ShareAnalysis of the operations of virtual external visits (2022)
The report analyses the operation of the first 100 external visits carried out online by surveying the different stakeholders who expressed their satisfaction with the new process and interest in maintaining it in part in the future.
AQU Catalunya reflects in this report the work undertaken: the report analyses in detail the efficiency of the first 100 virtual visits carried out between March 2020 and mid-May 2021, based on the the extraordinary action protocol for external review visits approved by the Institutional and Programme Review Commission on 13 March 2020, and we can speak of success in terms of AQU Catalunya's adaptation to the needs of the new normal in relation to the external review processes. The data derived from the various questionnaires completed by the 100 CAE (External Review Committees) involved; the members of the Internal Review Committees (CAI); and the professionals who work in the Technical Quality Units (UTQ) of the different Catalan universities, show that AQU Catalunya's online external review meets with the approval of all those concerned.
Respondents point out that the Agency adapted quickly to the virtualisation of external review processes and that, despite the speed of change, they maintained the previous quality levels. The various stakeholders have, for the most part, rated the support of the Agency throughout the process as quite or very satisfactory. Respondents were concerned only about the impossibility of capturing elements related to non-verbal communication and, above all, the absence of visits to facilities. However, their satisfaction is great enough that most stakeholders expressed the view that external reviews could preserve some of the virtualisation achieved in the future. The aspect that CAI and UTQ members believe the Agency needs to improve is the deadline for receipt of the final report.
Report on virtual external review visits (2022) [Catalan]