ShareThe new criteria for accrediting associate professors and full professors are now in effect
The criteria that come into force today are more plural and tailored to the context of the specific field of knowledge.
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The accreditation criteria for associate professors and full professors approved on 20 January by the AQU Catalunya Research Assessment Commission (CAR) came into force today. From now on, teaching staff who wish to apply for accreditation as associate professors (accreditation of research, according to Law 1/2003) or as full professors (accreditation of advanced research, according to Law 1/2003) will be assessed according to the new criteria, which are the first to be adapted to the requirements of the Organic Law on the University System (LOSU).
The criteria that come into force today are more plural and tailored to the context of the specific field of knowledge. They also introduce new measures for qualitatively assessing teaching, research and, where applicable, knowledge transfer merits. These criteria for contracted university teaching staff can be divided into two categories: general criteria applicable to all accreditation committees and specific criteria tailored to each field of knowledge. With regard to the general criteria, it is important to note that the teaching dimension has now been included in the accreditation process. This represents a significant change, as AQU Catalunya’s accreditations were previously focused solely on research. In line with this change, the criteria also have new scoring scales. You can find more information about the criteria here.
New procedures
Alongside the new criteria are two new procedures that also come into effect today. The accreditation procedures specify the documentation and evidence that must be provided as proof of the academic careers of teaching staff. Specifically, the dimensions that are evaluated for associate professor accreditation are the research and transfer dimension and the university teaching dimension, and the dimensions that are evaluated by the accreditation procedure for full professors are the research and transfer dimension, the university teaching dimension and the scientific leadership and management dimension. Accreditation will be awarded if at least 50 points are obtained in each of the dimensions assessed.
Detailed information on how to apply, the procedure, accreditation criteria, etc., can be found on the websites for the accreditation of associate professors and full professors. Those interested in applying should note the following:
- Positive AQU Catalunya research and advanced research accreditations are valid on a permanent basis; therefore, there is no need to reapply
- A new application cannot be submitted if a research or advanced research accreditation is pending resolution by AQU Catalunya.
- The new criteria assess research and transfer, university teaching, and scientific leadership and management (the latter for full professors only), and at least 50 points must be obtained in each of the dimensions in order to achieve accreditation.
- Before submitting the application, you must ensure that you meet the requirements and criteria of the call for applications, and you must have all the necessary documentation at hand. The requirements are:
- Be in possession of a doctorate degree.
- Be able to prove nine months of post-doctoral academic mobility in universities or research centres other than the institution in which you completed your doctoral thesis. Please consult the exemptions.
- Be able to simultaneously demonstrate a minimum teaching career length and minimum teaching record: Associate professor: 4 years and 30 ECTS, Full professor: 10 years and 140 ECTS. Find out how you can be accredited.
A Frequently Asked Questions document on the new procedures can be found here.
New criteria for the accreditation of associate professors and full professors
You can access the new procedure for the accreditation of assistant professors here, and the new procedure for the accreditation of full professors here.