APQN Workshop(Bangkok, 2 March 2010)

Internationalizing Quality assurance: theimportance of information sharing
Stamenka Uvalić-Trumbić
UNESCO Division of Higher Education

LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR ACADEMIC
MOBILITY: CONVENTIONS (December 1, 2009)

RegionSecretariat

AdoptedNumber ofparties

SIDS /UCSIS

Last
ratification

Last
meeting

Africa

UNESCO
Dakar

Arusha1981

22

Seychelles
andHoly See

2008

Addis
Ababa,
Sept 2009

Arab

UNESCO
BeirutParis 1978

14

None

1991

Beirut,March 2006

Asia & the Pacific

UNESCO
Bangkok

Bangkok
1983

21

Maldives
andHoly See2008

Manila, May2009

LAC

IESALCCaracas

Mexico1974

19

Cuba,Suriname,andHoly See

2007

Caracas,October
2006

MED

UNESCO
Paris

Nice 1976

12

Malta andHoly See

2007

Split 2005

EuropeUNESCO/CEPES &Council ofEurope

Lisbon
1997

47

Malta andHoly See2008

Bucharest,
June 2007

The Lisbon Convention

1997

General Agreement on Trade inServices (GATS)

UNESCO and CBHEUS/OECD
2002
Forum onGATS‘Trade, Education and the GATS:
What's In, What's Out, What's All theFuss About?'
Pierre Sauvé (OECD)

Marjorie Peace Lenn“brought the notionsof quality assurance,
accreditation andqualifications
recognition to the topof the trade ineducation agenda”
Dirk van Damme

Japan“the importance ofUNESCO’s role in theglobal debate”

NorwayNorway- See trade and education in a common andwider perspective- Form a coalition of dedicated countries- OECD and UNESCO to work together

Japan• The importance of UNESCO• Quality assurance andqualifications recognition• Information network for CBHEUNESCO and CBHE2002

Why UNESCO?
GLOBAL OUTREACH THROUGH:
Standard-Setting :• UNESCO Conventions for the• Recognition of Degrees in Higher Education;• 2005 Guidelines for Quality Provision in CBHE
Capacity-Building:• UNESCO Global Forum on QA, Accreditation andthe Recognition of Qualification (2002; 2004; 2007)• UNESCO-World Bank Global Initiative GIQAC
Clearinghouse• Study Abroad• Portal on HEIs
• Effective International Practices for Degree MillsUNESCO’s work
GLOBAL OUTREACH THROUGH:• UNESCO Global Forum on QA,Accreditation and the Recognition ofQualification (2002; 2004; 2007)• UNESCO’s 6 recognition conventions• UNESCO-World Bank Global Initiative
GIQAC

Guidelines for quality
provision in cross-borderhigher education
UNESCO and OECDWHY THE GUIDELINES?
• Growth of cross-border higher education:
distance education, franchises, branchcampuses;• GATS and Higher Education• Need to provide an EDUCATIONAL
response to maximize opportunities,
minimize risks

GUIDELINES FOR QUALITY IN
CROSS-BORDER HIGHEREDUCATION
The Process• Drafting group: 3 meetings 2004-2005• Multiple stakeholder input: 94
governments, quality assurance
Recommendations toagencies, recognition and student bodies,
6 Stakeholders:•Governments
institutions, NGOs
•Higher Ed. Institutions • Written consultations•Students Bodies• Political support : OECD – UNESCO•QAA Bodies•Academic Rec. Bodies • Launch end 2005
•Professional Bodies;• Report back 2007

The scope of the Guidelines• Voluntary and non-binding BUT• Stamp of two IGOs: UNESCO and the OECD
• Addressing Governments but recognizing therole of NGOs and Student Organizations.

GUIDELINES FOR QUALITY IN CROSSBORDER HIGHER EDUCATIONThe Principles• Responsibility for partnerships, sharing,dialogue, mutual trust and respect between
sending and receiving countries
Recommendations to
6 Stakeholders:•Governments•Higher Ed. Institutions•Students Bodies•QAA Bodies•Academic Rec. Bodies•Professional Bodies;• Recognition of national authority and of thediversity of systems• Recognition of importance of international
collaboration and exchange, internally,
externally• Access to transparent and reliable
information

MAIN UNDERLYING MESSAGES• The quality of cross-border higher
education is a shared responsibility
between importing and exporting
countries

Recommendations to6 Stakeholders:•Governments•Higher Ed. Institutions•Students Bodies•QAA Bodies•Academic Rec. Bodies•Professional Bodies;– Quality assurance should cover cross-bordereducation in all its forms (student, academic,programme and institution mobility)– Stakeholders should collaborate
internationally to enhance the transparency
about the quality of HE and about HEsystems– Cross-border delivery should have the samequality as home delivery

MAIN IMPLICATIONS FORQUALITY ASSURANCE• Quality assurance and Recognition– have a comprehensive quality assurance system,
internal or external– have fair mechanisms for recognition ofqualifications

Recommendations to6 Stakeholders:•Governments•Higher Ed. Institutions•Students Bodies•QAA Bodies•Academic Rec. Bodies•Professional Bodies;• Transparency and accessibility ofinformation– be transparent about what you do and makethe relevant information accessible
internationally• Collaboration– Strengthen your collaboration with otherstakeholders nationally, regionally andinternationallyCapacity Building –Some Existing Tools

Capacity building: Guide toGATS• Provides basic information on
principles and rules of GATS;• Discusses major issues related tothe HE sector in the context of theapplication of new multilateral
trade rules;• Analyses challenges government
officials and academic leaders
face related to regulation of
CBHE in a trade environment

Information on the Portal

Background• This Portal is a follow up to theUNESCO/OECD Guidelines for Quality
Provision in Cross-border HigherEducation• Targets students, employers, and otherinterested parties (e.g. credentialevaluators)

Overview of the Portal Project:
Role of participating countries• Country information on this portal is managed
and updated by relevant authorities inparticipating countries.
• Pilot Phase: January 2006 to January 2008

Information on the Portal :Country Template
•
•
•
••
•
••
•
•

Institutions recognized by competent authorities
Higher education programmes recognized by competentauthorities
Information for students planning to study in the country
Information on the higher education system
Foreign credential assessment and recognition
Information on financial assistance opportunities
Cross-border higher education
National Information Centre
Other information sources
Definition of key terms

Joining the Portal
2 main documents• A letter confirming the interest of theMember State in participating in theUNESCO Portal Project• The return of the signed 'Designation of a
National Focal Point' form

National Focal Point (NFP)• Validating information on the country page
• Verification of the exactitude andpertinence of the resources• Providing/updating the title and shortdescription to be provided for each list

National Focal Point• Carrying out liaison and follow up actionsin the country with regard to the project;• Representing your country at SteeringGroup Meetings

Getting your country page up• Receipt of your country's NFP form
• Sending of the draft form for informationon country resources• Review of the information, ensuring
technical specifications• Uploading a draft page, and asking forvalidation

Getting your country page up• NFP informs of any changes• UNESCO makes change, asks forvalidation• Validation received, page goes online

Capacity Building• Development of national pages• Translation of national pages• Awareness Raising Workshops

Current Participating Countries
February 2010•••
••••
•
•••
•
••

Argentina
Armenia
Australia
BelarusBelgium
Bulgaria
CanadaChina
Costa Rica
CyprusCuba
Croatia
Egypt
Ireland

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

JamaicaJapan
Kenya
LatviaLiechtenstein
Lithuania
MexicoMalaysia
Namibia
New ZealandNigeria
NorwayPakistan
Paraguay


Saudi Arabia
SwedenThailand
Trinidad andTobago
United Kingdom
United States ofAmericaCountries being processed
February 2010•
••••
•••
•

AustriaChile
Colombia
Dominican Republic
GuyanaIndia
Indonesia
IranKazakhstan

••
•
•
•

PanamaSt Vincent and theGrenadines
Switzerland
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

Join the Portal!

• Contact:– Zeynep VAROGLUUNESCO Division of Higher Education
z.varoglu@unesco.org

BEWARE

DEGREE MILLS & BOGUS COLLEGESWHY DEGREE MILLS?
• High demand for Higher Education

WHY DEGREE MILLS?

• More study abroad

WHY DEGREE MILLS?

• The Internet

BEWARE

Our Campus

Bogus Institutions
misusing UNESCO’s name•All levels of abuse and use. The claims may range
from 100% false to not quite untrue• A multitude of modes:– all modes are about establishing a false connection oremphasizing a real link with UNESCO to give theimpression of being an internationally recognizedprovider of higher education– One institution may use 1-3 different modes– Institutions change rapidly

ACADEMIC FRAUDFor telephone or postal verification
accreditation, you may contact:
UNESCO Division of Higher Education- Tel: (+33.1) 45681106

¾Support for UNESCOsframework¾Links to UNESCODirect links toUNESCO&World Health Org

EAA and its accredited institutions accept and adopt"The Recommendations of the World Conference on
Higher Education, sponsored by UNESCO", andthe applicable sections of the "UNESCO Guidelines for
Quality Provision in Cross-Border Higher Education"

Part 1
Intergovernmental organizations:- Combating degree mills by putting inplace structures and processes tosupport the internationalization of highereducation.
- Helping students find their way aroundin this new world

Part 2
What can you do about degree mills?
- No magic bullet- Action on various fronts

The World Conference on Higher Education
Paris - July 2009

WCHECommuniqué

WCHECommuniqué
Quality AssuranceAPQN Workshop(Bangkok, 2 March 2010)

THANK YOU!
Stamenka Uvalić-Trumbić(s.uvalic-trumbic@unesco.org)