ShareThe Institutional and Programme Review Commission of AQU Catalunya updates the procedure for obtaining initial institutional accreditation
Two additional criteria have been included, relating to teaching staff and to the material resources and facilities of centres.
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The Institutional and Programme Review Commission (CAIP) of AQU Catalunya approved, at its most recent meeting, an update of the Procedure for Initial Institutional Accreditation of University Centres in the Catalan University System to align it with the regulatory framework established by Royal Decree 640/2021, as amended following the approval of Royal Decree 905/2025. The agreement, adopted at the session held on 16 February 2026, responds to the need to incorporate two additional requirements introduced in the legislation, concerning teaching staff and material resources and facilities.
According to the agreement adopted by the CAIP, these criteria are added to the existing ones relating to programme accreditation and the certification of Internal Quality Assurance Systems (IQAS). Although AQU Catalunya already systematically assessed teaching staff and material resources in programme verification, monitoring and accreditation processes, as well as in the certification of Internal Quality Assurance Systems, the Commission considers it necessary to formally include them in the procedure to ensure compliance with the Royal Decree.
With regard to the criterion related to teaching staff, the agreement establishes that the results of evaluation processes carried out on official university programmes included in the centre’s application for institutional accreditation will be taken into account. These evaluation processes include the assessment of the adequacy and sufficiency of teaching staff for delivering the programmes, including their teaching and research competence in accordance with the requirements established for each programme. These processes certify that the centre has sufficient, competent and suitable teaching staff to carry out the teaching activity associated with the official programmes it delivers.
Regarding the criteria related to material resources and facilities, the agreement states that the results of evaluation processes carried out on official university programmes included in the centre’s application for institutional accreditation will be considered. These evaluation processes include the assessment of the adequacy of equipment and facilities required for the development of the teaching and learning process, as well as their capacity to ensure the achievement of the learning outcomes defined in the programmes delivered by the centre. These processes certify, within AQU Catalunya’s remit, that the centre has the necessary equipment and facilities to adequately carry out the teaching activity corresponding to its official programmes.
This agreement of the CAIP will remain in force until the ministry responsible for universities defines the specific procedure applicable to these criteria, at which point this document will be subject to review.