AUDIT
Due to the EHEA framework, and some recent changes in Spanish regulations, Spanish Higher Education Institutions must ensure the fulfilment of the goals related to their different degree programmes, in a context of continuous improvement. As a result of this, universities should have formally established policies and internal quality assurance systems, contained in a publicly available statement.
In this context, the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation of Spain (ANECA) in cooperation with two other regional agencies, AQU and ACSUG, have developed the 'Assessment of Internal Quality Assurance Systems in Higher Education' (AUDIT programme). The purpose of this initiative, which is addressed to all the university colleges and faculties that offer university education, is to provide guidance in designing internal quality assurance systems integrating all the activities implemented up until the present time related to degree programmes quality assurance. Even though these orientations are addressed to university colleges and faculties, some relevant elements are of a transversal nature and belong to the university institution as a whole (i.e. issues referred to the hiring of academic staff, material resources and general services, etc.).
With this objective, a number of documents have been prepared:
In the last stage, the AUDIT Programme will enable to conclude with the certification process of the implemented IQAS. The corresponding procedure will be explained in a future document (“Guide for the certification of internal quality assurance systems”). This document will be available shortly at this web.
The aspects included in the AUDIT Programme are part of the requirements of the VERIFICA Programme, which deals with the legal requirements for the authorization and official register of new bachelor and Master’s degrees. This way, efforts are aligned and universities will find it easier to take part in the verification processes of the new degrees.
Lastly, ANECA has set up an e-mail account consultas.ensenanzas@aneca.es for enquiries and assistance to universities and any other stakeholders interested in AUDIT Programme. Enquiries will be replied to within forty-eight hours.