AQ Austria, the national quality assurance agency for higher education in Austria, recently revoked the approval of the medical master’s degree at Sigmund Freud Private University (SFU) due to quality defects. This means that the university is no longer allowed to accept new students in this course, which has dealt a blow to the SFU, given the significant investment it has made in the program.
However, around 600 students who are currently enrolled in the program can still complete their degree within the prescribed study period, thanks to the approval of a “teach-out plan” by AQ Austria. This plan allows the university to submit a processing plan that enables the students to complete their degree within a period that does not exceed the prescribed study period by one year.
The SFU has also implemented measures to address the quality issues raised by AQ Austria, including introducing additional quality assurance measures and changing the program’s structure. The university has also addressed staffing issues by recruiting new personnel and implementing other measures to enhance the quality of education.
The SFU is also contesting the decision to revoke the accreditation of the medical master’s degree and is simultaneously working on a new application for the program. This new application will enable bachelor’s students in medicine, whose course has been re-accredited, to continue from autumn 2024.
The SFU’s approach to addressing quality issues and its efforts to enable its students to complete their studies demonstrate its commitment to providing quality education and ensuring that its students can achieve their educational goals. While the revocation of the medical master’s degree approval has been a setback for the university, it is clear that the SFU is taking the necessary steps to address the issues raised by AQ Austria and to ensure that its programs meet the highest standards of quality.
The approval of the “teach-out plan” by AQ Austria is a positive development for the around 600 students currently enrolled in the medical master’s degree at Sigmund Freud Private University. This plan will allow them to complete their degree within the prescribed study period, despite the revocation of the program’s accreditation.
The SFU’s commitment to addressing quality issues and ensuring that its students can achieve their educational goals is commendable, and it is hoped that the university will be able to regain accreditation for its medical master’s degree in the near future.