Andorran Government Backs Bill to Raise AQUA Higher Education Fees

The Andorran government has issued a positive opinion on a parliamentary bill to raise fees charged by the Agència de Qualitat de l’Ensenyament Superior d’Andorra (AQUA), citing the need to bolster the agency's resources amid growing demand.

All parliamentary groups jointly submitted the proposal on 8 April, seeking to amend Law 23/2021 on AQUA fees. The executive described the planned increases as "significant and justified," linking them to a sustained rise in the agency's workload. This stems primarily from the expansion of Andorra's higher education system, including the emergence of new private universities.

In its assessment, published on Monday in the Bulletin of the Consell General, the government noted that the higher volume of evaluations has required adjusting both internal and external resources to match the new reality. The changes would update fees for AQUA's accreditation and evaluation services, such as:

- €6,000 for evaluating and accrediting a study programme; - €8,000 for renewing a programme's accreditation; - €12,000 for assessing strategic plans to create and implement private universities or higher education institutions, and for institutional accreditation.

Proponents argue these hikes will ensure AQUA's financial sustainability, allowing it to maintain rigorous standards. The government endorsed the measure, praising the cross-party consensus as evidence of political unity. It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding quality in higher education, which it views as vital for the credibility, trust, and prestige of Andorra's university system.