The Aragon Agency for Quality Assurance and Strategic Foresight in Higher Education, ACPUA, is the official agency for the evaluation of higher education in the Autonomous Community of Aragon (Spain). It was created in 2005 by Law 5/2005, of June 14, on the Regulation of the University System of Aragon. It has the aim of "promoting the quality of the University System of Aragon favouring its relationship with the business and labour world, and with the whole of the society." Through its activity, it promotes and disseminates a quality culture in the field of higher education in Aragon, fostering "the exchange of experiences with other university systems".
Legal Nature
Its legal status is that of an autonomous body (public law entity), with own legal personality and its own assets and capacity to attain its objectives. It performs its functions objectively, impartially and independently, recognised and guaranteed by law. It is governed by its own bylaws, approved in 2006 (Estatutos, Decree 239/2006, of 4th December).
Main function
ACPUA has the aim of guaranteeing and promoting the quality of the university system of Aragon. Therefore, the agency performs technical evaluation, certification and accreditation tasks. This public service activity is completed with study and foresight tasks and activities to promote a quality educational culture of higher education in Aragon.
The ACPUA can by law provide its evaluation services outside the Autonomous Community of Aragon as well as in the private sector. The ACPUA is listed on the EQAR and can carry out programmes and institutional evaluation under the existing legislation.
Mission and Vision
Mission
The mission of the Aragon Agency for Quality Assurance and Strategic Foresight in Higher Education - ACPUA is to assure and promote the quality of the University System of Aragon. Part of this aim is the development of useful links between the university, the social-productive areas, the institutional decision-making bodies and the society of Aragon as a whole, as well as the promotion of the exchange of experience, not only with other national and international university systems but also with other educational levels (secondary education, vocational training, etc.).
In order to achieve this mission, the ACPUA mainly develops technical quality assurance activities, such as evaluation, assessment, certification and accreditation tasks. This public service is complemented with prospective and research tasks, as well as to promoting activities to strengthen a culture in higher education within the region.
Vision
Our vision at the ACPUA is to be an agile and efficient agency, indispensable in Aragon thanks to the professsionalism and good operation of its activity. By contributing with the quality assurance added value, we want to be an essential reference for all institutions and agents with education responsibilities in the region. Furthermore, the ACPUA works towards the concept of an open regional entity: been a qualified agency outside Aragon and a recognized actor within the European Higher Education Area.
To achieve this vision, the ACPUA must abide in all its procedures and processes by the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG). With transparency, independence of judgement and commitment towards accountability we sustain reflection, ongoing enhancement and creativity.
Values
- Independence, autonomy and objectivity.
- Social responsibility and transparency assuring public access to reliable, timely, clear and precise information.
- The establishment of internal and external quality assurance mechanisms for the continuous improvement of the processes in order to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency.
- The development of relations with all the groups of interest (university, administration, business world, society of Aragón) by promoting dialogue to ensure their satisfaction.
- The promotion of the students participation in the Agency's activity and in the quality assurance processes.
- The cooperation with agencies and national and international higher education networks.
- The commitment to a high-quality work on behalf of the Agency's staff and its collaborators, associated to professionalism and honesty.
- Teamwork based on respect and cooperation to achieve the best work environment.
The team
Management - acpua@aragon.es
Cristina Rodríguez Coarasa
Director, 976 713 395, acpua@aragon.es
Raquel Gadea Mallada.
Executive Assistant, 976 713 395, rgadea@aragon.es
Technical Area - areatecnica.acpua@aragon.es
Ana Isabel Ortega Pardos
Quality Assurance Coordinator, 976 713 375, aiortegap@aragon.es
Mariano Aspas Aspas
Teaching Quality Assurance Technician, 976 713 398, maspasa@aragon.es
Belén Serrano Valenzuela
International Quality Assurance Technician, 976 713 311, bserranov@aragon.es
Diana Monaj León
Foresight Quality Assurance Technician, 976 713 399, dmonaj@aragon.es
Miriam Alda Sebastián
Administrative Assistant, 976 713 386, maldas@aragon.es
Administration Area - administracion.acpua@aragon.es
Rocío Pueyo Chaparro;
Head of Administration, 976 713 386, rpueyoc@aragon.es
Belén Samperiz Vidal
Administrative, 976 713 394, mbsamperizv@aragon.es
