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Charting the Course: Toward a Plan of Action for National Associations in Quality Cross-Border Higher Education

Presentation by Karen McBrideVice-President, International Affairs AUCC

Global Meeting of Associations 14 - 15 November 2005

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Presentation Objectives

• Compare, contrast and distill recommendations of the Statement and the Draft Guidelines. What are the key “desired outcomes” in terms of HEIs actions?

• Map “desired outcomes” to national association functions. What elements of a plan of action do these recommendations suggest?

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Expectations for Action at Multiple Levels

National Associations

Membership

provide leadership on CBHE issues and support members’

activities

International level

dialogue with sister organizations and engage in

relevant international fora

National level

interact with governments and

relevant non-governmental groups

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AUCC “Lenses”

• Represents 90 public and private not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges across Canada

• Governed by university rectors

• Interaction with various levels within institutions

• Mandate: to foster and promote the interests of higher education in Canada

• What we do: advocacy, policy development, membership services (analyzing and reporting trends, providing a forum to encourage dialogue), program initiatives (information resource, scholarships and international programs)

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Desired Outcome #1 (Statement/Guidelines)

HEI develop a strong culture of quality at the institutional level

Effective QA principles and practices in place

Involvement of faculty and students

Cross-border higher education (CBHE) held to comparable QA standards

Commitment to continuous improvement

Facilitate development of common QA principles at institutional level

Promote dialogue on quality and sharing of good QA practice

Develop shared vision of institutional QA principles at international level

Desired outcome Inputs by AssociationsIndicators

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Source of “Indicators”

Statement: Build a culture of ongoing quality review, feedback, and improvement by creating robust quality assurance processes at the institutional level which rely heavily on faculty expertise and incorporate the views of students. (Bullet 4 under “Recommendations for Higher Education Institutions and other Providers” p. 3)

Draft Guidelines: Develop, maintain or review current internal quality management systems that make full use of the competencies of stakeholders such as academic staff, administrators, and students and take full responsibility for delivering higher education qualifications comparable in standard in their home country and across borders. (Bullet 3 under “Guidelines for higher education institutions/providers” p. 4)

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Desired Outcome #2 (Statement/Guidelines)

HEIs operate transparently in their CBHE activities

HEIs comply with due process in their home or their host country

HEIs provide fulsome information on:- legal status; financial condition; award granting authority; course offerings; QA mechanisms

Information provided by HEI agents is accurate and reliable

Compile standard information on requirements to operate in various countries

Promote streamlined procedures

Develop “check list” for information provision

Organize workshops on “learning outcomes” at national / international levels

Develop one-stop information tools at national level

Desired outcome Inputs by AssociationsIndicators

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Desired Outcome #3 (Statement/Guidelines)

HEIs integrate best practices into their CBHE initiatives

HEIs build on relevant existing knowledge (e.g., codes of good practice, etc.)

HEIs participate in dialogue on good practice at national and/or international levels

Organize national/ international workshops on codes of good practice, CBHE case studies, etc.

Launch “Awards of Excellence in CBHE” program at international level

Analyze and disseminate CBHE case studies

Desired outcome Inputs by AssociationsIndicators

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Desired Outcome #4 (Guidelines)

HEIs are better positioned to recognize each other’s qualifications

Networks/partnerships which facilitate academic recognition are developed

UNESCO/Council of Europe recommendations for foreign credential assessment are implemented

Raise awareness of UNESCO/Council of Europe Recommendation on Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications

Advocate for ratification of and/or effective implementation of UNESCO conventions

Develop MOUs among sister organizations with similar criteria for membership

Desired outcome Inputs by AssociationsIndicators

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Desired Outcome #5 (Statement)

HEIs understand the issues and policy implications related to CBHE

Association well-informed of members’ positions on related issues

Active dialogue at the national level

Active dialogue at international level

Organize briefings for members

Convene policy discussions with other key stakeholder groups (faculty, students, QA bodies, governments)

Develop policy positions with Board

Participate in relevant international fora to exchange views, pursue cooperative efforts, etc.

Desired outcome Inputs by AssociationsIndicators

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Desired Outcome #6 (Statement)

HEIs implement CBHE with a partnership mentality

CBHE contributes to well-being of communities

CBHE is culturally sensitive

CBHE helps strengthen local capacity

CBHE promotes responsible citizenship

CBHE accessible to students with need

Share models for institutional scholarship/bursary programs in CBHE

Disseminate views of partners in “receiving countries” on ideal approaches to CBHE

Advocate for government policies and programs which support higher education partnerships

Desired outcome Inputs by AssociationsIndicators

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Desired Outcomes

HEI develop a strong culture of quality at the institutional level

HEIs operate transparently in their CBHE activities

HEIs integrate best practices into their CBHE initiatives

HEIs are better positioned to recognize each other’s qualifications

HEIs understand the issues and policy implications related to CBHE

HEIs implement CBHE with a partnership mentality

Input by Associations: Potential Plan of Action

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Input by Associations: Potential Plan of Action

AdvocacyInternational • Promote streamlined procedures (#2)

• Advocate for government policies and programs which support higher education partnership (#6)

National • Promote streamlined procedures (#2)

• Advocate for ratification of and/or effective implementation of UNESCO conventions (#4)

• Advocate for government policies and programs which support higher education partnerships (#6)

Membership

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Input by Associations: Potential Plan of Action

Policy DevelopmentInternational • Develop shared vision of institutional QA principles at

international level (#1)

• Develop MOUs among sister organizations with similar criteria for membership (#4)

National • Convene policy discussions with other key stakeholder groups (faculty, students, QA bodies, governments) (#5)

• Develop policy positions with Board (#5)

Membership • Facilitate development of common QA principles at institutional level (#1)

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Input by Associations: Potential Plan of Action

Analyzing and Reporting TrendsInternational • Analyze and disseminate CBHE case studies (#3)

National

Membership • Organize briefings for members (#5)

• Analyze and disseminate CBHE case studies (#3)

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Input by Associations: Potential Plan of Action

Forum for DialogueInternational • Organize workshops on “learning outcomes” (#2)

• Organize workshops on codes of good practice, CBHE case studies, etc. (#3)

• Disseminate views of partners in “receiving countries” on ideal approaches to CBHE (#6)

National • Participate in relevant international fora to exchange views, pursue cooperative efforts, etc. (#5)

Membership • Promote dialogue on quality and sharing of good QA practice (#1)

• Organize workshops on “learning outcomes” (#2)

• Organize workshops on codes of good practice, CBHE case studies, etc. (#3)

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Input by Associations: Potential Plan of Action

Information ResourceInternational • Compile standard information on requirements to operate

in various countries (#2)

National • Develop one-stop information tools at national level (#2)

Membership • Develop “check list” for information provision (#2)

• Raise awareness of Council of Europe/UNESCO Recommendation on Criteria and Procedures for the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications (#4)

• Share models for institutional scholarship/bursary programs in CBHE (#6)

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Input by Associations: Potential Plan of Action

Scholarships and International Programs

International • Launch “Awards of Excellence in CBHE” program at international level (#3)

National

Membership

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For more information on quality assurance at AUCC member institutions, visit:

www.aucc.ca/qa

Karen McBrideVice-President, International Affairs AUCCkmcbride@aucc.ca