Concòrdia files amendment seeking full rejection of Higher Education Act reform

Concòrdia has filed an amendment seeking the full rejection of the bill to reform the Higher Education Act. The party considers the Government’s proposal insufficient in light of the challenges facing the sector and regrets that it is limited to making minor changes to legislation that should define the future of Andorra’s university system.

According to Concòrdia, the legislative reform does not sufficiently develop the National Higher Education Strategy, which should establish long-term priorities and guide the sector’s evolution.

The parliamentary group argues that this strategy should determine what university model Andorra intends to promote and what role higher education should play in the country’s economic and social development.

Calls for regulations governing new universities

The party also criticises the bill for failing to introduce specific regulations for newly established universities and higher education institutions. Concòrdia believes that authorisation for these institutions should be linked to the Principality’s needs and to a previously defined model.

The group warns that the number of private universities operating in Andorra has increased significantly in recent years, an expansion it attributes to the absence of a specific regulatory framework.

A commitment to quality and specialisation

According to the party, this growth could affect Andorra’s international reputation as a higher education destination unless it is accompanied by mechanisms guaranteeing academic quality, the added value of courses and the institutions’ connection to the country.

Concòrdia is calling for a more far-reaching reform that replaces growth based on the number of institutions and qualifications with a clear commitment to quality, specialisation and consistency with Andorra’s needs.