A bimonthly publication of AQU Catalunya

57

November 2011

Fifteen years have passed since AQU Catalunya was established.¹ Over this period of time the Agency's remit has evolved and it will continue to do so as it adapts to the changing times, but not its intention: a constant of both past and present activities developed by the Agency is the continuous enhancement of Catalan universities.

During these fifteen years, the system of higher education has undergone an enormous transformation. The big change as far as degree programmes is concerned has been their adaptation in line with EHEA² regulations, and with academic staff it has been the defining of contract teaching as an alternative to public service recruitment.

This transformation, which I hereby note has taken place in a very short period of time and on occasions lacking a clear vision of the future, has seen certain initiatives set in motion by university-related bodies – policy makers, authorities, universities and agencies – without due care and attention and without account being taken of the consequences, which has meant that considerable effort has been required by the universities to carry them out.

The Agency has also had to deal with various new regulations and adapt its activities accordingly. This process has been based on simplification, coherency, process integration and also through the upgrading of its strategic vision for higher education and the universities in Catalonia.

One example of this is the Guide to the formulation and ex-ante accreditation of proposals for recognised doctorate programmes (2011), produced by AQU Catalunya. While the dimensions set out in the Guide may appear excessively comprehensive, the Agency has merely set out the legislation ³ governing these programmes and awards, the information requested by the Ministry of Education's online system, and also the Salzburg principles on doctoral education. To the extent that we have done our best to simplify the guidebook, account must nevertheless be taken of the minimum requirements for programmes when proposals for ex-ante accreditation are submitted. The evaluation of several of these dimensions would not be necessary if the regulations concerning doctoral programmes were not so specific. This problem however goes beyond the terms of reference of quality assurance agencies, and it now needs to be dealt with in other contexts (universities and policy makers). Nevertheless, the Directorate General for Universities and the Agency are coordinating together to establish how the ex-ante accreditation process can be further simplified.

The important thing for quality assurance agencies is to be responsible for perfecting the processes, and this is done by reviewing and revising the instruments used for evaluation. For example, during the first quarter of 2012 a meta-evaluation workshop on the ex-ante assessment, modification and monitoring processes used in 2011 is planned. Around 350 people are expected to participate, including university officials and members of the Agency's review panels, to discuss what worked well and, above all, what needs to be streamlined and improved.

The Agency now celebrates fifteen years of actively working to serve the system of higher education and the universities in Catalonia. With the initiatives that it has so far promoted, there is now no turning back on its path set by the strategic vision of continuous enhancement, transparency and accountability for the services provided by the universities (and the Agency) to society as a whole. As in recent years, we won't be alone in doing the work and we will continue as usual to collaborate and coordinate with the universities and the authorities in the search for positive synergies and to simplify the endeavours that are called for by all of us to improve and enhance higher education and the universities in Catalonia, and thereby gain greater credibility, autonomy and trust in relation to the public resources that are set aside for this purpose.