2nd Global Forum on International Quality Assurance,
Accreditation and the Recognition of Qualifications,
UNESCO, Paris, 28-29 June 2004
Implementation of the Action Plan and
New Challenges
Stamenka Uvalic-Trumbic
(UNESCO)
Context and Outcomes
of 1st Global Forum
1st Global Forum launched as a response to ethical challenges
facing higher education in an era of globalization. Main
outcomes:
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Platform for exchange for at least four years;
Building bridges between education and trade;
Promote research to inspire policy developments;
Action Plan: standard-setting; capacity-building and
clearinghouse activities
First Global Forum: Action Plan
(17 – 18 October 2002)
Standard-setting activities:
 Initiate revision of conventions on the recognition of studies to respond
to new challenges: linking recognition and QA and responding to TNE
 Promote research on role of new providers in widening access to
higher education and on the concept of higher education as a public
responsibility;
 Develop guiding principles
Capacity-building:
 Develop regional and national frameworks for quality assurance;
 Informed decision-making for stakeholders in the education process
Clearinghouse:
 Develop information tools for students;
 Study Abroad data-base and publications;
 Other data-bases to promote consumer protection;
New developments:
within UNESCO
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UNESCO/Norway Forum on ‘Globalization and Higher Education:
Implications for North-South Dialogue’ (Oslo, May 2003) – higher
education at the centre of sustainable development;
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WCHE+5 (Paris, June 2003) reasserted the 1998 Declaration and put
forward educational agreements as relevant for globalization;
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32nd General Conference of UNESCO (Paris, October 2003):
resolution giving UNESCO a stronger mandate in HE;
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Position Paper on Higher Education and Globalization: UN and
UNESCO principles;
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UNESCO-OECD Guidelines on Quality Provision in Cross-border
Higher Education: protection of learners; transparency of
qualifications; access to the labour market; networking between QAA
agencies; data-base of accredited HE institutions;
New developments:
International community
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World Bank: Strategy for Capacity-building in East Asia and the Pacific (May
2004);
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OECD/Norway Forum on (Trondheim, November 2003): initiative for joint
guidelines UNESCO-OECD on quality in cross-border HE;
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Berlin Communique, September 2003
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Education International: HE and Research Seminar in Dakar, Senegal
(November 2003): Draft Guidelines for TNE;
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INQAAHE, Dublin April 2003; CHEA: on-going activities, International
Commission 2003 and 2004;
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Statement on Quality IAU, AUCC, ACE and CHEA: principles to guide
effective and responsible provision of TNE;
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AAU (April 2004): Accra Declaration on GATS and the internationalization of
HE in Africa
Action Plan: implementation
Standard-setting: Revision of Conventions
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Africa: link to developmental issues (NEPAD); wider coverage
of institutions, especially DE; assessing learning outcomes;
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Arab States: focus on professional recognition; private
providers; increase the competitiveness of the Arab Higher
Education area;
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Asia and the Pacific: HE both a commodity and a public good;
convention general policy framework for each country to
develop their own systems, tools and mechanisms for QR and
QA;
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Common elements: principles; new types of provision;
information and networking;
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Calendar: by 33rd session of UNESCO General Conference
process started
Action Plan: implementation
Research
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UNESCO-COL “Role of TNE Private and for-profit provision in
meeting global demand for Tertiary Education” Jamaica,
Bangladesh, Malaysia and Bulgaria: Mapping Regulation and
Impact
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IIEP case studies: Philippines, South Africa, Kenya, Chile,
Argentina, Oman and Russia mapping, regulation and impact
of TNE
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UNESCO Forum on HE, Knowledge and Research
Action Plan: implementation
Capacity Building
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EU-funded TEMPUS-MEDA pilot project – assistance for
establishing national centres for recognition and quality
assurance in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia
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Workshops: Beijing, China; Accra, Ghana.
Clearinghouse
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32nd Study Abroad:
- 3,000 opportunities for study abroad in 147 countries and
territories;
- innovations: information tools for students; distance
education; information on recognition;
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Knowledge Base for Distance Education Decision-Makers in
Africa, Asia and the Pacific and CIS countries consisting of
web-based information resources and data-bases, forums,
mailing lists and advisory committees
2nd Global Forum:
Context
UNESCO figures presented in the Synthesis Report (WCHE+5):
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Massive increase in demand for HE with a view to development: 4050% enrolment rates needed; some countries below 5%
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Demographic expansion: developing countries population 7 – 8 billion
people in 2025
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Growth of student enrolments; historic threshold of 100 million
students worldwide has been crossed, 125 million before 2020.
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Access and equity: sustainable development of higher education
systems
2nd Global Forum:
Context
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1st Global Forum: higher education and commercialization;
2nd Global Forum Widening Access to Quality Higher
Education: for minorities, ICT-assisted; lifelong learning
2nd Global Forum particular focus: capacity-building;
UNESCO evaluation of CB activities: crucial elements:
– Needs assessment;
– Ownership of programme by stakeholders and involvement
of important partners;
– Building on existing capacities;
– Multi-level approach (individual, institutional, societal);
– Critical mass approach
2nd Global Forum:
Expected Outcomes
Standards-setting:
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Amendments for conventions presented to the 33rd UNESCO
General Conference in October 2005;
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UNESCO-OECD Guidelines elaborated and adopted;
implementation phase initiated;
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Research further promoted;
Capacity-Building:
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Strategy for capacity-building in QA and Accreditation for
traditional and cross-border higher education (including ICTassisted) developed, as part of larger higher education policy
frameworks;
2nd Global Forum:
Expected Outcomes
Clearinghouse:
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New tools for students (quality literacy) developed and
included in 33rd edition of Study Abroad;
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Data-base of accredited higher education available on-line as
a tool for consumer protection
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Knowledge Base for Decision makers for Distance Education
in Africa, Asia and the Pacific and CIS and Baltic States;
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Awareness raising and adaptation of Open Educational
Resources;
Global Forum: more information
Division of Higher Education,
Section for Reform, Innovation and Quality Assurance:
http://www.unesco.org/education/studyingabroad