While we cannot ensure that you become the first accredited entrepreneurial and/or engaged university in your country, region or field, some recommendations can be given. As dual accreditation procedures generally take longer than a single accreditation, you might want to focus on one accreditation first. However, if you like to be recognised as the first institution that achieved ACEEU's dual accreditation in your country, region or field, you might want to start with a dual accreditation right away. This is your decision.
ACEEU accreditation provides your organisation and those working in your organisation with a variety of benefits. To fully benefit from the accreditation, we recommend:
While ACEEU's name (Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities) specifically refers to universities, other higher education institutions can also apply.
Yes. We have the option of getting divisional accreditation. Your faculty/department/school can therefore apply for either Entrepreneurial Accreditation or Engaged Accreditation independently from your university.
There is no fee to be paid for your eligiblity application. You only have to pay the fees when declared eligible.
The application fee of the initial accreditation procedure covers ACEEU membership for the time of the application process. Therefore, there is no need to pay it additionally at this stage.
The peer review visit will be carried out by three experts selected based on your organization’s profile and accreditation type. Our general practice is to have out of those 3 members 2 of them who are from the applicant’s country. Besides the peer review fee to be paid to ACEEU, the applicant university is expected to cover the expenses of the peer review team during their visit. The review is supposed to be 1.5 days so 2 nights are to be expected in terms of accommodation. You can either directly pay for these expenses (flights and accommodation, peer member daily allowance and other direct expenses) or we can calculate how much those costs would be and invoice you.
If you have a translator, you are free to bring one, however, ACEEU is unable to supply translators.
The first invoice (covering 6-9 steps) is termed “Application fee” while the second one (covering steps 11-20) is termed “Peer review and final evaluation fee”. “VAT” is referred to as “VAT” in our invoices.
In Germany VAT is 19% percent, but if your university has a VAT number, we do not charge it.
ACEEU aims to support institution in their journey of becoming a more entrepreneurial and/or engaged organisation. This journey does not end with the award of the accreditation, but requires continuous improvement. Therefore, ACEEU provides its members with various services that help them to stay ahead of competition, primary by proving new knowledge, skills and tools and by linking members for knowledge exchange. Example services include: - Access to a good practice database (250+ cases) and a good practice finder - Access to a toolbox, hosting more than 100 models and instruments for entrepreneurship and engagement development - Free access to an ACEEU or ACEEU partner conference for one member representative.
Yes there is one contract, but you are required to submit two separate self-evaluation reports for two accreditations. You should upload each in its respective entry on AMS platform. The peer review will be done at the same time to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. Please note, that passing one accreditation does not entitle you to passing the second accreditation. Basically, these are two separate processes.
Our Council passed the decision for our Peer Review visit to take place online or in hybrid format. Therefore, due to COVID-19, we will be moving all our visits to online/hybrid format, for the time being. While the format of the visits change, all relevant aspects such as external expertise, briefing of experts, independence, confidentiality and interviews with multiple stakeholders remain valid in the online and hybrid peer review visit. One important change is that the visit time will be spread across more days to make the online meetings more productive. For a Single accreditation process (entrepreneurial OR engaged), the visit will take from 12 to 16 contact hours, spread across at least 3, preferably 4 days. A physical peer review visit in this case takes 1 to 1.5 days long. For a Dual accreditation process, the peer review visits will take from 16 to 20 contact hours, spread across at least 4, preferably 5 days. A physical peer review visit in this case takes 1.5 to preferably 2 days long.
If you are doubting between hybrid and online visit, I would say the advantage of hybrid one (half physical; half online) would be the possibility to inspect some premises, facilities etc. But if you think it would be difficult to execute due to unavailability of employees, the safe option would be fully online one. Additional caveat, should you apply for the hybrid, is that one of the peer review members needs to be willing to visit the premises physically. Since the situation changes constantly, we are unable to promise that in advance.
The online/hybrid peer review includes an additional cost of €1.500 (e.g. to cover extra planning efforts; technical support; ACEEU facilitator in virtual meetings). If the university chooses a hybrid format, it will also have to cover the expenses of the person of the peer review team that visits the institution on-site (flights and accommodation and other direct expenses). If the visit is fully online, there will be no such costs, so the university would simply be responsible for paying the regular Peer review and final evaluation fee, plus the €1.500 fee for organizing the online visit.