ShareInstitutional accreditation
Since 2007, AQU Catalunya has helped universities to design the internal quality assurance systems (IQAS) of their university centres through the AUDIT programme. In 2014 the Agency assessed the deployment of this programme and began issuing IQAS certifications.
According to Royal Decree 640/2021, of 27 July, to obtain institutional accreditation the centres have to have renewed the accreditation of at least half of their official bachelor's degree programmes, half of their official master's degree programmes and half of their doctoral degree programmes, and have certified the implementation of their IQAS.
Obtaining institutional accreditation will allow university centres to accredit all official university degrees taught at that centre for a renewable period of six years.
Applications can be submitted throughout the year to the Spanish Universities Council via the online application of the ministry responsible for universities. The university shall submit an application for each centre requesting institutional accreditation.
The deadline for resolution is six months from the submission of the proposal, in accordance with Article 14.9 of Royal Decree 640/2021. The Ministry extends the term of resolution by up to three months in accordance with the provisions of Article 42.5.c) of Law 30/1992, of 26 November, on the Legal Regime of Public Administrations and Common Administrative Procedure.
The Institutional and Programme Assessment Committee (CAIP) will issue a binding assessment report for the Universities Council.
When a faculty is granted institutional accreditation, AQU Catalunya issues a quality label. Please see the conditions for the use of quality labels.
Outcomes
Review reports portal (EUC Informes), see the assessment reports on degrees, centres and universities in the Catalan university system issued by AQU Catalunya.
Validity
The renewal of a faculty's accreditation, or institutional reaccreditation, must take place within six years of its initial or most recent accreditation granted by the Spanish Council of Universities (Consejo de Universidades).
Methodology
Guide to the institutional accreditation of university centres (July 2021)
Standards and criteria for the institutional accreditation of university centres (February 2021)