University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten: Process-oriented quality management with BIC Platform

The University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten, like all fast-growing universities, faced extensive structural challenges and strong competitive pressure at the national and international level. The situation was intensified by various factors, such as the challenges posed by the Bologna Process and limited financial resources in the face of increasing demands. In this context, the university strived for efficiency and professionalism in the areas of study and teaching as well as research and administration. In addition to the quantitative aspects, it increasingly turned to the quality and efficiency of existing structures and introduced a new quality management (QM) system for this purpose. Since many processes are already predefined by legislation (LHG) and the accreditation rules for universities, it has simultaneously addressed the topic of process management. To be able to analyze its processes in a meaningful way, improve them significantly, and publish them to all stakeholders, it decided to introduce a professional business process management system.

With the introduction of the BPM Suite BIC Platform, the first task was to visually represent the central processes at the university. By modeling, the university recorded existing processes and redefined target processes. The modelers used a standardized procedure (BPMN 2.0) to define structures, rules and roles. For the faculties and administrative areas, the process-oriented QM results in several advantages at once:

• modeled processes ensure the quality of activities
• the continuous improvement process for optimizing processes is stringently followed in BIC Platform
• the automation of some processes makes it possible to check the efficiency and effectiveness of activities that were previously carried out manually

A key element in creating acceptance was clear support for the project from university management and all stakeholders. Target group events, separate meetings and various communication measures helped to accustom staff and students to the new QM and process management on an ongoing basis.