The Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering of Tecnun is in luck, as it has recently been recognized with the EURACE International Quality Seal and thus becomes the only master's degree in Biomedical Engineering in Spain to have received this seal. The director of the Master, Carlos Ortiz de Solorzano, values this recognition very positively, since "it recognizes the quality of the degree in Spain and abroad and ensures that the knowledge and practical skills of the graduates reach international standards, facilitating their mobility and employment rate at international level".

Why has the BIO master's degree at Tecnun been awarded the EURACE seal?

The BIO master's degree, while applying for the renewal of its accreditation by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and accreditation (National Agency for Assessment of Quality and Accreditation ) at the end of 2017, also applied through it for the award of the EURACE International Quality Seal.

What does this recognition mean?

Obtaining this degree guarantees that the master's degree meets demanding quality criteria agreed by international agencies and, more importantly, recognized by employers in Europe. It also recognizes the quality of the degree in Spain and abroad and ensures that the knowledge and practical skills of graduates meet international standards, facilitating their mobility and employment rate internationally. 

Is it usual for postgraduates to receive this seal?

This is possible, because any Degree or master's degree in engineering can be received. In fact, all the master's degree programs of Tecnun already have this seal. However, the reality is that today the BIO master's degree is the only master's degree in Biomedical Engineering in Spain that has received this seal.

What requirements does a master's degree have to comply with to achieve this seal?

The evaluators carry out an exhaustive analysis of many elements: the needs of employers and how the master's degree meets them, the implementation and clarity of the evaluation methods, the resources available (staff academic and administrative), compliance with the requirements of entrance and admission, the organization, etc. issue In all these sections, a large number of related aspects are evaluated in detail, ensuring that they reach the level of excellence required by the international standards on which the seal is based. 

What does it mean for you as director of the master's degree to have achieved this distinction?

Before answering, I think it is fair to give credit to Maite Mujika, director of the master's degree before my incorporation as director in 2017, since to a large extent the evaluation of the master's degree that has led to the achievement of the seal is based on the analysis of what was done during the years in which she exercised the direction of the master's degree in a very efficient way. Likewise, it is also important to thank the entire academic staff and the administration staff who are mainly responsible for the quality of the master's degree. Finally, I think it is also important to acknowledge the current and former directors of Tecnun and to Idoia Salazar, head of Quality Assurance, for having achieved that all the degrees issued by Tecnun have this recognition. For my part, the feeling is one of gratitude for having received such a good bequest and of responsibility so that as far as possible the master's degree is more attractive and more effective in terms of training and employability of students each year.