A persistent and burdensome accreditation process is emerging as a critical impediment to the growth and stability of private higher education institutions in Germany, according to a new survey commissioned by the Verband Privater Hochschulen (VPH). The study, conducted by the market research institute Management Consult, highlights a widespread sentiment of bureaucratic overload among decision-makers at private universities – a situation potentially hindering innovation and competitiveness within the sector.
The survey reveals that a significant 71.4% of respondents perceive the bureaucratic burden as “high” to “very high”. The accent of frustration is overwhelmingly directed at the protracted accreditation and re-accreditation procedures not only for the institutions themselves but also for individual degree programs. A striking seven out of the ten most frequently cited obstacles fall directly into this accreditation category.
Ottmar Schneck, CEO of the VPH, attributes this bottleneck to inadequate infrastructure within the accreditation bodies. “The private higher education market is experiencing substantial growth, yet the structures of the accreditation institutions have not adapted accordingly” Schneck stated. This divergence is resulting in lengthy decision-making timelines and creating substantial financial risk.
The extended timelines linked to program accreditations are proving particularly damaging. Until a program receives accreditation, private institutions are legally prohibited from offering it, meaning delays can literally postpone course launches by entire semesters. Furthermore, the common practice of granting accreditations for only five years, instead of the potentially more efficient ten, compounds the problem. Given that accreditation procedures typically consume roughly two years, private institutions are trapped in a constant cycle of complex and resource-intensive processes.
While acknowledging the importance of rigorous quality assurance mechanisms – and agreeing that filtering out disreputable providers is essential – Schneck insists on a fundamental streamlining of the process. The current system, while intended to maintain standards, is instead exhibiting a lack of agility, potentially stifling the ability of private institutions to respond to evolving student needs and contribute dynamically to the national education landscape. The VPH is now urging policymakers to address this systemic inadequacy and foster a more responsive environment for private higher education.