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Germany’s QA agencies carry out accreditation review
As a result of a decision of Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court in February 2016, the distribution of tasks between the German Accreditation Council (GAGC) and the accreditation agencies in Germany has changed. From 1 January 2018, GAC is responsible for taking the accreditation decisions, whereas the agencies will carry out the accreditation procedures. Criteria and procedural rules are now based on an Interstate Treaty of all 16 German states, with details regulated in decrees of the Länder. The former licensing procedure of agencies was replaced with formal permission from GAGC, based on the agency’s listing in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAAR). The new rules will be applicable for accreditation contracts dating from 1 January 2018 or later.