Spain’s AP: ANECA (Agencia Nacional de Evaluacion de la Calidad y Acreditación) ( National Agency for Quality and Accreditation Evaluation )

Summary ANECA is a Foundation Object: –University courses (official titles) –Special titles –University activities Characteristics: –Contribute to the Spanish University system quality –No difference between distance education and presential one –Under experimentation

Description Foundation created (19th July 2000) by Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports Staff: Chancellor of Education, nine staff members from ministries and eight from University rectors and members Organs: It’s composed by 17 members into four parts: –general management, –general coordination, –institutions management, –programs management For distance education, a group of 7 experts

Analysis ANECA provides certification and accreditation of official Spanish titles assuring the quality of the teaching plan. The accreditation program is based on a review that implies passing the quality criteria and standards for each official Spanish title. Multilateral and bilateral relationships with European Institutions

Accreditation Process The main objective is the offcial titles. ANECA don’t distinguish between Distance education and no-distance education. Although they are concious that it’s necessary an adaptation regarding the initial requirements (there’re an experts group to evaluate the process for distance education) It’s under experimentation. First results: on June/July 2004

Application contents Process: –University fulfilled an application form for each title to be evaluated –ANECA reviewed the forms and selected some ones –Applicants signed a contract Facts: –The application submission period finished on July, –The contracts were signed on September 2003

Accreditation Process Criteria: –Pilot projects covering five broad fields of scientific and technical university courses –The process is currently being tested. –It’s based on the Institutional Evaluation Programme of ANECA with the same criteria and indicators

Steps Auto-evaluation –Description and evaluation of the current situation for each official title regarding established criteria External evaluation –External Evaluators Committee reviews Auto evaluation report and if it fitness with the unit processes, it prepares the external evaluation report with recommendations and proposals. –The the evaluated unit proposes and enhancement plan to address auto evaluation report and external evaluation Final report –Based on Auto-evaluation report, external evaluation report, enhancement plan and transversal report.

Facts No standard have been defined yet No accreditations till now. The first one will start on September 2004 On 2010 accreditation will become a legal requirement for official titles in Spanish Universities

Conclusions ANECA is the only legally authorised body with competences to accreditate official degrees It’s based on the CHEA model from a more pragmatic point of view. Currently is begin refined with the pilot courses and it will start at the end of this year It’s not a quality stamp but establishes a minimum requirements criteria to assure quality It’s a good initiative but there're no results yet From January 2010 only accredited Universities will offer official degrees.