This article examines the implementation of virtual audits within the International Quality Labels Program (SIC) by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Traditionally conducted in person, these audits were adapted to a virtual format in response to the health crisis, allowing for the evaluation of 55 programs across universities in Spain and Mexico.
This transition was carried out in collaboration with European agencies, focusing on maintaining the rigor of evaluations despite technical and logistical challenges.
ANECA’s experience with virtualizing these audits revealed both strengths and weaknesses in the process. Issues such as connectivity problems and the difficulty of assessing non-verbal cues were identified, but solutions and best practices were also developed, enabling the successful completion of the evaluations.
Following these audits, a meta-evaluation was conducted, leading to the identification of 54 opportunities for improvement. These have been incorporated into the 2021 calls, thereby optimizing the process for future virtual audits in an educational context that continues to evolve towards hybrid and online modalities.
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How to cite: Bonilla-Calero, A. I., & Serrano-García, M. Ángeles. (2021). Virtual Audits in ANECA’s International Quality Labels Program (SIC) in Times of Pandemic. RIED. Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia, 24(2), 245–261. https://doi.org/10.5944/ried.24.2.29092
