A quarterly publication of AQU Catalunya
We want Catalonia to continue being a safe and reliable space to study, capable of attracting high-quality projects and preventing initiatives that lack sufficient guarantees from operating.
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There are decisions that, with the passing of time, reveal their full scope. On 29 October 1996, the Government of the Generalitat established AQU Catalunya, a public and independent agency dedicated to guaranteeing and promoting the quality of the higher education system. It was the first in Spain and one of the first in Europe. It was conceived before quality assurance became internationally established and before the construction of the European Higher Education Area. That pioneering decision expressed a conviction that remains valid today: the quality of higher education is a matter of national importance.
Thirty years later, I am convinced that the Catalan Higher Education System is stronger because we have managed to sustain this investment through specialised, independent and rigorous institutions. The assessment of degrees, centres, institutions and teaching staff, along with the certification of internal quality assurance systems, have helped establish a shared framework of excellence. Quality is no longer a passing trend or a procedural requirement, rather it has become a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
This process has taught us that assessment alone is not enough: we need to know the system, understand how it evolves and rely on evidence to make decisions. The indicators, the studies and the surveys coordinated by the Agency help us to identify strengths, anticipate problems and guide public policies. The Labour Integration Survey, coordinated since 2001 with the support of the social councils of Catalan public universities and private universities, is a leading example of this. It not only allows us to know if graduates find work, but also to assess the quality of employment and the adequacy of the training received.
The AQU Catalunya journey is, above all, a collective endeavour. The Government, universities, teachers, students, professionals and experts have assumed different responsibilities with a shared purpose: to offer rigorous, useful and equitable higher education, which contributes to the progress of the country. This plurality is a strength and, at the same time, reminds us that quality is built with leadership, coordination and shared criteria.
Today, new transformations require the same capacity for anticipation that inspired the creation of the Agency. Artificial intelligence is changing the way we teach, learn and assess, and raises questions about authorship, academic integrity and the responsible use of technology. AQU Catalunya must also incorporate its possibilities into its processes, whilst preserving expert judgement, transparency and assessment guarantees. At the same time, we must tackle student absenteeism, promote educational innovation and better recognise the quality and impact of research.
Internationalisation is another central challenge. It is not just a matter of opening ourselves up to the world, but of actively contributing to the construction of the European Higher Education Area with quality assurances. In this regard, it is particularly significant that AQU Catalunya has been the first quality agency in Europe to award, in 2026, the Joint European Degree Labels, the new seal promoted by the European Commission to recognise joint programmes delivered by consortia of higher education institutions from various European countries. This international projection must go hand in hand with rigour: we want Catalonia to continue being a safe and reliable space to study, capable of attracting high-quality projects and preventing initiatives that lack sufficient guarantees from operating.
Faced with these challenges, AQU Catalunya must continue to provide knowledge, judgement and foresight. Its independence is essential to examine the system with rigour and perspective, and to ensure that the transformations reinforce what gives meaning to higher education: the quality of training and the value it brings to society. It is not just about validating what already exists, but of formulating the key questions and helping to construct responses that reinforce trust in the university system.
This anniversary is an opportunity to recognise the collective effort that has made the journey possible. I want to express my gratitude to all the people who have contributed to the work of AQU Catalunya and, most especially, to those who have made its day-to-day work possible over these three decades. Their dedication has contributed to the construction of a strong, well-regarded and valuable institution that serves both the higher education system and the country.
Thirty years ago, Catalonia made university quality a national policy. Today, it is our responsibility to renew this commitment: preserving rigour, strengthening trust and making continuous improvement a shared ambition. I firmly believe that the best way to celebrate this legacy is to give it a future, with an independent AQU Catalunya capable of anticipation, at the service of high-quality higher education.