Certification & Validation – ZEvA Foundation

The certification & validation by the ZEvA Foundation is aimed at universities as well as technical colleges and private and public continuing education providers throughout Germany who wish to externally assure the quality of their educational offerings and promote the recognition of acquired competencies. Throughout the year, it is possible to have individual continuing education programs and modules, entire continuing education institutions, or parts of vocational technical college training certified or validated. In doing so, ZEvA examines compliance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015), the suitability of the implemented quality management system, as well as the alignment of the educational offering. Based on a qualified project description, a self-report according to the guideline, and documentation of the QM system, external experts prepare an assessment and submit it to the ZEvA commission for decision. A positive result leads to the awarding of a certificate with a validity of five to seven years, which certifies the high quality and transparency of the continuing education offering.

For an application, it is sufficient to submit the required documents – including a detailed project description, a structured self-report, and evidence of quality management – at any time. The procedure usually takes nine to twelve months, during which on-site or virtual visits, discussions with management levels, instructors, and participants take place. The results are published in a final report and provide not only reliable guidance for potential participants but also valuable impulses for the education providers to further develop their programs. Thus, the ZEvA certification & validation sustainably contributes to securing and advancing high-quality continuing education offerings.