Creating transparency for mutual recognition in technical teachings through internal quality assurance systems

The European higher education area with its 40 states is an example of diversity of political systems, higher education systems, socio-cultural and educational traditions, languages, aspirations and expectations. In the light of this diversity and variety, technical universities set its face to develop their internal quality assurance systems according to the European standards and the guidelines, focusing more on what should be done than how they should be achieved, but also to different factors and sources. This paper defines and applies a process that, taking into account both standards and particular sources, obtains quality policies adequate to the technical teachings, including engineering accreditation, programs, funding programs or improvement plans. The presentation is showed with a practical case as part of the elaboration of the Quality Manual of a Spanish Engineering school.