its procedures and processes throughout the university in accordance with ISO 9001 and has now also had them certified in accordance with ISO 29990. In addition, the UAS has achieved the EFQM recognition level "Recognised for Excellence" with an excellent four stars.
In June 2012, the Esprix Foundation already gave HTW Chur a good report card when it presented it with the "Committed to Excellence" confirmation certificate. "Recognised for Excellence" represents the next level in this recognition model. The EFQM model (European Foundation for Quality Management) for business excellence enables a holistic view of an organisation based on self-assessment and external assessment.
At the beginning of 2016, the UAS underwent an assessment in accordance with the EFQM model for the "Recognised for Excellence" level. Organisations usually achieve three stars in the first application round. "I am particularly pleased that we were able to jump one level at the first attempt with the four stars we achieved," said University Council President Ludwig Locher, expressing his delight at the excellent result.
ISO pioneer
Already at the time of the first certification in January 2013, the auditor Yvonne Maciéczyk from SwissTS ranked the HTW Chur among the Swiss quality elite, as it was one of the few ISO-certified universities in Switzerland. The successful ISO recertification according to 9001:2015 proves that all processes in the provision of services (teaching, research, continuing education and services) as well as in management and administration are designed effectively and transparently.
In addition to the recertification, the Grisons University of Applied Sciences is now also one of the Swiss pioneers with regard to the ISO 29990:2010 standard. Heinrich A. Bieler, Head of Corporate Management / Certifications and Vice Director of Swiss TS, emphasised: "They passed the audit according to both standards with flying colours." The ISO certificates apply to the entire organisation and attest to HTW Chur's high level of quality awareness.
Ready for independence
The quality efforts of the HTW Chur aim at the further development of the University of Applied Sciences, in favour of the students, the accepting organisations, the project partners in research and service and thus also society as a whole. With these labels, the HTW Chur also prepares itself for the changes in the Swiss educational landscape.
"In a letter dated 9 March 2016, the President of the Swiss Accreditation Council informed the President of the University Council of HTW Chur that HTW Chur had been admitted to the institutional accreditation procedure. This means that a first important hurdle for the division of the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland into two new, independent universities has been successfully jumped," said Cantonal Government Councillor Martin Jäger, explaining the latest developments to the assembled staff. The University of Applied Sciences HTW Chur is an innovative and entrepreneurial university with around 1600 students, specialists and managers.
