This law is a comprehensive approach by Minister of Universities to support quality and flexibility, as well as to ensure alignment with EHEA's agreements and regulations. The latest Law regulating Spanish Universities dates from 2001 and has since been modified through a good number of Royal Decrees as Spanish Universities adapt to Bologna. This draft provides clarity and has been prepared with wide participation from the HE sector. Although it still needs to be ratified, the draft has enough consensus to get through. The time for allegations/consultation ended on Friday.

Key points:

• Greater independence for Universities to create degrees, masters and doctorate programmes, as well as to accept foreign students/validate their previous learning, including non-academic learning. Degrees can have 180/240 credits, Masters can have 60/90/120 credits. The process for creation of courses is also more flexible/shorter. .
• Articulation of double and joint degrees with another Spanish or foreign university is clear
• It regulates validation centres (first ever any law regulates them) in line with the growing number of "centros adscritos" that offer University degrees through validation or franchise. It even introduces the possibility of these centres not having full authorisation by ANECA and states system for quality assurance
• It reduces barriers these centres offering foreign degrees.

Commentary

I approached my first reading of the draft law with very sceptical eyes and felt very positively surprised when I finished reading. Time will tell but it seems a good tool towards internationalisation, modernisation and quality.