A bimonthly publication of AQU Catalunya

49

July 2010

New legislation, and the first of its kind to deal with an external quality assurance agency, was passed in the 18 May session of the Catalan Government on the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency.

The purpose of the new bill is to totally integrate all review bodies within the structure of the Agency and thereby bring it into line with the leading QA agencies in Europe, and also to broaden the composition of the Board of Management, which currently consists mostly of university rectors and the chairpersons of university social councils, to include a student representation, leading members of the university scientific community and civil society.

New developments within this process include the setting up of the Appeals Committee, which will guarantee the legal certainty and objectivity of review panels.

New functions covered by the reform are: the production of statistical information and indicators on higher education and university research for analysis purposes; the analysis of trends and the national and international development of universities; and advice and guidance to promote excellence in the services provided by universities and higher education institutions.

The purpose of the new regulation is to enable the Agency to adapt to the new scenarios emerging from the developments taking place in the quality culture, which are stimulating innovation in teaching, research and management. As such, the Agency's work will need to demonstrate, at the international level, the levels of quality and excellence in the Catalan higher education system and to define Catalonia as a focus of attraction for talent, innovation and knowledge creation that actively contributes to the creation of new spheres and opportunities for social progress.

The new legislation furthermore reinforces compliance with the Agency's own purpose, which is to promote and assure the quality of higher education in accordance with European standards.

 See press note [ca]