Latest News
-
7 July 2026
ACCUA launches the Andalusian Universities Quality Forum (ECUA)
The Andalusian Agency for Scientific and University Quality brought together representatives from across the Andalusian University System in order to institutionalise and strengthen dialogue and collaboration
ACCUA brought together the entire Andalusian University System at a working meeting that marked the launch of ECUA, the Andalusian Universities Quality Forum (Espacio para la Calidad de las Universidades Andaluzas). This forum has been established as part of the Agency’s commitment to institutionalise and strengthen dialogue and collaboration with the universities, with the aim of advancing towards the shared objective of improving the quality of the system in accordance with international scientific and academic standards.
Through ECUA, a forum has been established to facilitate communication between the Agency and the universities through a series of scheduled meetings to prepare the calls for applications under the different evaluation and accreditation programmes. ECUA will also facilitate the implementation of joint collaborative projects between the Agency and the entire university system. Specifically, one of the decisions adopted at this first meeting was to begin work on the development of tools to facilitate the exchange of information among all stakeholders within the system, as well as on the implementation of automated and artificial intelligence-assisted procedures to improve quality management.
During the meeting, held on 7 July at the Agency’s headquarters in the city of Córdoba, ACCUA and the universities also discussed preparations for the forthcoming calls under the IMPLANTA Programme, which will facilitate the certification of the internal quality assurance systems of all Andalusian higher education institutions.
Read more ... -
6 July 2026
ACCUA participates in a working session at the University School of Osuna, affiliated with the University of Seville
The Agency's Director, Miguel Aguilar Urbano, discussed issues including faculty assessment, research experience, and the IMPLANTA Programme with representatives of the University School
On Monday, 6 July, the University School of Osuna hosted a working session attended by the Director of the Andalusian Agency for Scientific and University Quality (ACCUA), Miguel Aguilar Urbano; the Director of the Academic Planning Office of the University of Seville, Cristina Ceballos Hernández; and the Director of the Quality Assurance Office for Degree Programmes at the University of Seville, José Manuel Quintero Ariza.
During the meeting, participants addressed a range of strategic issues relevant to the institution's present and future, including research experience (sexenios), faculty assessment, teaching innovation, the IMPLANTA Programme, and other initiatives aimed at the continuous enhancement of university quality.
The Francisco Maldonado University School of Osuna is an official public institution affiliated with the University of Seville. It offers bachelor's degree programmes in Labour Relations and Human Resources, Finance and Accounting, Business Administration and Management, Primary Education, Early Childhood Education, Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Physiotherapy, and Nursing. The School also offers four double bachelor's degree programmes: Finance and Accounting with Labour Relations and Human Resources; Physiotherapy with Physical Activity and Sport Sciences; and Early Childhood Education with Primary Education. At postgraduate level, it offers the Master's Degree in Teacher Training for Compulsory Secondary Education, Upper Secondary Education, Vocational Education and Training, and Language Education.
Read more ... -
3 June 2026
President of ACCUA Governing Board José Carlos Gómez Villamandos passes away
The acting Regional Minister for Universities, Research and Innovation, former Chancellor of the University of Córdoba and former President of CRUE, promoted the effective establishment of ACCUA and was a advocate of its commitment to quality assurance in higher education
The staff of the Andalusian Agency for Scientific and University Quality (ACCUA) express their deep sorrow at the passing of José Carlos Gómez Villamandos, who had served as Chair of its Governing Board since the Agency's establishment in March 2023. They extend their heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Andalusian university community.
The Regional Ministry of Universities, Research and Innovation has outlined Gómez Villamandos’ distinguished career in higher education and science in a public statement. At ACCUA, we wish to highlight his decisive role in the creation and launch of the Agency. As Regional Minister, he promoted the approval of ACCUA’s Statutes and its effective establishment, thereby helping to consolidate an institution designed to strengthen confidence in Andalusia’s university and scientific system.
As Chair of the Governing Board, he maintained a strong commitment to ACCUA’s mission, objectives, and guiding principles. He paid particular attention to safeguarding the independent exercise of its functions and ensuring its alignment with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ESG).
His support proved especially significant during the external review undertaken by the Agency in 2024 for the renewal of its registration on the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), a recognition that is essential for the international standing of the Andalusian university system and for the recognition of the official degrees awarded by its universities.
The close institutional cooperation between the Regional Ministry and ACCUA since the Agency’s inception has enabled significant progress in evaluation and quality assurance activities. These include the accreditation of new university degree programmes, the assessment of research funding calls and research staff recruitment schemes, as well as the evaluation of university teaching staff and the regional performance-related salary supplements for academic and research personnel.
Those of us who are part of ACCUA will remember José Carlos Gómez Villamandos for the role he played in the creation and consolidation of this Agency, but also for his warmth, his institutional vision, and his unwavering commitment to the continuous improvement of higher education and scientific research in Andalusia.
Read more ... -
29 April 2026
ACCUA participates in the 12th Meeting of Quality Assurance Technical Units of Andalusian Universities, organised by the University of Jaén
The Agency’s Director highlighted the importance of building a relationship of mutual trust among institutions working towards the shared goal of assuring the quality of higher education
The Agency for Scientific and University Quality of Andalusia (ACCUA) took part in the 12th Meeting of Quality Technical Units of Andalusian Universities, organised by the University of Jaén and held on 28 and 29 April 2026. The event served as a forum for the exchange of experiences, discussion, and reflection among technical staff from the quality assurance technical units of Andalusian universities, alongside ACCUA personnel and members of university governing teams.
The programme was structured around a series of presentations and panel discussions addressing the main current challenges facing internal and external quality assurance systems in higher education. Miguel Agudo Zamora, Head of the Institutional Accreditation Area at ACCUA, presented an overview of the state of institutional accreditation in Andalusia and the challenges faced by both universities and the Agency in relation to the timelines established by the revised Royal Decree 640/2021, as amended by Royal Decree 905/2025. The morning concluded with a roundtable on quality management in joint programmes, involving academic leaders from several Andalusian universities, which highlighted the complexity and specific challenges associated with this type of provision.
During the afternoon of the first day, sessions focused on practical tools and experiences, including a presentation on the DOCENTIA programme delivered by Esther Megía Serrano, technical staff member at ACCUA. She explained how the programme operates and encouraged universities to adopt it, emphasising its benefits in ensuring the competence and professional development of university teaching staff. The day concluded with a panel on good practices in evaluation, showcasing initiatives related to user experience in libraries and the use of focus groups involving students, academic staff, and employers.
The second day introduced a forward-looking perspective, with particular attention to the impact of artificial intelligence on quality assurance evaluation, as well as the analysis of employability data sources and mechanisms for active engagement with employers. The meeting concluded with a closing address by Miguel Aguilar Urbano, Director of ACCUA, who outlined future perspectives for quality assurance in Andalusia. He emphasised the need to strengthen institutional cooperation and trust among system stakeholders, enabling quality assurance agencies to evolve from a primarily supervisory role towards that of a trusted partner.
Read more ... -
24 April 2026
ACCUA participates in the ENQA Members’ Forum 2026
The central theme of the meeting was the need to strengthen trust among stakeholders in the higher education system
The Agency for Scientific and University Quality of Andalusia (ACCUA) participated in the ENQA Members’ Forum 2026, held from 22 to 24 April in Budapest (Hungary). The event, organised by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB), brought together representatives of quality assurance agencies from across Europe to discuss the main challenges facing higher education systems in a context of ongoing transformation.
ACCUA was represented by its Director, Miguel Aguilar Urbano, who took part in the various plenary sessions and working groups focused on strengthening trust in higher education. Under the theme “Strengthening trust in an evolving higher education landscape”, the forum highlighted the strategic role of quality assurance agencies in promoting continuous improvement, providing reliable information, and fostering dialogue among stakeholders.
The programme included plenary sessions devoted to building trust collectively, developing robust European policies as a foundation for the system, and promoting academic integrity in response to challenges such as academic fraud and so-called “degree mills”—entities that issue unregulated higher education qualifications. Key topics also included transparency and ethical conduct in quality assurance processes, coordination among European bodies—including cooperation between ENQA and EQAR—and the role of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) as a fundamental basis for trust.
The event also featured thematic sessions and poster presentations by European agencies, enabling the exchange of experiences, methodologies, and good practices in areas such as the integration of artificial intelligence into agency work, institutional accreditation, programme evaluation, and international cooperation. ACCUA’s participation in this forum forms part of its internationalisation strategy and reinforces its commitment to the principles of the European Higher Education Area, actively contributing to the consolidation of a higher education system grounded in quality, transparency, and mutual trust.
Read more ...