ShareThis is the new procedure for processing applications for international joint degree programmes according to the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes
Following the methodology of the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes, universities needing to process requests for the validation and accreditation of international degree programmes that they teach jointly with other European universities will have to complete a new procedure to register the qualifications in the Ministry of Universities Register of Universities, Centres and Qualifications (RUCT).
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With the aim of simplifying the external review processes of European joint degree programmes, the European Approach defines common standards based on the tools of the European Higher Education Area without applying any additional national criteria. To start the process, the institutions offering the joint programme must select a quality agency from the European Register of Quality Agencies (EQAR) list. As a registered agency, AQU Catalunya can evaluate joint programmes in accordance with the European Approach as well as recognise assessments by other registered agencies.
The characteristics of the process based on the European Approach are as follows:
- Documentation must be submitted in English
- Review processes must receive a compulsory external visit in all cases
- The external review committee must include at least four members (from at least two countries involved)
In general terms, interested universities must submit an application via the generic procedure for universities in their dealings with AQU Catalunya, available on EACAT. AQU Catalunya will then issue a report through AVALUA that will vary according to the corresponding modality (recognition/review). Next, the university should submit the application to the Spanish Universities Council through the IT application of the ministry responsible for universities. Then, the applicant university should attach a whole series of documentation required in the processing to the Spanish Universities Council, which, finally, will make the validation/accreditation decision and register the degree in the RUCT. Detailed information on all the steps of the new procedure is available here. For all degree programmes, the assessment is valid for six years with follow-up at three.