From 2 to 4 November, the Aragon Agency for Quality Assurance and Strategic Foresight in Higher Education (ACPUA) took part in the Technical Conference of the Spanish Network of University Quality Assurance Agencies (REACU), hosted by AQU Catalunya in Barcelona. The event brought together technical staff from quality assurance agencies across Spain to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and strengthen cooperation in the field of quality assurance in higher education.
The programme addressed several key issues currently shaping the higher education quality assurance landscape, including the simplification of evaluation procedures, the use of artificial intelligence in external review processes, the development of the Joint European Degree Label, institutional accreditation, academic staff accreditation and the assessment of research activity periods (sexenios). Emerging topics such as joint degrees, micro-credentials, and the authorisation of new universities and affiliated centres were also discussed.
ACPUA played an active role in the conference. Isabel Ortega participated as a speaker in the plenary session on quality assurance of official degree programmes, which focused on joint degrees and micro-credentials, while Cristina Rodríguez Coarasa chaired the session devoted to institutional accreditation and strategies aimed at strengthening internal quality assurance systems and reducing evaluation burdens on higher education institutions.
The conference concluded with presentations of the working groups’ findings and the identification of future avenues for collaboration, reinforcing REACU’s role as a key forum for technical exchange and collective reflection on the challenges facing higher education quality assurance.
