School for Doctoral Studies Quality Assurance System (IQAS)
The centers of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) have their own Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS), which reflects their firm commitment to offering quality degrees that include in their operation the mechanisms to ensure continuous evaluation and improvement, both of the degrees offered and of the management system itself.
The center's IQAS assumes the commitment of the UAB (UAB transversal IQAS) and contributes to offering quality degrees that guarantee the achievement of the learning outcomes (skills, knowledge and competences) established in the training programmes, in order to offer undergraduate and postgraduate scientific training based on the needs and expectations of its users, and of society in general.
The IQAS of the School for Doctoral Studies includes all the responsibilities and tasks carried out at the center level, including the specific characteristics, needs and interests of the center and of the studies it programs.
This management system has been designed following the guidelines of the AUDIT program and the quality recommendations of AQU Catalunya (The Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency) and ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education).
A first version of the IQAS was produced in 2015.
In 2020 the first revision of the IQAS was carried out (with data from the academic years 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018) and the processes of the School for Doctoral Studies were approved by the Standing Committee.
In 2023, the second review of the IQAS was carried out (with data from the academic years 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022) and the processes of the School for Doctoral Studies were approved by the Standing Committee.
In December 2024 the School for Doctoral Studies obtains the certification of its IQAS (AQU Report).
In January 2025 the School for Doctoral Studies receives the Resolution of the Ministry as an Accredited Centre. Obtaining this institutional accreditation will enable our centre to accredit all the Doctoral Programmes it offers for a renewable period of five years. AQU Catalunya will issue an accreditation seal for each of the degree programmes it offers and an institutional accreditation seal for the School.
- IQAS Handbook of the School for Doctoral Studies
- IQAS Process map of the School for Doctoral Studies
- Current improvement plan of the School for Doctoral Studies
2021 AQU doctoral cross-sectional report
IQAS Review Reports of the School for Doctoral Studies
- 2020 IQAS annual review report of the School for Doctoral Studies
- 2023 School for Doctoral Studies management report
IQAS Processes in the School for Doctoral Studies
(PE: strategic processes; PC: key processes; PS: support processes)
Strategic processes
- PE01. Definition of policy and quality objectives
- PE02. Definition, deployment and monitoring of the IQAS
- PE03. Creation and design of PhD programmes. Degree map
- PE04. PDI policy and management
- PE05. PTGAS policy and management
Key processes
- PC01. Definition of entry, graduation and access to studies profiles
- PC02. Teaching programming of transversal training activities
- PC03. Admission to the PhD programme and assignment of tutoring and thesis supervision
- PC04. Deposit, defense and assessment of doctoral thesis
- PC05. Promotion and management of industrial doctorates
- PC06. Orientation and support to students
- PC07. Follow-up of PhD students
- PC08. Management of PhD students mobility
- PC09. Monitoring, assessment and improvement of PhD programmes
- PC10. Modification and termination of PhD programmes
- PC11. Accreditation of PhD programmes
- PC12. Document management
Support processes
- PS01. Management of financial and material resources
- PS02. Service Management
- PS03. Academic organization
- PS04. Management of complaints and suggestions
- PS05. User satisfaction
- PS06. Public information and accountability
- PS07. Job placement of PhD students
The UAB in the rankings
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