ACPUA renews three of its five experts on the university quality committee

The president of the Governing Council of the Aragon University Quality and Foresight Agency (ACPUA) has ordered the dismissal of three members of the organization’s Expert Committee and the appointment of three other people to fill their vacancies. The agreement, dated October 23, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of Aragon number 217, of November 10, 2026, in section II (Authorities and Personnel), with the official reference BOA20261110004.

The Expert Committee is the advisory body of the ACPUA, a public law entity created by Law 5/2005, of June 14, on the Organization of the University System of Aragon, and whose statutes were approved by Decree 239/2006, of December 4. Its composition and functions are set out in Article 91 of the law and in Articles 14 and 15 of the statutes, which establish an initial minimum of two Spanish experts of recognized prestige in university quality and accreditation—one of whom must have regular professional activity outside of Aragon—and two foreign experts.

Dismissal of three members at their own request

The first point of the agreement provides for the dismissal, at their own request, of the foreign expert Ms. Fiona Crozier and the national experts Mr. Carlos Martín Montañés and Mr. Máximo Valenciano Arranz. The text expressly thanks the three individuals for the services rendered at the head of the advisory body.

With these departures, the committee remained incomplete, as the regulation requires all vacancies to be filled for the correct functioning of the body.

Three new members and five full vacancies

The second section of the agreement appoints Ms. Marinela Maniaci as a foreign expert and Ms. Joanne Mampaso Desbrow and Mr. José Antonio Yagüe Fabra as national experts. In this way, the Expert Committee once again consists of the five people assigned to it by the Agreement of October 31, 2006, of the Presidency of the Governing Council, which increased the number of members of the body to five to adapt it to the functions that the agency progressively develops.

The appointment and dismissal have been processed according to the procedure provided for in Article 91.3 of Law 5/2005 and in Article 14.4 of the statutes: it is the responsibility of the Presidency of the Governing Council, upon the proposal of the agency’s Management and after hearing the Governing Council. The proposal from the director of the organization was examined in the ordinary session of the Governing Council held on October 7, 2026.

The Councilor signs by virtue of Article 87.2.a)

The agreement is signed by Carmen M.ª Susín Gabarre, Councilor for Education, Science, and Universities, in her capacity as president of the organization’s Governing Council, an attribution conferred upon her by article 87.2.a) of Law 5/2005, which assigns the presidency to the head of the department competent in matters of university education. The document is signed in Zaragoza and orders its publication in the Official Gazette of Aragon in accordance with article 91.3 of the same law.

Evaluation and accreditation of the Aragonese university system

Among the main functions of the ACPUA are the evaluation, certification, and accreditation of teaching leading to official degrees valid throughout the national territory, according to article 85 of Law 5/2005, in addition to the monitoring of official degrees and the prior evaluation of contracted faculty. The renewal of the Committee of Experts comes during an academic year in which the agency has issued favorable reports on the verification of new degrees and modifications to the curricula of Aragonese universities.

The appointment of one foreign expert and two national experts ensures the continuity of the advisory body that provides technical support for those decisions, at a time when accreditation conditions the offering of bachelor’s and master’s degrees and faculty access to contractual positions.

Source: Official Gazette of Aragon, number 217, of November 10, 2026, section II. Authorities and Personnel (official reference: BOA20261110004).