The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in Andorra (AQUA) has published on its website the External Quality Assessment Framework for Andorran Higher Education, a key document that describes the characteristics of each of the external quality assurance processes implemented by the agency, identifying factors such as their purpose, scope, timing, effects, and the elements on which their development is based. 

This framework aligns with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) and enables the Andorran system to harmonize its quality assurance practices with European criteria, while respecting the country’s legal framework. 

These processes apply to both programmes and higher education institutions, and may be ex ante or ex post, depending on when they are implemented. 

The Framework provides a detailed description of the characteristics of each type of assessment. All assessment processes described are mandatory, and higher education institutions are responsible to submit their applications within the legally established deadlines. 

The aim of this document is to clearly and concisely explain the assessment processes to understand how quality and continuous improvement in higher education are ensured in our country.