Folkwang

Evaluation-oriented quality-related work

At the Folkwang University of the Arts, a number of evaluation-oriented instruments and methods are developed, tested or already in use to support quality targets in the core process of Studies & Teaching. In addition to graduate surveys and feedback questionnaires, this also includes institutional evaluation of the university’s organisational units, as well as the TAP method in teaching.

Evaluation and feedback methods are always developed and implemented with the involvement of all status groups through evaluation committees, and have a dialogue-oriented, open-ended approach. The evaluation rules govern the process for evaluating studies, teaching and services.

Evaluation Regulation (in German only)

The Quality Development division uses qualitative feedback and evaluation methods in teaching and studies to particularly support and foster dialogue between teachers and students. This simultaneously reinforces an open and constructive feedback culture at the university. Quantitative methods are also used.

[Translate to English:] — (in German only)

Subject-seminar evaluation and student feedback in teaching

The team in the Quality Development division has been offering the Teaching Analysis Poll (TAP) since the 2017/18 winter semester. The TAP is used as a qualitative feedback process in teaching, and is open to both teachers and students in all Folkwang faculties.

The method is also suitable for individual tuition. – Please contact us!

As a teacher, a ‘TAP’ will provide you with qualitative feedback on your subject seminar, while, as a student, you have the opportunity to provide constructive feedback on your subject seminar. The TAP method has proven to be a simple, effective method for specifically consolidating and improving teaching quality at many universities and art colleges.

TAP phases (in German only):

Teaching Analysis Poll (TAP) Registration form (in German only)

Further information and steps regarding the TAP

Evaluating courses and modules

Course or module evaluations can also be planned and carried out on a needs basis as part of an institutional evaluation or in the lead-up to a planned course or module development.

For various reasons (‘Curriculum 4.0.nrw’ funding line, re-accreditations, staff changes, new external requirements etc.), course co-ordinators may be forced to (further develop) and change the content and structure of the existing course offering. Developing courses or modules, which also includes changing the content-based admission requirements, is a particularly important task at the university.

For this reason, the President’s Office has established a binding procedure for it.

At the Folkwang University of the Arts, the faculties are responsible for (further) developing courses or modules. Developments or changes to a course may be driven by a decision made by the dean, individual teachers or a group of teachers within the faculty. The initiating parties informally submit their initiative to the relevant faculty. If the responsible faculty council approves the change, the University Development unit is informed. If it involves a course development that has an important bearing on the university’s strategy, the initiative is referred to the President’s Office.

The central aspects of an internal course/module evaluation are determined by the reason driving them, e.g. as part of an institution evaluation, following the introduction of a new PO or if there is a change to the professor of a subject that plays an important role in the course/module.

The specific manner in which this evaluation process is carried out for a course or module is geared around the objectives of the unit due to be developed or evaluated. This may include, for example, reviewing

_the transparency of the qualification/module objectives,
_the transparency of the performance requirements,
_the coherence of the modules/module components.
The method for evaluating the course/module is based on guideline-driven group discussions with teachers, students and, if applicable, even graduates or drop-outs from the module/course. Alternatively, there may be a two-stage process in which the group discussion is preceded by an anonymous survey. The survey results are then incorporated into the group discussion, and can be challenged and verified if necessary. All feedback is treated in such a way that none of the respective students or teachers can be identified. The results of the internal course/module evaluation are handled in strict confidence and used in consultation with the course co-ordinator and, if applicable, the module co-ordinator in order to devise measures to improve the course/module as part of a course or module-development scheme.

If you are interested in having your module or course evaluated, you are welcome to contact the Quality Development division confidentially at any time. We will be glad to advise and assist you.

Institutional evaluation

The institutional evaluation provides an opportunity to examine the individual organisational units of an arts or music college – or, if necessary, even joint institutions from multiple universities – more closely and pool well-founded development ideas into a single action plan.

The process involves internal and external players, thereby achieving a high level of acceptance from most participants. The usability of the content-related outcomes, as well as acceptance of the action plan, is heavily dependent on the makeup and working atmosphere of the assessor group, particularly at colleges of art and music. As such, particular emphasis must be placed on selecting and appointing external peers during the process.

Processmodel: Institutional evaluation procedures (in German only)

Phases of institutional evaluation (in German only)

If interested in having your organisational unit evaluated, you are welcome to contact the Quality Development division confidentially at any time. We will be glad to advise and assist you.

Feedback surveys

In studies and teaching

Case-based feedback surveys are a way of anonymously gaining a snapshot of students’ or teachers’ attitudes towards the topics being covered in the course and teaching. Geared around your needs and focus area, we’ll help you implement this by developing and applying a suitable tool.

At the beginning of 2022, a feedback survey was conducted in the courses for teacher training in music at the initiative of the music-teaching department’s student body. The initiative was supported by the course co-ordinators, as well as the dean of the faculty. The feedback discussion was conducted as an evaluation course, accompanied by a subsequent online survey.

The results of the feedback survey in Music Teaching are available (in German only)

In advisory services

The 2019/20 winter semester saw the Folkwang University of the Arts introduce a feedback instrument for those seeking advice from the central student advisory service. The instrument follows the basic dialogue structure for quality-related work, and gives advice-seekers a fast, easy way of providing feedback on the advice they have received. The feedback survey supplies the university with useful further information on the advisory services, extending beyond mere statistics (cf. statistical data). The feedback survey is initially a pilot project which currently appears to be feasible and appropriate for use by additional advisory services.

If interested, you are welcome to contact the Quality Development division confidentially at any time. We will be glad to advise and assist you.

University-wide surveys

2021 student surveys

‘Studying in a time of pandemic – student feedback’

With its 2021 student survey, the Folkwang University of the Arts seeks to gain an even better understanding of the pandemic’s impact on tertiary study, and tackle the many challenges together. All students were invited to participate in the survey during the 2021 summer semester. It was conducted online, and focused on the topics of digital teaching, tertiary studies and everyday student life in a time of pandemic.

The students’ feedback is gradually being assessed by the Quality Development division and will be submitted to the university administration in a summary report at the start of the 2021/22 winter semester as a basis for making changes and improvements.

Insofar as response numbers permit, the feedback will be analysed in a manner specific to the respective subject groups and courses, and used for university and course development.

For further information, contact the Quality Development division.

Results of the Student survey 2021 (in German only)

2015 student survey

In 2015, all Folkwang students were invited to participate in a university-wide student survey on the topics of diversity, advisory services and studies. The project team from the first QPL phase developed a Folkwang-specific questionnaire for this.

The results were linked back to the faculties and additional topic-specific circles (director discussions, President’s Office meeting, advisors, etc.) through quality circles, which were then used to develop and implement measures for change.

Graduate surveys

Some aspects of study can only be assessed several years later, and this is particularly true for graduates from colleges of music and art. Graduate surveys are used to ask Folkwang graduates detailed questions about their studies and career, their professional success and their personal level of satisfaction (as an artist).

In 2018, Folkwang graduates from all courses were asked about their current situation and level of satisfaction with their lives for the first time. One to two years after graduating, 162 graduates from the classes of 2016 and 2017 (22%) participated in the surveys during the 2018 summer semester as part of the 2016 KOAB (co-operative project on graduate studies) and during the 2018/19 winter semester as part of the 2017 graduate panel. 44 alumni from the classes of 2010 to 2016 also participated in the 2016 KOAB.

A questionnaire specific to colleges of music and art was developed and used for Folkwang graduate surveys in co-operation with the Institute of Applied Statistics (ISTAT). This version of the questionnaire has been available ever since to all colleges of music and art for graduate surveys conducted as part of the KOAB / AP.

Its analysis of the results will see Folkwang lay further foundations for systematically developing quality in teaching and studies.

Results of the Graduate surveys (in German only)

Further information on the Folkwang graduate survey

		Strategic foundations of the quality work							Methods and instruments accompanying the quality-related work

		Process-oriented quality-related work							Quality development