A quarterly publication of AQU Catalunya
Promoting institutional accreditation will bring the twin benefits of simplifying processes for universities and providing clarity for society.
Throughout the last year, AQU Catalunya has been working on a new reference framework for the Catalan Higher Education System (SUC) in order to assure its quality. The new framework, which is known as the framework for improving the institutional quality of the Catalan Higher Education System (QUALINS Framework), was approved on 3 April by the AQU Catalunya Governing Board. It replaces the framework for the validation, monitoring, modification and accreditation of university degrees (VSMA Framework), which was approved in 2016 (although the first version dates back to 2010). Various factors were taken into account when creating this framework, including the opinions of universities, the international trends demonstrating the drive towards external quality assurance at the institutional level (building on a base of solid internal quality assurance), and the current regulatory framework.
The external quality assurance systems applied within the SUC are complex compared to other models in the European Higher Education Area. The current regulatory framework maintains the obligation to carry out programme assessments, while institutional accreditation is optional. The coexistence of two assessment models (programme-focused and institution-focused) could generate confusion among students, families, employers and society in general.
The key new feature of the framework is that it promotes external quality assurance processes at the institutional level. Promoting institutional accreditation will bring the twin benefits of simplifying processes for universities and providing clarity for society. Additionally, institutional accreditation makes it possible to strengthen universities’ autonomy in the design and implementation of their training programmes. By the same token, it also brings greater responsibility with regard to assuring the quality and continuous improvement of the training programmes they offer.
Now would seem to be the perfect time to promote institutional accreditation in the SUC, as universities have demonstrated the quality of the training they offer and progress has been made with regard to certification of their internal quality assurance systems – and, as a result, in the institutional accreditation of their centres. As of the end of 2024, 69 centres in the SUC have obtained institutional accreditation (34% of the total number of centres in the SUC), together accounting for 54% of all of the training programmes offered by the system.
The deployment of the QUALINS Framework (2025-2030) is chiefly characterised by three unique aspects. Firstly, the establishment of cycles for institutional accreditation, with the aim of establishing a sequence for and maintaining the relevance of quality assurance processes in the SUC. Secondly, the alignment of external quality assurance processes for training programmes with the cycles for institutional accreditation; and thirdly, the introduction of the concept of self-accredited centres, for those centres that have renewed their institutional accreditation.
Looking ahead to its deployment, the framework also introduces a number of other elements, such as the implementation of the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes, recognition of the international assessments carried out by other EQAR agencies, and the drafting and publication of reference materials, data and studies that contribute to the continuous improvement of the training offered.
In summary, the newly formulated framework aims to improve the accuracy, flexibility and efficiency of the resources assigned to quality assurance, as well as to make the assessment processes more relevant and reduce the associated workload. Since the incorporation of the SUC into the European Higher Education Area, universities have demonstrated the quality of the training they offer and are ready to strengthen their autonomy, thanks to the implementation of a new strategy for external quality assurance based on institutional processes. This strategy should also be viewed as another step towards consolidating a quality culture within institutions’ DNA.
You can view the full document here.