The Swiss University Conference,

considering Article 6(5)(d) of the Cooperation Agreement between the Federal Government and the University Cantons on Matters Relating to Universities, of 14 December 2001(1) (hereinafter the Cooperation Agreement),

hereby decrees:   

Art. 1 Scope
These Bylaws shall regulate the organisation, financing and management of the affairs of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Body (OAQ), provided they have not otherwise been regulated in the Cooperation Agreement.

Art. 2 Method of Apportionment
1Apportionment of the operating costs of the OAQ between the University Cantons, as provided in Article 23(2) of the Cooperation Agreement, shall be based equally on the number of students, on the one hand, and the total number of university employees, on the other.

2The most recent and complete data available from the SHIS/SIUS (Swiss university information system) of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office shall be used for this purpose. The figures for university personnel shall comprise all SHIS/SIUS categories of employees (I to VII) converted into full-time equivalents.

Art. 3 Taxes
1Fee scales for OAQ services, within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Cooperation Agreement, shall be based on the Federal Finance Administration’s annual calculation of total personnel costs (including costs of work posts).

2...(2)

3The fee scale shall be regularly updated in line with costs.

Art. 4 Independence of Members
Members of the Scientific Council shall be appointed to office in a personal capacity and shall perform their duties independently of any institutional ties they may have.

Art. 5 President
1The president shall conduct the work of the Scientific Council and preside at its meetings.

2He or she may instruct the director in matters of accreditation and quality assurance.

Art. 6 Powers
1The Scientific Council shall carry out the tasks provided for in Article 21(1) of the Cooperation Agreement.

2Furthermore, it shall:
a. regularly monitor developments in international accreditation practice and propose changes to be implemented in Swiss accreditation procedures;
b. devise an internal quality assurance system, which shall be regularly adapted in line with the most recent knowledge in the international arena;
c. supervise proposals submitted by the director to the SUK/CUS.

Art. 7 Composition
The Scientific Council may invite experts and guests on a case by case basis to attend its meetings, in addition to ordinary members within the meaning of Article 20(2) of the Cooperation Agreement.
   
Art. 8 Decisions
1The Scientific Council may validly transact business provided at least three of its members are present. Members unable to attend personally may submit their opinions in writing.

2Decisions shall require the approval of a simple majority of all the members present. The president shall take part in the vote; in case of an equality of votes, the president shall have the casting vote.

3In exceptional cases, the president may require decisions to be taken by postal ballot, in which case Para. 2 above shall apply by analogy.

Art. 9 Confidentiality
Any information obtained by members of the Scientific Council and committees in connection with accreditation procedures must, as a rule, be treated in confidence.

Art. 10 Status
The OAQ shall operate independently in the performance of its work. In its specific activities it shall be independent of offices of the federal government administration, the university cantons and the universities.
 
Art. 11 Director(3)
1The director shall perform the duties provided in Article 21(2) of the Cooperation Agreement.

2Furthermore the director shall:
a. engage staff for the secretariat provided that their classification in the Confederation's salary brackets is ratified by the SUK/CUS;
a.bis appoint his or her deputy;
b. present the financial statements and auditor’s report to the SUK/CUS, to obtain discharge;
c. receive his or her instructions in respect of accreditation and quality assurance from the president of the Scientific Council. The director shall also implement his or her own initiatives provided, however, that they fall within the scope of the objectives and duties of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Body;
d. be responsible for accreditation, and evaluations of disciplines conducted in conjunction with the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS);
e. support and follow-up the work of the Scientific Council;
f. ensure cooperation with the CRUS;
g. coordinate work with commissions, committees and experts;
h. be responsible for final accreditation reports;
h.bis guarantee that the OAQ carries out evaluations according to standard criteria and that it imposes uniform practice in these matters; i. prepare the draft of an information concept for the SUK/CUS.

3The director is responsible to the SUK/CUS. Duties incumbent on the SUK/CUS concerning personnel and supervision are performed by the president, provided that the decisions on these matters are not reserved to the SUK/CUS. The secretariat-general is responsible for the routine supervisory duties, subject to the supervision of accreditation and quality assurance by the president of the Scientific Council, within the meaning of Article 5(2) of these Bylaws.

4The director shall issue regulations on the reimbursement of employee expenses. The rates of the FDF Ordinance of 6 December 2001(4)  shall apply. The SUK/CUS shall approve the OAQ regulations on reimbursement of expenses.

5The SUK/CUS may require the director to account for the scale of ancillary activities authorised and the amount of expenses defrayed.

Art. 12 Minutes
The secretariat shall keep minutes of the meetings of the OAQ’s Scientific Council and committees.

Art. 13 Fees and Reimbursement of Expenses 1Chairs of the Body’s Scientific Council and committees shall receive, as a rule, an annual fee of CHF 4,000.-. This amount may be adapted in relation to the workload.

2Experts who are members in their own right of the Body’s Scientific Council or committees shall receive, as a rule, an annual fee of CHF 2,000.-. This amount may be adapted in relation to the workload.

3Furthermore, chairs, and experts within the meaning of Para. 2 above, shall be reimbursed for their travel expenses. Reimbursement shall be based on the cost of economy class tickets for flights within Europe and accommodation in medium-class hotels.

Art. 14 Fees for Commissioned Expert’s Reports
The scale of fees shall be fixed in accordance with current federal standards. Any exceptions must be approved by the president of the SUK/CUS.
 
Art. 15 Individual cases
The individual amounts of stipends and fees shall be determined by the director of the Body.

Art. 16 Entry into Force
These Bylaws shall enter into force on 22 February 2001.


22 February 2001
   
On behalf of the
Swiss University Conference:

Kleiber, President
Ischi, Secretary-General

(1)RS 414.205
(2)Paragraph repealed pursuant to the decision of the SUK/CUS of 16 April 2009 (in force since 1 May 2009).
(3)Version adopted by the SUK/CUS on 16 April 2009 (in effect since 1 May 2009).
(4)Swiss Federal Department of Finance "Ordonnance du DFF concernant l'ordonnance sur le personnel de la Confédération", RS 172.220.111.31