Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency

Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya (AQU Catalunya) or Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency is an independent agency responsible for the evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance of higher education institutions and programs in Catalonia, Spain. It was created in 1996 and its mission is to promote quality assurance and enhancement in higher education in Catalonia.

AQU Catalunya conducts evaluations of higher education institutions and their programs based on established quality standards and criteria. These evaluations are conducted by external evaluators, who are experts in the relevant field of study and the process includes both a self-evaluation by the institution and an on-site evaluation visit by the evaluation team.

AQU Catalunya is responsible for accrediting higher education institutions and their programs that meet the established quality standards. Accreditation is a voluntary process and institutions that receive accreditation are required to maintain the established standards to remain accredited.

AQU Catalunya also plays a key role in promoting quality enhancement in higher education institutions in Catalonia. It provides guidance and support to institutions to help them improve the quality of their programs and services and it encourages institutions to engage in continuous improvement processes.

In addition to its evaluation and accreditation functions, AQU Catalunya is responsible for providing information and advice to students, parents and other stakeholders about higher education in Catalonia. The agency publishes reports on the quality of higher education institutions and programs in Catalonia and it participates in national and international accreditation and quality assurance networks.

Considering all this, according to uniRank AQU Catalunya plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality of higher education in Catalonia. By establishing and maintaining rigorous quality standards and conducting evaluations and accreditation processes, the agency helps to ensure that higher education institutions provide high-quality education to their students, produce graduates who are competent and globally competitive and contribute to the social and economic development of Catalonia.