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International cooperation in recognition and quality assurance

International cooperation in recognition and quality assurance. What can be learned from higher education ? By Michaela Martin. Structure of this presentation. Global trends in higher education New forms of mobility Quality assurance as a global movement International cooperation in QA

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International cooperation in recognition and quality assurance

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  1. International cooperation in recognition and quality assurance What can be learned from higher education ? By Michaela Martin

  2. Structure of this presentation • Global trends in higher education • New forms of mobility • Quality assurance as a global movement • International cooperation in QA • Bologna process as model for regional cooperation

  3. 1.Global trends in higher education • Increasing student numbers • Diversification of higher education provision • Privatisation • Growing levels of international mobility • Of students • Of programmes • Of institutions

  4. Growth of tertiary students worldwide since 1991

  5. Mobility of students 1975 to 2004 Source: UNESCO, 2006

  6. Privatization • Public provision does not meet demand • Asia : some countries more than 80 % of enrolments in private sector • Africa : private provision is expanding rapidly • Private higher education market ($300 billion world wide on current expenditure alone (IFC) • Growth of cross-border higher education

  7. New forms of mobility (1) • Programme mobility • Joint study programmes • Franchized programmes • Double degree • Articulation • Validation

  8. New forms of mobility (2) • Institutional • Branch campuses • Independent institutions • Acquisition/mergers • Affiliation/networks • Virtual university

  9. The consequence is : more complex and diversified higher education systems loss of control of public authorities over parts of the HE system more potential for academic fraud credential evaluation more complex increasing need for international collaboration in recognition and quality assurance

  10. Within this context …. Some 70 countries worldwide have put in place external quality assurance mechanisms They respond to domestic concerns needs while trying to establish international comparability Major concern also with strengthening internal quality assurance mechanisms

  11. EQA covers different realities • Quality audit • Quality assessment • Accreditation Concepts are loosely used by agencies in reality Accreditation is becoming the most common mechanism of EQA

  12. Justification for accreditation • Maintain required standards • Guarantee qualifications awarded • Mechanism for quality enhancement • Readability of higher education provision • Portability of credentials (nat/int)

  13. Convergence of accreditation process • Basic process elements • Self-study • Site visit/peer review • Reporting thorough, however time-consuming and costly process

  14. Areas for assessment • Integrity and mission • Governance and management • Human resources • Learning resources and infrastructure • Financial management • Student profile and support services • Curricular aspects • Teaching-learning and evaluation • Research, consultancy and extension • Internal Quality assurance system

  15. Explaining convergence Basic model for accreditation process stems from the US experience Importance of international and regional networks International co-operation and aid

  16. International collaboration in quality assurance • As part of its work in recognition, UNESCO has established Global Forum on QA in 2003 • INQAAHE • Regional networks : ENQA, RIACES, APQN, CANTATE, AfriQua, etc • Exchange of experience • Codes of good practices for QA process • Capacity development (GIQAC)

  17. Ex : European region • Context : European Integration within the European Union • Bologna process : creation of a European HE space by 2015 • Common qualifications structure • ECTS system • Facilitate student mobility • Based on student workload and LOs • 60 credits per year equivalent to 1500 to 1800 hours

  18. Ex European region • Diploma supplement • Standardized description of nature, level, context content and status of a study programme • Including information on qualification holder, qualification, national higher education system • Quality assurance : one of the pillars of cooperation • ENQA : Guidelines for QA • Creation of a register of quality assurance agencies

  19. Ex : Africa • Africa is following the Bologna process • WAEMU and CAEMC (CEMAC) adopted directives to adopt bachelors-master’s-PhD structure • SADECC region has decided to establish a regional qualifications framework • African Union intends the creation of an African higher education space through harmonization of qualification structure • Strengthening of quality assurance systems (AfriQua) • Vision : creation of an African Qualifications Framework

  20. Conclusions • Increased levels of student mobility push the need for strengthened mechanisms of recognition of HE credentials • Cross-border higher education creates strong pressure for the development of national QA systems • Regional integration processes provide a political framework for co-operation on QA and recognition • UNESCO plays an important role at the global level

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