Under the title “Pre-University Quality: ACPUA Certification,” the various phases of the evaluation process for university practicum sites in the Early Childhood and Elementary Education degree programs, as well as the Master’s in Secondary Education, were presented. This seminar was made possible thanks to close collaboration between the General Directorate of Educational Policy, Planning, Equity, and Training and the Aragon Agency for University Quality and Prospective Studies (ACPUA), both from the Department of Education, Science and Universities of the Government of Aragon.
Following a presentation by Arancha García, Advisor in the Training Service of the aforementioned Department, the director of the university quality agency, Cristina Rodríguez Coarasa, outlined the evaluation competencies in the Autonomous Community of Aragon and the specific programs aimed at students. Subsequently, the internationalization specialist briefly explained the process for obtaining the Diploma and the Seal.
This evaluation process, which began in 2013, certifies the excellence of the institutions that host student interns, highlighting the prestige that this Seal brings to the 466 early childhood, elementary, and secondary schools that currently make up this network. The high satisfaction rates (above 8.5/10) reported by university students following their participation in the practicum were emphasized.
Specifically, this initiative, along with the issuance of the certification and the seal, is a pioneering effort among Spanish quality assurance agencies. Furthermore, this activity is carried out in accordance with European standards (ESG); therefore, ACPUA—as a full member of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education) and an agency registered with the European EQAR Registry—submits this certification activity to international evaluation every 5 years.
More information on this evaluation process is available on the ACPUA website: Training schools accreditation | Agencia de Calidad y Prospectiva Universitaria de Aragón (ACPUA)
