International quality assurance by AQU Catalunya
International institutional accreditation
The publication of the guide to International quality assurance of higher education. A tool for international academic mobility falls within the framework of AQU Catalunya's strategy to promote mobility and academic cooperation at international level.
Accreditation will be granted by AQU Catalunya to higher education institutions (HEI) that can demonstrate academic rigour in accordance with European norms and that, at international level, are reliable and trustworthy as a partner institution for cooperation and academic mobility, in particular with institutions in the university system in Catalonia.
The guidebook sets out the guidelines to be followed by institutions that wish to obtain international accreditation, which include the setting of clear objectives for cooperation and academic mobility, the existence of management and quality assurance mechanisms that are fit for purpose for cooperation and mobility, and a systematic approach to the analysis of the results and outcomes of cooperation and academic mobility. It also sets out review and evaluation criteria, accreditation outcomes, the timetable and publication of the outcomes.
International accreditation of the HEI (faculty, school, department) leads to the award of the "Learning Institution INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION" quality label of accreditation.
See the guide to the Guide to the international quality assurance of higher education. A tool for international academic mobility (October 2016)
For more information contact AQU Catalunya by email qualitat@aqu.cat
Evaluations
| Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Perú (2016) | Evaluation information |
Programme review under the VSMA framework
AQU Catalunya reviews programmes in other countries in line with the Agency's methodology in accordance with its Framework for the validation (ex-ante accreditation), monitoring, modification and ex-post accreditation of recognised degree programmes (known by its acronym VSMA).
In these cases, AQU Catalunya undertakes the external site visit of applicant programmes and institutions and draws up the site visit report in order for the corresponding authority in the applicant country to make the appropriate decision regarding accreditation. The VSMA methodology is accordingly applied in keeping with the characteristics and context of the country where the review is carried out.
In particular, under the collaboration arrangement between the Government of Andorra’s Department of Higher Education and Research and AQU Catalunya, the following programmes at the University of Andorra have undergone external review:
- Ex-ante report for the introduction of the University of Andorra's Master's programme in Law
- External site visit report associated with the accreditation of the University of Andorra Bachelor's programmes in Communication and Catalan Studies