Conference by the Agency's director at the University of Murcia

This Tuesday at the University of Murcia, Mercedes Siles Molina, director of the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation, held the conference 'Perspectives of improvement for the quality assessment systems of the Spanish university system', organised by the Chair of Public Policy. Rector José Luján was in charge of presenting the conference.

The director of ANECA stressed that "quality agencies arise to generate confidence in the system" and "are closely linked to the development of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)". Similarly, Mercedes Siles stressed that quality agencies serve to guarantee European criteria in the construction of university systems. 

Mercedes Siles Molina recalled that "the agency is there to help universities achieve their goals". Among the aspects she highlighted during her speech, Siles spoke of the processes of modernisation and streamlining of procedures that the agency is currently promoting. In addition, during her speech she also highlighted the value of communication and transparency instruments such as the newsletter 'ANECA al día', the video series 'Conversations with ANECA' and 'ANECA responds'.

Finally, Siles highlighted some of the main new regulations in the regulation of the Spanish university system, such as Royal Decree 640/2021 of 27 July on the creation, recognition and authorisation of universities and university centres, and institutional accreditation of university centres; and Royal Decree 822/2021 on the organisation of university education and the procedure for quality assurance.

 At the end of the conference, the audience was able to talk to the director and ask questions. The talk was attended by the director general of Universities and Research of the CARM, María Isabel Fortea, as well as vice-rectors and deans of the UMU. Also present was the president of the Social Council of the UMU and Professor Ismael Crespo, first director of ANECA and current director of the Department of Political Science, Social Anthropology and Public Finance of the University of Murcia.