A bimonthly publication of AQU Catalunya

62

September 2012

The ENQA external review panel that evaluated the Agency has submitted its final report which, following the analysis of the detailed evidence given in the self evaluation report and a comparison with the interviews with the different groups, concludes that AQU Catalunya is in compliance with the European standards and the ENQA membership provisions to continue as a full member of the association during the five-year period from 2012-2017.

There are four levels of conformity with the ESG standards (fully compliant, substantially compliant, partially compliant and non-compliant). Out of the sixteen (16) standards analysed, the panel considered the Agency to be fully compliant in fourteen (14) and substantially compliant in two (2).

As stated in the external review report, AQU Catalunya has made very great progress since the review of 2007. In addition, substantial and significant improvements made during the past five years have helped the Agency achieve a high rating in the 2012 review. According to the report, the Agency's strong points are as follows: 

• It is a dynamic agency, which takes every opportunity to improve its own work and enhance quality in higher education in Catalonia. 
• It is a 'learning organisation' with the capacity and the will to review its operations and improve them in the light of experience. 
• It puts great effort into building up strong relationships with stakeholders, which has created an atmosphere of trust with the universities. 
• The Agency's staff are motivated and have a constructive attitude in the current context of budgetary restrictions, and excellent use is made both internally and externally of information technologies.

The report also states that the quality assurance processes in the VSMA Framework that have been implemented are useful and clearly provide for the enhancement of quality in Catalan universities. It thereby also positively assesses the work carried out by the universities themselves (including the central administration and executive offices, faculties, departments, QA units, teaching staff, administrative and services staff, etc.) to improve and enhance the quality of programmes and teaching.

On the basis of this external report, it is envisaged that the ENQA Board will confirm the continuity of AQU Catalunya as a full member of the association in September.

 PDF Report of the panel of the ENQA coordinated review of the Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya (AQU Catalunya) (July 2012)

 PDF SELF-EVALUATION REPORT 2012. External review for the reconfirmation of AQU Catalunya as a full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (April 2012)