Private universities
The Organic Law of Universities (LOU or Spanish Universities Act), which was amended by OL 4/2007, lays down that, in the case of the private universities, "[...] at least 50% of the entire academic staff must be in possession of a doctorate degree and that at least 60% of all doctoral academic staff must have been positively assessed by either the Spanish National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation or the external review body laid down by legislation in the corresponding regional Autonomous Community", which in the case of Catalonia is AQU Catalunya. The Organic Law of Universities also stipulates that "the total number of teachers shall be calculated according to the full-time equivalent" and that "these requirements shall be applicable to private higher education institutions affiliated to private universities".
During the 2003-2007 period, the Agency's assessment of academic staff at private universities was carried out according to the terms laid down in the agreements signed with each institution. From 2008 onwards, the review and evaluation of academic staff at private universities was integrated into the processes involving the issuance of reports for tenure-track staff and the accreditation of both research and advanced research, which are common to all public and private universities.
In terms of compliance with the requirement of the external assessment of academic staff at private universities, the positive assessment of academic staff at private universities undertaken according to the 2003-2007 methodology has the same status as that of tenure-track staff assessed from 2008 onwards.
Merits in research