Multi-level governance in quality assurance in Spain: the case of the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA)

Abstract

[EN] This paper aims to examine the case of quality assurance in Spain, disentangling the evolution of the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), that made its way towards consolidation in a context characterized by deep policy transformations and by multiple actors involved. The case of ANECA and the Spanish context is particularly interesting because of the previous existence of several regional agencies before ANECA was created. These multilevel dynamics in quality assurance evolved over the years towards significant levels of coordination, but were not exempt of multiple conflicts. This case may contribute to assessing a gap in the literature: clarifying the role of quality agencies in implementing contested policy changes originated at the European level, identifying at the same time the complexities of multi-level governance.