Paris, 20 October 2025 — European City University (ECU) is proud to announce the successful completion of the academic accreditation visit conducted by ACQUIN – Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute, a globally recognised German accreditation agency and member of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).
From 28 September to 1 October 2025, ECU had the honour of hosting an international panel of distinguished academic experts and quality assurance professionals from ACQUIN. The review visit formed part of ECU’s institutional initiative to align its programmes and quality systems with European and international higher education standards.
Members of the ACQUIN Accreditation Team
The visiting delegation comprised the following esteemed members:
- Dr. Michael Mayer, Programme Manager, International Department, ACQUIN
- Ms. Janine Igl, Programme Manager, International Department, ACQUIN
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Lauer, Professor of Business and Law, University of Applied Sciences Aschaffenburg (TH)
- Prof. Dr. Jürgen Moormann, Professor of Bank and Process Management, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
- Mr. Martin Borg, CEO, EduAlliance, Expert in Quality Enhancement in Education and Training
- Mr. Christopher Bohiens, Leuphana University of Lüneburg
About ACQUIN
Founded in 2001, ACQUIN (Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute) is one of Europe’s most respected accreditation agencies, headquartered in Germany. ACQUIN operates under the principles of the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG) and is a full member of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education). The agency’s mission is to carry out nationwide and cross-university
accreditations of degree programmes in all disciplines, to ensure the high quality of degree programmes, to increase their attractiveness for local and foreign students, and to promote comparability of academic degrees across national boundaries.
In recognition of its rigorous accreditation framework, ACQUIN has awarded accreditation to a number of highly ranked and globally recognised institutions. For example:
- Technische Universität München – Ranked Number 22 in QS World University Ranking 2025, and its campus in Singapore is among institutions accredited by ACQUIN.
- Freie Universität Berlin – Ranked Number 15 in QS Europe University Ranking 2025, whose system accreditation was conducted in cooperation with ACQUIN.
By securing accreditation from ACQUIN, institutions signal their commitment to recognised European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG) and to a culture of continuous improvement.
Why ECU Pursued ACQUIN Accreditation
European City University’s decision to undertake the ACQUIN accreditation reflects its strategic commitment to achieving global excellence in higher education. Specifically, ECU pursued this prestigious accreditation to:
- Enhance Academic Credibility — Align ECU’s qualifications with European and international academic benchmarks.
- Strengthen Graduate Recognition — Ensure ECU graduates enjoy wider global recognition and mobility.
- Promote Continuous Improvement — Embed a culture of quality enhancement and evidence-based academic governance.
- Foster International Partnerships — Facilitate collaborative ventures with universities and industry partners across Europe and beyond.
- Assure Stakeholders of Excellence — Demonstrate accountability, transparency, and quality assurance to students, employers, and global education partners.
Message from the Chairman, Professor Philippe Jourdan
I’m delighted to share some wonderful news about our university.
Just days ago, from the 28th of September to the 1st of October, European City University welcomed an expert panel from the ACQUIN accreditation agency for a programmatic review. After a thorough and rigorous evaluation, I’m proud to announce that we have received an in-principle approved accredited status.
This marks a significant milestone in our university’s journey—one that reaffirms the quality of our academic standards and our commitment to continuous improvement.
To our graduates, this means your degree carries even greater recognition, both here in Europe and internationally. And to all who contributed—faculty, staff, and students alike—thank you for making this achievement possible.