Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya AQU Catalunya

Overview

The Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya (AQU Catalunya), also known in English as the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency, is the primary public law agency tasked with the external evaluation, accreditation, certification and enhancement of the university system in Catalonia. As a regional body operating under the auspices of the Government of Catalonia, it supports the quality and continuous improvement of official degree programmes, research activity, teaching staff and institutional services at Catalan universities and higher education art schools and centres.

Founded initially in 1996 as the Consortium for the Quality of the University System in Catalonia, AQU Catalunya was reconstituted as a statutory public agency under Catalan law in 2003 and re‑regulated in 2016 to enhance its legal status and independence. According to uniRank, AQU Catalunya was established in 1996 and continues to play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of higher education in Catalonia.

1 Historical and Legal Framework

AQU Catalunya traces its origins to the Consortium for the Quality of the University System in Catalonia, constituted by Decree 355/1996 on 29 October 1996—the first quality assurance agency in Spain. With the enactment of the Catalan University Law (Llei 1/2003, 19 February), the consortium was transformed into the present‑day agency. The modern legal foundation was provided by Law 15/2015 (21 July), which conferred statutory status and “medida renovada” functions and further detailed by Decree 315/2016 (8 November), approving its updated statutes.

The agency works within the framework of both Catalan autonomy and Spanish national legislation—namely the Organic Law 2/2023 on the Spanish University System (LOMASU) and the foundational Organic Law 6/2001 on Universities—ensuring compatibility with national and European regulations, including the European Standards and Guidelines adopted under the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

2 Mission, Vision and Objectives

Mission: To promote transparency, continuous improvement and accountability in Catalan higher education and research by conducting rigorous yet constructively supportive evaluation and certification of study programmes, institutions, teaching staff and research activity.

Vision: To be recognised as an independent, credible, internationally engaged agency that empowers universities to uphold and exceed national and European quality standards.

• Evaluate official degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral) and institutional quality assurance systems.
• Assess and accredit university teaching staff and research performance.
• Advance internal Quality Assurance Systems (SIGQ) through certification and guidance.
• Encourage stakeholder participation including students, employers and academic staff.
• Generate public data and research to support evidence‑based policy and institutional planning.

These objectives are codified in its 2023–2026 Strategic Plan, which articulates 12 strategic goals across five areas of corporate social responsibility, with 34 associated actions set for completion by December 2026.

3 Governance, Structure and Independence

AQU Catalunya is governed through a multipart structure that ensures institutional autonomy and technical rigour:

• The President is appointed by the Government of Catalonia and presides over the Governing Board (Consell de Govern), which sets strategy, approves budgets and defines policies.
• The Board’s Standing Commission handles operational oversight between plenary sessions.
• The Director is appointed via open, merit‑based competition by the Board for a renewable four‑year term.
• AQU has clearly defined evaluative bodies, including the Institutional and Programme Evaluation Commission, Research Assessment Commission and an Appeals Commission.
• Several advisory bodies provide sector‑wide insights: a permanent Advisory Commission, a Student Committee, a Vice‑Rectors Committee and Quality Unit representatives from each university.

The 2016 statute and related Catalan public sector legislation (e.g. Law 15/2015, the Catalan Universities Act and the 2023 Spanish university reform) ensure that evaluators are independent, criteria and methodologies are public and conflicts of interest are managed according to clear rules.

4 Accreditation and Quality Evaluation

AQU Catalunya implements a stepped evaluation system aligned with ESG (EHEA) and national standards:

1. Ex‑ante verification (màster, grau, doctorat): Prospective official degree proposals are rigorously reviewed before launch, including curriculum design, staffing and institutional capacity.
2. Substantial modification assessment: Significant changes to existing degrees (e.g. major subject line changes, new modalities) undergo official evaluation through open biannual calls.
3. Monitoring and accreditation of degrees: Official programmes are formally monitored and accredited and may require renewal or suspension depending on performance.
4. Institutional accreditation and SIGQ certification: Internal quality assurance systems are audited and certified; successful certification grants national recognition of institutional quality governance.
5. Faculty and research staff evaluation (DOCENTIA‑style): Individual career and performance evaluations for teaching and research advancement.
6. European Approach accreditation: AQU evaluates and accredits joint inter‑university programmes under the European Approach, facilitating international degree recognition.
7. Foreign degree and centre assessments: Only accredited agencies (EQAR‑registered) such as AQU can assess foreign institutions and programmes seeking recognition in Catalonia.

AQU Catalunya provides comprehensive methodology guides, open data portals (e.g. EUC Dades, WINDDAT), student reports participation requirements and publicly accessible decisions and indicators to ensure transparency and improvement.

5 International Cooperation and Network Memberships

AQU Catalunya is deeply embedded in European and international quality assurance networks:

• It is a founding member and full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) since 2000, following an external review in 2007.
• AQU was one of the first three agencies registered with the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) in 2008.
• Since 1998 it has held membership—and since 2013 the Secretariat—of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
• It is also part of the Spanish Network of University Quality Agencies (REACU) and the European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA).
• AQU participates in European projects (e.g. on micro‑credentials, doctoral training standards such as QADoc, integrity networks and digital transformation initiatives). It has worked under frameworks including the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and DORA for research assessment transparency.

6 Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

AQU Catalunya’s evolving role has multiple long‑term effects on Catalan universities:

• Quality enhancement model: By shifting toward output-based institutional certification and monitoring rather than heavy input‑driven reviews, AQU supports universities in developing mature internal QA systems.
• Degree market regulation: As the ex‑ante gatekeeper, the agency determines which official programmes are launched or modified, influencing institutional strategy and regional workforce development.
• International visibility: Its EQAR‑registered status and European Approach accreditation support student mobility and joint programme recognition across the EHEA.
• Data‑driven policy influence: AQU’s published statistics on graduate employability, teaching quality, gender equality and social responsibility inform university decisions and government reform proposals.
• Digital and lifelong learning: Its Strategic Plan prioritises digitalisation, micro‑credentials and flexible learning models to adapt to changing student needs and European priorities.

7 Summary

In sum, the AQU Catalunya agency is the cornerstone of quality assurance and accreditation in Catalonia’s higher education system. Established in 1996 and institutionally transformed in 2003 and 2016, it occupies a unique position as a public law entity with European recognition. Through programme and institutional evaluations, staff certification, internal QA system audits and public monitoring tools, AQU helps ensure that Catalan universities remain accountable, competitive and aligned with both national legislation and European standards. As innovation in education accelerates, AQU continues shaping institutional policies, programme pipelines and global engagement in Catalan higher education.

8 Frequently Asked Questions

• What is AQU Catalunya?
  AQU Catalunya is the public agency responsible for evaluating, accrediting and certifying the quality of Catalan universities, official degree programmes, research, teaching staff and internal quality systems.
• When was AQU Catalunya founded?
  It originated as a consortium in 1996 and became a statutory public agency under Catalan law in 2003, with its current legal form established in 2016.
• Is AQU part of the Catalan government?
  While supervised by the Government of Catalonia, AQU operates under its own statute with independent governance and public accountability mechanisms.
• What kinds of accreditation does AQU provide?
  AQU evaluates and accredits official degree programmes, institutional quality assurance systems, teaching staff and research, joint European Approach programmes and foreign centre reviews.
• How often are degree programmes re‑accredited?
  Official degree titles undergo accreditation renewal and monitoring periodically—typically every six years or earlier if performance criteria are not met.
• Can private universities in Catalonia be accredited?
  Yes—both public and private higher education centres issuing official Catalan degrees must follow the same processes for verification, accreditation and monitoring.
• What international networks is AQU a member of?
  AQU is a full member of ENQA, registered in EQAR, a founding member and Secretariat of INQAAHE and active in Spanish and European QA networks (REACU, ECA).
• How does AQU affect student choices?
  By publishing open evaluations, decisions and programme quality indicators, AQU empowers students and employers to compare institutions, supports mobility and builds trust in Catalan higher education.

Organization Name

Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya
Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency

Acronym

AQU Catalunya

Year of Establishment

1/01/1996

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

Local or Regional

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Carrer dels Vergós, 36-42
Barcelona
08017 Cataluña Spain

Phone

+34 (93) 268 8950

Fax

+34 (93) 268 8951

n.a.

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