ShareAQU Catalunya publishes the performance evaluation process for assistant lecturers
The Research Assessment Commission (CAR) has designed this process, which will be available from 13 April, for assistant lecturers under the Serra Húnter Programme and for lecturers at Catalan universities that have commissioned AQU Catalunya, through an agreement, to carry out this evaluation activity.
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The Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia (DOGC) has today published the resolution announcing the performance evaluation process for assistant lecturers, a new service that AQU Catalunya will offer from next month. The process has been designed to evaluate the performance of assistant lecturers and assess their progress and the quality of their teaching, research and, where applicable, knowledge transfer and exchange activities.
As established in Article 78.e of the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU), this evaluation must be carried out by universities or by quality assurance agencies if commissioned by universities through an agreement. For this reason, and following interest shown by several Catalan universities, the Research Assessment Commission (CAR) of AQU Catalunya has designed this evaluation process, which will be included in its service portfolio and will begin on 13 April 2026.
The target group of this evaluation is assistant lecturers hired under the Serra Húnter Programme and assistant lecturers at universities that commission AQU Catalunya to carry out the evaluation through an agreement. Once the agreements are signed, eligible lecturers may submit an application for evaluation. This procedure has no cost for the academic staff, as it is covered by the university. The evaluation can only be requested once and, as its purpose is purely advisory, the result is not binding in relation to other evaluations that the applicant may request from AQU Catalunya.
The agreements with universities, which will last four years and may be extended for a further four, will allow eligible assistant lecturers to request a report from the Agency. The requirements for eligibility include having a current assistant lecturer contract signed after the LOSU or proving a minimum of three years’ seniority under such a contract.
The CAR, through its specific committees, will decide on applications within a maximum period of six months. To do so, the committees will apply the Criteria for the accreditation of associate professors, particularly the dimensions of Research and transfer and University teaching: teaching career, quality and innovation. The assistant lecturer performance evaluation report may be either favourable or unfavourable. Regarding research and transfer merits, the Research Assessment Commission will apply the same principles established in the criteria for associate professor accreditation, adapted to the time and context of the candidates.
A favourable report indicates that applicants have achieved a sufficient level of academic maturity to apply for associate professor accreditation at the end of their contract. Whether the outcome is favourable or not, the report will include a general justification with specific recommendations to help applicants achieve the merits required for associate professor accreditation and thus apply for such positions once their assistant lecturer contract ends.
The full evaluation process can be consulted here.
The DOGC resolution can be consulted here.