Andorran Agency Rejects Spanish Business School's Bid to Open Campus

The Andorran Agency for the Quality of Higher Education (AQUA) has issued an unfavourable resolution on the Spanish Business School (SBS) application to establish operations in the country, following an evaluation report from experts.

AQUA concluded that the institution cannot achieve the strategic objectives required under Andorran law and the standards of the European Higher Education Area. The agency based its decision on the experts' assessment, which described an "uneven development" across the project's components and "substantial shortcomings" preventing SBS from meeting the criteria for a university or equivalent higher education body.

While experts noted that the strategic plan outlines suitable elements for governance, strategic planning, and academic organization, they identified major gaps in structural aspects. These included internal inconsistencies, insufficient planning for teaching and research staff, lack of defined research policies and activities, inadequate material resources and support services, and weaknesses in the internal quality assurance system.

The proposal also shifted significantly during the evaluation process, moving from an initial university model to a non-university higher education institution. This change led to the removal or omission of key details from the original plan, particularly on research mission development, complicating a consistent review.

Several areas earned "poorly suited" ratings, such as governance, human resources, internal quality controls, academic programmes, teaching staff, and admissions. Research plans and infrastructure lacked sufficient information.

The resolution can be appealed to AQUA's Appeals Commission within one month.