Assurance of Learning
The Business School of the University of Mannheim stands for excellence in research and teaching. It has dedicated itself to conveying relevant and current knowledge from science and practice to students in the framework of their degree program, in order to optimally prepare them for a future career.
The attainment of degree program specific qualifications and competencies of the Business School is evaluated in the framework of the "Assurance of Learning" concept (AoL). The concept's focus is the systematic examination of the students' learning results regarding the attainment of degree program specific goals.
It sheds light on whether the curricula and employed learning modalities lead to the desired learning results and ensures them in case of divergent results by introducing adequate measures. In addition, the school employs this innovative quality management system to evaluate teaching and uses the results to further develop the curricula as well as teaching and learning strategies continuously. Thus, "Assurance of Learning" does not only advance an optimal learning and development process for students, but also makes a crucial contribution to safeguarding and increasing the quality of the School’s curricula.
"Assurance of Learning" consists of the following process steps:
1. Definition of Learning Goals: For each degree program of the Business School of the University of Mannheim, learning goals were formulated in accordance with the level of qualification.
2. Definition of Learning Objectives: Based on the generally phrased learning goals, concrete learning objectives were developed.
2. Development of assessment methods: In order to control the learning objectives, adequate methods need to be developed.
3. Data collection: Every learning goal is evaluated by means of a specific assessment biannually.
4. Data analysis: The results of the data collection are interpreted, summarized and analyzed.
5. Identification of improving measures: Based on the results of the data collection, measures are formulated which contribute to the optimization of the students’ learning.
6. Implementation of improving measures: The defined measures are implemented.
7. Data collection: Every learning goal is evaluated by means of a specific assessment biannually.
8. Evaluation of measures: In a final step, the implemented measures are assessed by means of effectiveness.
“Assurance of Learning“ is aligned to the guidelines of the leading international accreditation agencies and highlights the demand of the Business School of the University of Mannheim to comply with international standards of quality assurance.
