SharePeople at the heart of AQU Catalunya: external expertise and professional commitment in the service of quality in higher education
Over the past thirty years, AQU Catalunya has built an evaluation model recognised for its independence, technical rigour and commitment to improvement. This track record cannot be explained solely in terms of regulations, methodologies or results: above all, it is the outcome of the work of the Agency's staff and the external experts who take part in its evaluation processes.
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AQU Catalunya currently has a team of 59 professionals who ensure the organisation runs smoothly on a day-to-day basis and provide continuity for its projects. Since the first member of staff joined the team on 1 January 1998, the workforce has grown and become increasingly specialised in line with the expansion of the Agency's responsibilities. This process has brought together a range of qualified technical profiles: 69.5% of staff hold a university degree and, within this group, 17.1% hold a PhD. The Agency is committed to professional development and continuous training as drivers of improvement, allocating up to 2% of its Chapter 2 budget, which includes, among other things, staff training, to these objectives. The team's commitment to their own professional development is also reflected in the figures: each member of staff takes part in an average of 8.86 training activities, while the overall total stands at 147.6 activities.
Their work ensures that every process is underpinned by sound methodological frameworks, reliable information, organisational support and consistent criteria. Behind every report, visit, study or accreditation process lies sustained work in planning, coordination, analysis and follow-up. The professionalism, adaptability and commitment to public service shown by the Agency's staff have been crucial in responding to changes in the higher education system, new regulatory requirements and technological challenges, as well as in ensuring that activities continued without interruption during particularly challenging periods.
External experts: a cornerstone of evaluation
Alongside this permanent team, the experts who collaborate with the Agency on an external basis are a cornerstone of AQU Catalunya's evaluation processes. They include people of recognised standing in academic and professional fields, as well as students, who contribute subject-specific knowledge, experience and a range of perspectives. Their participation makes it possible to examine evidence, put data into context and formulate well-founded assessments that contribute both to accountability and to the continuous improvement of universities.
In the evaluation of teaching staff, experts analyse applications in their respective fields of knowledge and prepare preliminary reports, which are then submitted to the relevant committees. In the evaluation of institutions and programmes, they serve on specific commissions and external evaluation committees, which prepare reports and conduct site visits. Bringing together academic, professional, methodological and student profiles strengthens the consistency of assessments and makes it possible to incorporate complementary perspectives.
Experts are selected according to criteria of competence and merit, independence, objectivity and the absence of conflicts of interest. AQU Catalunya also seeks to ensure a diversity of backgrounds, the participation of professionals from both public and private universities, and the involvement of individuals from other higher education systems, both within Spain and internationally. The training and specific guidance provided to them complete this selection process and help ensure that their work is consistent with European standards, the Agency's code of ethics and its quality policy.
Almost 800 experts collaborate with AQU Catalunya each year, around 400 of whom take part in the evaluation of teaching staff. The other half are responsible for institutional and programme evaluation. The gender balance is even: 49% are women and 51% are men.
A model built on collaboration and trust
The quality of the results depends on the complementary contributions of these two groups. AQU Catalunya's staff bring institutional knowledge, continuity, methodology and management capacity, while external experts contribute specialist knowledge, a diversity of perspectives and independent external judgement. Mutual trust and collaborative work turn these combined strengths into a robust, transparent evaluation system that serves the entire university community.
Looking ahead, maintaining this model means promoting training and professional development, preserving and transferring accumulated knowledge, bringing in new profiles and ensuring the renewal of a diverse and qualified pool of experts. In a context shaped by internationalisation, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, human capital will remain AQU Catalunya's greatest asset and the strongest guarantee of the rigour, independence and credibility of its work.