Registry of International Accreditation Organizations

About the Organization

AQU Catalunya is an independent public agency responsible for external quality evaluation and accreditation of higher education in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain. Established in 1996, it is considered one of the earliest regional quality assurance institutions in Europe. The Agency operates under the authority of the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya) while adhering to the principle of institutional independence in decision-making.

AQU Catalunya evaluates higher education institutions and educational programs through institutional and programmatic accreditation, external quality evaluation, assessment of faculty performance, and audits of internal quality assurance systems. The Agency operates in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) and applies a peer-review mechanism with the involvement of international experts. This approach ensures transparency, accountability, and international comparability.

AQU Catalunya is an internationally recognized quality assurance agency and actively participates in European quality networks (including membership in ENQA and inclusion in the EQAR register). Accordingly, its accreditation decisions are considered reliable and transferable within the European Higher Education Area. The Agency’s activities make a significant contribution to the competitiveness of Catalonia’s higher education system, academic mobility, and the international recognition of qualifications.

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