DOCENTIA: Support Program for Evaluating the Quality of University Faculty Teaching

The DOCENTIA Program consists of a set of guidelines and recommendations for universities to develop a model for evaluating the quality of teaching, aimed at ensuring the qualifications and competence of university faculty through an assessment of their teaching activities, with the goal of promoting their recognition and improvement. These models are certified by ANECA and the regional agencies.

Under the current framework of the Spanish university system, the responsibility for ensuring the training and competence of faculty lies with the universities. Universities must develop procedures for evaluating faculty performance, as well as for their training and professional development, ensuring their qualifications and teaching competence. To support this evaluation of teaching, ANECA launched the Program to Support the Evaluation of University Faculty Teaching Activity (DOCENTIA) in 2007, in close coordination with regional evaluation agencies.

Currently, about 90% of universities participate in this program at various stages.

The DOCENTIA Program is based on the quality assurance recommendations set forth in the document Criteria and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area, which was approved by the Conference of Ministers who signed the Bologna Declaration in May 2015. Furthermore, the program’s design has taken into account the standards established by internationally recognized organizations in the field of personnel evaluation, such as The Personnel Evaluation Standards, developed by The Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation.

Interested universities must complete the application to participate in the faculty teaching evaluation support program (DOCENTIA) and submit it to ANECA.

General guidelines for the processes

The phases involved in the implementation of the DOCENTIA Program are as follows:

Phase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV Phase V
DESIGN EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF THE DESIGNS MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION CERTIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION MONITORING CERTIFICATION RENEWAL
The university develops the teaching evaluation manual in accordance with the DOCENTIA model and submits it to the relevant Agency for evaluation. The purpose is to verify compliance with the specifications and criteria of the DOCENTIA model. Universities whose manuals have been positively evaluated begin implementation and submit an annual report to the Agency. Las universidades cuyos diseños han sido evaluados positivamente inician la implantación y envían un informe anual a la Agencia. Once the design has been fully implemented and the monitoring phase has been successfully completed, universities may apply for certification of their evaluation procedures. Once implementation has been certified, the university must submit an annual certification monitoring report. Once the certification period has expired, provided the final monitoring report is favorable.
Certification of a program under the DOCENTIA program is valid for six years. During the first five years, the university will submit annual follow-up reports on the certification, and in the sixth year, it will submit a certification renewal report (see Annex A.VI).
ANECA has established a procedure for queries by email: docentia@aneca.es

To support universities in designing their own mechanisms to manage the quality of teaching staff’s teaching activity and encourage their development and recognition, the DOCENTIA procedure refers to the recommendations for ensuring quality at higher education institutions, collected in the document Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (2015) which was approved by the Conference of Ministers signatories of the Bologna Declaration in May 2015. The procedure design has also taken into account the standards set by internationally recognised organisations in the field of personnel evaluation, such as The Personnel Evaluation Standards, developed by The Joint Committee of Standards for Educational Evaluation.

Currently, more than 90% of universities participate in this procedure, throughout its different phases.

Supporting documents and tools

For the evaluation of designs, monitoring of implementation and certification of evaluation procedures, the agencies participating in the DOCENTIA programme have developed the following documentation and tools based on the integration and updating of the previous programme documentation.

Evaluation reports

You can access the results of the DOCENTIA programme for all universities and also the evaluation reports for universities in the ANECA environment at the link below.

Evaluation results and reports

List of entities certified under the program

The table lists the institutions that have obtained a certificate confirming the implementation of their faculty evaluation model in accordance with the DOCENTIA program. The certificate is valid for six years and is renewable. However, during its validity period, the institutions must successfully complete the required annual follow-up activities.

  • RUCT Code Nº UCR Date of Issuance Date of Last Renewal Expiration Date University Certifying Agency
    23  DOC13UAM/03 31/12/2013 08/02/2021  08/02/2027 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA 
    56 DOC13URJC/04 31/12/2013  31/12/2020  31/12/2026  Universidad Rey Juan Carlos  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA 
    68  DOC13UFV/05  31/12/2013  31/12/2013  31/12/2025  Universidad Francisco de Vitoria  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA
    4  DOC14UB/06  15/10/2009/14  01/01/2022  01/01/2028 Universitat de Barcelona  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
    22  DOC14UAB/07 15/10/2009/14 01/01/2022  01/01/2028  Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
    43  DOC14UDG/08 15/10/2009/14 01/01/2022 01/01/2028  Universitat de Girona AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
    44  DOC14UDL/09 15/10/2009/14  01/01/2022 01/01/2028 Universitat de Lleida  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
    24  DOC14UPC/10 15/10/2009/14  01/01/2022 01/01/2028  Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya  AQU Catalunya y ANECA
    39  DOC14UPF/11  15/10/2009/14 01/01/2022 01/01/2028  Universitat Pompeu Fabra  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
    42  DOC14URV/12  15/10/2009/14  01/01/2022 01/01/2028  Universitat Rovira i Virgili  AQU Catalunya y ANECA
    43  DOC15UJI/13 2/10/2015 22/06/2021  22/06/2027  Universitat Jaume I  AVAP y ANECA
    52  DOC16UAN/15  26/07/2016  07/02/2023 07/02/2029  Universidad Antonio de Nebrija  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA 
    62  DOC16UIC/16  22/09/2016  12/07/2023  11/07/2029 Universitat Internacional de Catalunya AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
    41  DOC16URLL/17  22/09/2016  12/07/2023 11/07/2029  Universitat Ramon Llull  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
    2  DOC18UEX/18  17/07/2018   17/07/2024 Universidad de Extremadura ANECA 
    20  DOC19UPV-EHU/19  18/01/2019  24/02/2025  24/02/2031  Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea  UNIBASQ y ANECA 
    29  DOC19UAH/19 13/11/2019    13/11/2025 Universidad de Alcalá  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA
    26  DOC22ULPGC/22 22/02/2022  22/02/2024  22/02/2028  Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ACCUEE y ANECA 
    010  DOC23UCM/23  07/02/2023   07/02/2029  Universidad Complutense de Madrid  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA 
    27 DOCENTIA25UPV/24 27/01/2025   27/01/2031 Universidad Politécnica de Valencia AVAP y ANECA
    054 DOC26UOC/25 18-03-2026   18-03-2032 Universitat Oberta de Catalunya AQU Catalunya and ANECA

Registration of certified entities in the program

The table shows the record of entities that have obtained a certificate for the implementation of their teaching activity assessment model in accordance with the DOCENTIA programme. The certificate has a validity period of six renewable years. Even so, during the period of validity, the planned annual monitoring activities must be passed.

RUCT Code Nº UCR Date of grant Date of last renewal Expiration date Name of the University Certification Agency
23  DOC13UAM/03 31/12/2013 08/02/2021  08/02/2027 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA 
56 DOC13URJC/04 31/12/2013  31/12/2020  31/12/2026  Universidad Rey Juan Carlos  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA 
68  DOC13UFV/05  31/12/2013  31/12/2013  31/12/2025  Universidad Francisco de Vitoria  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA
4  DOC14UB/06  15/10/2009/14  01/01/2022  01/01/2028 Universitat de Barcelona  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
22  DOC14UAB/07 15/10/2009/14 01/01/2022  01/01/2028  Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
43  DOC14UDG/08 15/10/2009/14 01/01/2022 01/01/2028  Universitat de Girona AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
44  DOC14UDL/09 15/10/2009/14  01/01/2022 01/01/2028 Universitat de Lleida  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
24  DOC14UPC/10 15/10/2009/14  01/01/2022 01/01/2028  Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya  AQU Catalunya y ANECA
39  DOC14UPF/11  15/10/2009/14 01/01/2022 01/01/2028  Universitat Pompeu Fabra  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
42  DOC14URV/12  15/10/2009/14  01/01/2022 01/01/2028  Universitat Rovira i Virgili  AQU Catalunya y ANECA
43  DOC15UJI/13 2/10/2015 22/06/2021  22/06/2027  Universitat Jaume I  AVAP y ANECA
52  DOC16UAN/15  26/07/2016  07/02/2023 07/02/2029  Universidad Antonio de Nebrija  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA 
62  DOC16UIC/16  22/09/2016  12/07/2023  11/07/2029 Universitat Internacional de Catalunya AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
41  DOC16URLL/17  22/09/2016  12/07/2023 11/07/2029  Universitat Ramon Llull  AQU Catalunya y ANECA 
2  DOC18UEX/18  17/07/2018   17/07/2024 Universidad de Extremadura ANECA 
20  DOC19UPV-EHU/19  18/01/2019  24/02/2025  24/02/2031  Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea  UNIBASQ y ANECA 
29  DOC19UAH/19 13/11/2019    13/11/2025 Universidad de Alcalá  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA
26  DOC22ULPGC/22 22/02/2022  22/02/2024  22/02/2028  Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ACCUEE y ANECA 
010  DOC23UCM/23  07/02/2023   07/02/2029  Universidad Complutense de Madrid  Fundación Madrid+d y ANECA 
27 DOCENTIA25UPV/24 27/01/2025   27/01/2031 Universidad Politécnica de Valencia AVAP y ANECA

Pautas generales de los procesos

Las universidades interesadas deberán cumplimentar la solicitud de participación en el programa de apoyo a la evaluación docente del profesorado (DOCENTIA) y enviarla a ANECA.

    • Fase I: DISEÑO. La universidad realiza el diseño del manual de evaluación de la actividad docente de acuerdo al modelo DOCENTIA y lo remite a la Agencia correspondiente para su evaluación.
    • Fase II: EVALUACIÓN EXTERNA DE LOS DISEÑOS. Tiene por objeto reconocer el cumplimiento de las especificaciones y criterios del modelo DOCENTIA.
    • Fase III: SEGUIMIENTO DE LA IMPLANTACIÓN. Las universidades cuyos diseños han sido evaluados positivamente inician la implantación y envían un informe anual a la Agencia.
    • Fase IV: CERTIFICACIÓN Y SEGUIMIENTO DE LA CERTIFICACIÓN. Una vez implantado el diseño al completo y superada la fase de seguimiento favorablemente, las universidades podrán optar a la certificación de sus procedimientos de evaluación. Una vez certificada la implantación, la universidad deberá enviar un informe anual de seguimiento de la certificación.
    • Fase V: RENOVACIÓN DE LA CERTIFICACIÓN. Una vez alcanzado el periodo de vigencia de la certificación, si el último informe de seguimiento es favorable.

    La certificación de un modelo bajo el programa DOCENTIA tiene una vigencia de 6 años. Durante los cinco primeros años, la universidad enviará informes anuales de seguimiento de la certificación y, en el sexto año, enviará un informe de renovación de la certificación (ver anexo A.VI).

Process general guidelines

Interested universities must complete the application for participation in the teaching evaluation support programme (DOCENTIA) and send it to ANECA.

The phases that the development of the DOCENTIA Programme includes are the following:

  • Phase I: DESIGN. The university designs the teaching activity evaluation manual according to the DOCENTIA model and sends it to the corresponding Agency for evaluation.
  • Phase II: EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF THE DESIGNS. Its purpose is to recognise compliance with the specifications and criteria of the DOCENTIA model.
  • Phase III: MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION. Universities whose designs have been positively evaluated begin the implementation and send an annual report to the Agency.
  • Phase IV: CERTIFICATION AND MONITORING OF THE CERTIFICATION. Once the design has been fully implemented and the monitoring phase has been successfully completed, universities may opt for certification of their evaluation procedures. Once the implementation has been certified, the university must send an annual certification monitoring report.
  • Phase V: CERTIFICATION RENEWAL. Once the certification validity period has been reached, if the last monitoring report is favourable.

The certification of a model under the DOCENTIA programme is valid for 6 years. During the first five years, the university will send annual certification monitoring reports and, in the sixth year, it will send a certification renewal report (see appendix A.VI). Application for participation in DOCENTIA.

Download Documento Application to DOCENTIA (103,02 kB)

Implications for other programs - DOCENTIA

Certification of the implementation of the teaching evaluation system (DOCENTIA) will have implications for the implementation of other evaluation programs.

    • In the ACADEMIA program. As indicated in the evaluation criteria, positive evaluations of teaching activities accredited by quality programs such as DOCENTIA will be recognized.
    • In the AUDIT program. DOCENTIA certification will exempt the institution from the evaluation of criterion 4 related to academic staff in the certification of the AUDIT program’s implementation.
    • In the Institutional Accreditation of University Centers (AICU) program. DOCENTIA program certification will be taken into account in the evaluation of criterion 4 related to academic staff during the certification of the AUDIT program’s implementation.

Program committees

The DOCENTIA Program has several committees responsible for various aspects of its operations.

  • This committee is responsible for overseeing the Program, and its functions include periodically reviewing the model and procedures established to implement necessary improvements arising from the model’s implementation, as well as addressing the needs of the stakeholders involved. It consists of a chair and a secretary nominated by ANECA, along with representatives from each of the regional agencies involved in the DOCENTIA Program.

  • The mission of this panel is to evaluate the documentation prepared by universities to address the requirements of each phase of the Program. In the case of certification and recertification evaluations, the panel will also conduct on-site visits to verify the proper implementation of the model proposed by the university.

    Name Position
    Néstor Vicente Torres Darias (U. de La Laguna) Chair
    María José Rodríguez Conde (U. de Salamanca) Member
    María José Coperías Aguilar (U. de Valencia) Member
    Amal Guzmán Conesa Erragbaoui (U. de Murcia) Member
    José Antonio Pérez de la Calle (ANECA) Secretary

  • The DOCENTIA Program Evaluation Committee is responsible for carrying out the evaluation functions specific to ANECA's DOCENTIA program:

    Name Position
    José Luis Aznarte Mellado (ANECA) Chair
     Sara María González Betarcor (U. de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) Member 
    Cristina Guilarte Martín-Calero (U. de Valladolid) Member 
    Laura Vozmediano Sanz (U. del País Vasco)   Member
    José Antonio Pérez de la Calle (ANECA)    Secretary

Implications for other programmes

The certification of the implementation of the teaching activity evaluation design (DOCENTIA) will have consequences for the application of other evaluation programmes.

  • In the renewal of degree accreditation. During the DOCENTIA certification process, we reflect on the evaluation of the different aspects of the Teaching Quality Assessment System implemented in the centre. This assessment is reflected in the evaluation report and its content will be taken into account in the process for the renewal of the accreditation of the institution's degrees (ACREDITA ). Specifically, this can be read in the Framework Document: Evaluation for the renewal of accreditation for official University bachelor's and master's degrees (pp.51 -53). In this way, the guidelines of the ACREDITA programme that appear in ANNEX 3 of the framework document of the aforementioned programme will not be subject to evaluation by the commissions during the visit undertaken for the accreditation renewal of the centre's degrees.
  • In the Academia programme. As indicated in the evaluation criteria, applicants must have positive evaluations of teaching activity accredited by quality programmes such as DOCENTIA.
  • In the AUDIT programme. The certification of the DOCENTIA programme will exempt the institution from the evaluation of criterion 4 related to academic staff, in the certification of the implementation of the AUDIT programme.

Program Commissions

The DOCENTIA Program has several committees responsible for various aspects of its operation.

Programme Monitoring Committee

This commission is responsible for overseeing the Programme and its functions include periodically reviewing the model and the established procedure to apply the necessary improvements resulting from the implementation of the model, as well as responding to the demands of the agents involved. It is made up of a presidency and a secretariat proposed by ANECA and a representation of each of the autonomous agencies involved in the DOCENTIA Programme.

Commission for the evaluation of the Design, Monitoring and Certification of the DOCENTIA Programme models

The mission of this panel is to evaluate the documentation that universities prepare to meet the needs of each phase of the Program. In the case of the evaluation of certification and certification renewal, they will also carry out on-site visits to certify the correct implementation of the model proposed by the university.

Name

 Profile
Néstor Vicente Torres Darias (U. de La Laguna) Chairperson
María José Rodríguez Conde (U. de Salamanca)  Academic member
María José Coperías Aguilar (U. de Valencia) Academic member
Amal Guzmán Conesa Erragbaoui (U. de Murcia)  Student member
José Antonio Pérez de la Calle (ANECA)  Secretary

Committee for the evaluation of the AUDIT and DOCENTIA programmes

The Commission for the evaluation of the AUDIT and DOCENTIA programmes is responsible for the evaluation functions of the AUDIT and DOCENTIA programmes of ANECA.

Name Profile
José Luis Aznarte Mellado (ANECA) Chair
Eduardo García Jiménez (U. de Sevilla) Academic member
Cristina Guilarte Martín-Calero (U. de Valladolid) Academic member
Laura Vozmediano Sanz (U. del País Vasco)   Academic member
José Antonio Pérez de la Calle (ANECA)    Secretary