Virtual external assessment visits extended for the whole of 2021
Taking into account the current conditions and with the aim of guaranteeing the safety of the people involved in the assessment processes, AQU Catalunya is extending virtual external assessment visits until December 2021.
Considering the current pandemic conditions and the decision of the Inter-university Council of Catalonia Board to extend the exceptional period to the 2021-2022 academic year for the Catalan university system, the director of AQU Catalunya, Martí Casadesús, has announced to universities that virtual external assessment visits for programme accreditation and certification of internal quality assurance systems are to be extended until December 2021.
The vice-chancellors in charge of quality in Catalan universities have been informed of the decision in order to prepare and organise these external visits well in advance.
Martí Casadesús explained that "the current conditions and those of the coming months, even though a progressive lifting of restrictions will soon be activated, will make a face-to-face evaluation process where the safety of all the people involved is ensured very complicated". However, the director of AQU Catalunya opens the ways for face-to-face visits in very specific cases as long as all the necessary conditions are met. These cases will be worked according to specific safety protocols with the affected centres and universities.
Finally, remember that when this period of exceptionality ends, AQU Catalunya will necessarily organise face-to-face visits again, as it is the methodology adopted in the European Higher Education Area.