Butlletí

A bimonthly publication of AQU Catalunya

62

September 2012

EDITORIAL

AQU Catalunya reaffirms its position as a leading QA agency in Europe

In mid-July AQU Catalunya received the report from the international external review carried out by ENQA, with the analysis of the Agency's compliance with the European standards and guidelines (ESG).

In light of the documentary and oral evidence it considered, the ENQA Review Panel was satisfied that AQU Catalunya is in compliance with the ESG and ENQA Membership Provisions to continue as a full member of the association from 2012 to 2017.

Compliance with the standards is evaluated according to four levels (not compliant, partially compliant, substantially compliant and fully compliant). Out of the sixteen standards analysed, the panel noted that the Agency is fully compliant with fourteen standards and substantially compliant with two, namely, 2.1 (The effectiveness of internal quality assurance processes for external quality assurance procedures) and 3.6 (Independence).

AQU NEWS

• The work of the CLiC Commission now only to cover tenure-track teaching staff29.08.2012
• Results of the first call of 2012 for the issue of the reports of tenure-track lecturer and collaborating lecturer10.08.2012
• AQU Catalunya compliance with the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG)01.08.2012
• The first validation reports on proposals for recognised doctorate programmes are issued27.07.2012
• Completion of the monitoring of the teaching assessment handbooks used in the private universities26.07.2012
• The EU selects two projects in which AQU Catalunya participates23.07.2012
• New calls for the issuing of research and advanced research accreditations20.07.2012
• AQU Catalunya to review higher studies in the Arts04.07.2012

ARTICLES

• Development of the 2011 AUDIT programme call for applications
  The universities' experience and knowledge of both the process and the review criteria for the AUDIT programme was evident from the IQAS that were submitted, which greatly facilitated this year's review process. In addition, the majority of IQAS submitted had taken into account recommendations from reports on IQAS of other schools and faculties in the same university.
  Esther Adot Giménez - Project manager of Quality Assessment Department
• AQU Catalunya in compliance with the European Standards and Guidelines
  AQU Catalunya underwent its second international external review in 2012. In the light of the documentary and oral evidence it considered, the ENQA Review Panel was satisfied that AQU Catalunya is in compliance with the ESG and ENQA Membership Provisions to continue as a full member of the association from 2012 to 2017.
  Editorial board - AQU Catalunya

OPINION

• The AUDIT programme. The responsibility of moving forwards with the model for quality
  

  Ariadna Barberà Mata
  Technical specialist, Quality and Teaching Innovation Unit, Universitat Ramon Llull

  For many universities the launching of the AUDIT programme by ANECA, ACSUG and AQU Catalunya in 2007 was viewed as an opportunity. Since then, however, the growing importance of internal quality assurance procedures in the process of programme adaptation to the EHEA has become unquestioned.
  
  At the present time, however, we are faced with the challenge of moving beyond the statement of intention to the assessment of the real usefulness of AUDIT for higher education institutions. Suffice to say that, despite the difficulties over the last few years, the experience in the case of the Ramon Llull University (URL) has undoubtedly been positive in many aspects, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that it has been fundamental in certain cases for integrating different QA policies and strategies developed up until now for degree programmes.

AQU RECOMMENDS

• Report of the panel of the ENQA coordinated review of the Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya (AQU Catalunya)
• Quality Assurance and Qualifications Frameworks: exchanging good practice