Malta's Education Authority Visits Andorra to Study AQUA Quality Model

A delegation from Malta's Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) visited Andorra on 23 and 24 July to study the AQUA higher education quality agency's model as part of the EU-funded SIQA project under the Erasmus+ programme.

The exchange enabled Malta's team to gain direct insights into AQUA's processes and accumulated experience, with discussions covering governance and institutional independence, evaluation procedures and criteria, expert selection and training, internal quality controls, and relationships with higher education stakeholders. The visit stemmed from MFHEA's transformation efforts following recommendations from its recent European external review.

MFHEA executive director James Perry Maia and higher education, continuous training and validation head Michelle Calleja Gafa took part in the two-day programme. They expressed positive views on the experience-sharing opportunity.

AQUA director Isaac Galobardes described the interest from another European national agency as recognition of Andorra's work. He pointed to AQUA's achievements in its European external evaluation, full ENQA membership, and EQAR inscription, positioning it as a benchmark for small states in applying European quality standards. Galobardes also noted lessons from Malta's adaptation process that Andorra could apply, stressing that commitment to quality and European standards remains essential for the Principat's higher education development.

The Maltese delegates rounded off their stay with an institutional visit to Casa de la Vall, arranged with Consell General support, to learn about Andorra's history and institutions.

The meetings further bolster cooperation among quality agencies in small European states, through an Andorra-led initiative that promotes experience-sharing, identification of common challenges, and enhanced visibility for compact higher education systems within the European Higher Education Area.