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Framework for enhancing the institutional quality of the Catalan Higher Education System (QUALINS Framework) (April 2025)
The new framework replaces the Framework for the Validation, Monitoring, Modification and Accreditation of university degrees (VSMA Framework), approved in 2016, which updated the initial version from 2010.
The main innovation of the new framework is the promotion of institutional-level external quality assurance processes. This change aims to simplify procedures for universities and make them more understandable to society.
The QUALINS Framework stands out for three main features. First, it establishes cycles for institutional accreditation. Second, it aligns external quality assurance processes for academic programs with institutional accreditation cycles. Finally, it introduces the concept of a self-accredited center, intended for institutions that have renewed their institutional accreditation.
In addition, the framework incorporates other elements that will be gradually implemented, such as the adoption of the European approach to quality assurance for international joint degrees or the recognition of international evaluations conducted by other EQAR-registered agencies. Overall, the QUALINS Framework aims to enhance precision, flexibility, and efficiency in the use of resources allocated to quality assurance, while reinforcing the relevance of evaluation processes and reducing the associated workload.
The framework will be gradually implemented between 2025 and 2030.