AQUA, following European standards and guidelines (ESG), incorporates external evaluators in all its evaluation processes, individuals with recognized prestige in academic and professional fields, as well as students, considering criteria of independence, objectivity, and absence of conflicts of interest.
According to the standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), external quality assurance processes must be carried out by groups of external evaluators.
The members of the expert panels accredit their technical capacity to act as external evaluators through their experience and training. In addition, AQUA completes their training in those specific aspects necessary for the development of evaluations.
The external evaluators who participate in the external expert panels evaluate the different state qualifications of Andorra (advanced professional diplomas, specialization bachelors, bachelors, masters and doctorates).
For each evaluation process, a specific panel of external evaluators is constituted that incorporates specialists in the specific area of the qualification being evaluated.
PhD academic staff, with academic experience, research and/or teaching experience, and/or management in the field of the evaluation subject.
Students with a higher education degree related to the field of the evaluation subject.
Professionals with extensive experience in the field of knowledge of the evaluation subject.
External evaluatos will be part of a panel to evaluate a specific study plan and will have to:
Participate in a paid training session.
Contribute knowledge and personal experience in a field of knowledge to assess the achievement of the evaluation standards and criteria.
If applicable, visit the facilities of higher education institutions and/or interview with the involved agents, in person or virtually.
Write the expert reports.
Coordinate with the rest of the members of the expert panel, in person or virtually.
The task of the expert panel is punctual, that is, it is carried out for a specific service.
All members of the expert panels will be compensated for their participation in the training session and the meetings held including the individual analysis of the study plan and/or the interviews and visits carried out (if applicable); as a guide:
Evaluations without visits or interviews (approvals of study plans):
Training session.
Individual analysis of the study plan and first discussion meeting and sharing with the rest of the panel members to draft the preliminary expert report.
Second meeting to share the allegations of the Higher Education Institution (if applicable) and drafting of the final expert report.
Evaluations with visits and interviews (renewals of study plans):
Training session
Individual analysis of the study plan, first discussion meeting, and preparation of the questions for the interviews.
Visit and interviews.
Second meeting of sharing and drafting of the preliminary expert report that incorporates the analysis of the evidence, the interviews, and the visit.
Third meeting to share the allegations of the Higher Education Institution (if applicable) and drafting of the final expert report.
Each expert who participates in a panel is entitled to receive the following compensation1 for each action developed within the framework of the evaluation:
Compensation for each of the actions
| Action | Amount |
| Meeting or visits interviews (includes prior analysis of information and subsequent queries or clarifications derived) | €250 |
| Short duration meeting or visit or interviews or derived2 from already paid meetings (includes prior analysis or information and subsequent quieries or clarifications derived) | €50 |
| Training session | €75 |
The training and meetings will be conducted remotely. The visits and interviews can be either in-person or remote.
In case of necessity, AQUA would cover the cost of travel and meals.
1The amounts were approved by the AQUA Steering Committe on November 29, 2022.
2Meetings visits or interviews of approximately 1 hour.
To become a member of an external expert panel, you need to register on the expert profile recruitment form.
When AQUA receives a request to evaluate a study plan, it will contact the evaluators in that thematic area to appoint the panel.
Regulation In Chapter 6 “Working groups or expert panels” of Decree 63/2021, of 24-2-2021, which approves the Regulation of the Quality Agency for Higher Education of Andorra (AQUA), the management of expert panels is regulated.