ShareBarcelona, permanent headquarters of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), with the support of AQU Catalunya
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The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) is a worldwide association of 300+ organisations active in quality assurance in higher education, the great majority of its members being quality assurance agencies.
During 2020, the INQAAHE Board of Directors conducted an open and competitive request for proposals to choose a permanent headquarters for the association. Of the four proposals submitted, INQAAHE chose Barcelona, where it will have the support of AQU Catalunya, a member of the association since 1998.
From the time the association was established in 1991, the INQAAHE Secretariat has been hosted by members of the association on an alternating basis for a renewable term of two and a half years. AQU Catalunya was appointed to host the secretariat in 2013 and has continued to do so up until the present time.
INQAAHE offers its members different services related to the dissemination of methodologies and case studies in the field of quality assurance in higher education. It also funds projects in the field of quality assurance through competitive grants, as well as organising conferences every year and the annual Forum.
The candidature submitted by AQU Catalunya had the support of both the Government of Catalonia's Executive Council and the Spanish Government.
Martí Casadesús, director of AQU Catalunya, is appreciative of the confidence shown by INQAAHE and notes that the two key aspects of the Agency's candidacy are, on the one hand, the prime location of Barcelona, a city with a prestigious reputation that is attractive, business friendly and well connected to major destinations around the world; and, on the other, the leverage of AQU Catalunya as a support institution for the association and as a robust, rigorous and consolidated QA agency that is internationally recognised and which operates in an outstanding higher education system.
The Minister of Enterprise and Knowledge, Ramon Tremosa, welcomed the choice of the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU Catalunya) as the permanent headquarters of the international association of quality assurance agencies in higher education. It is a decision, he said, that «is recognition of AQU Catalunya's constancy, rigour and excellence, which have contributed to Catalonia's top ranking among the most robust higher education systems at international level». «During the seven years that it has hosted the INQAAHE Secretariat, AQU Catalunya has reflected the strength of both the institution and the city of Barcelona, which offers ideal conditions to now permanently host the association's Secretariat», the Minister noted.
The Minister of Universities, Manuel Castells, stated that «being one of the most reputable agencies in Europe and with the necessary skills to provide good support to INQAAHE, AQU Catalunya will be an excellent host». The Minister also pointed out that «INQAAHE is locating to Barcelona, a city of art, science and culture considered to be one of the most outstanding in the world in terms of quality of life».
INQAAHE president, Susanna Karakhanyan, and the president of AQU Catalunya, Josep Joan Moreso, recorded the following statements on receiving the news:
Susanna Karakhanyan, president of INQAAHE
Josep Joan Moreso, president of AQU Catalunya
Information Press release