REGIONAL CONVENTION ON RECOGNITION OF STUDIES AND DEGREES OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AFRICA

1. REGIONAL CONVENTION ON RECOGNITION OF STUDIES AND DEGREES OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AFRICA Juma SHABANI Secretary of the Regional Convention for Recognition in Africa and Director of the UNESCO Harare Cluster Office, Zimbabwe Peter Okebukola Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission Abuja, Nigeria

2. Five Regional Conventions • Latin America and Caribbean (1974), • Arab States (1978), • Europe (1979), • Africa (1981) –Arusha Convention • Asia and Pacific (1983)

3. Arusha Convention meant to.. • contribute to UNESCO’s efforts towards promotion of international academic mobility and to facilitate implementation of some provisions of the charter of the Organization of African Unity in particular those relating to regional co-operation and training of human resources in order to promote development and application of knowledge, to improve quality of the higher education and to contribute more effectively to the process of sustainable human development.

4. Thrust of Arusha Convention • Gives general guidelines to facilitate the implementation of regional co-operation in the area of recognition of studies and degrees through national, bilateral, sub-regional and regional mechanisms already in place or created for this purpose.

5. The academic recognition covers… • qualifications giving access to higher education • recognition of the partial studies • complete stages of higher studies

6. Major objectives of the Convention • to strengthening African unity and solidarity • to improve effectiveness in the use of higher education resources available in member states • coordination of entrance requirements and admission to higher education; and harmonization of recognition procedures and criteria in order to ensure comparability of curricula, diplomas and degrees used in contracting States; • to promote a continuous curriculum reform in contracting States in order to respond more efficiently to the developmental needs • to promote regional cooperation in the area of recognition of studies and degrees

7. Commitments of Contracting States • Currently, there are 20 contracting States and the Holy See

8. Commitments of non-contracting States • Kenya and South Africa which have not yet ratified the convention have established very effective systems of accreditation, quality assurance and recognition of • At least 19 countries which have not ratified the convention are playing a major role in the implementation of the Arusha convention through sub-regional bodies in charge of recognition like the African and Malagasy Council for Higher education (CAMES), the SADC (Southern Africa Development Community) Technical Committee on Accreditation and Certification and the Inter-University Council for East Africa.

9. Recognition Issues • Academic • Professional • Exchange of information

10. Mechanisms for implementation • national level by national bodies • sub-regional level by sub-regional and bilateral organizations. • regional level by the regional committee in charge of the application of convention

11. New Challenges and Opportunities • challenges call for improvement of mechanisms currently used for recognition of studies and degrees and reinforcement of academic mobility advocacy campaign mainly through publication of an electronic newsletter and news briefs • capacity building on processes and systems of accreditation and recognition through the virtual institute for higher education in Africa • development of an online database for exchange of information on accreditation, quality assurance and recognition of studies and degrees.

12. Priorities for capacity building • national level by national bodies • sub-regional level by sub-regional and bilateral organizations. • regional level by the regional committee in charge of the application of convention

13. Three Capacity-Building Questions • In what areas do we need to build capacity? • What capacity-building strategies do we need to deploy? • What capacity-building projects are the priorities at the national, sub-regional and regional levels?

14. In what areas do we need to build capacity? • How to implement transparent quality assurance and accreditation processes • Assessment of certificates, diplomas and degrees • Management of database on the provisions of the Arusha Convention • Management of foreign students

15. What capacity-building strategies do we need to deploy? • Training of personnel involved in the implementation of provisions of the Convention- on site, off site and online

16. What capacity-building projects are the priorities at the national, sub-regional and regional levels? • Establishment of sub-regional centres for capacity building in higher education quality assurance and accreditation located in existing institutions with strengths in such areas • Establishment of a database on degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded by higher education institutions in Africa • Establishment of networks among QAA agencies and regional HE agencies such as the AA

17. National Projects • Establishment of Desk/Appointment of Focal Person for the implementation of the provisions of the Arusha Convention where this is not already in place • Training of Desk Officers on recognition of certificates and establishment of equivalences • Establishment of national database on certificates, diplomas and degrees offered in higher institutions in the country

18. Thank you