Selection of university teaching staff: The system of accreditation

Abstract

Since 2007, the selection of university teaching staff is based on a system of accreditation that leads, through an evaluation or technical estimation of merits, to the recognition that the candidate meets the quality requirements to take part in the exam, and the exam is where the candidate’s aptitude is determined to hold the post. In the present article we will analyze the legal framework for the accreditation system, the control of technical evaluations by courts of justice, and the prospects for reform. The case law reveals an evolution that has led to an intensification of judicial control. This control applies not only to mere formal issues but also to substantive aspects of assessment. The economic crisis context in which the accreditation system has been implemented has deeply affected university teaching staff. Budgetary limits imposed on competition calls exclude a large number of accredited staff. We will also analyze the proposals for regulatory reform that involve some modifications of the system, but that do not solve the situation of the lack of competition calls for the access to university teaching posts.