“QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RECOGNITION IN HIGHER EDUCATION: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS”

1. ASEM CONFERENCE “QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RECOGNITION IN HIGHER EDUCATION: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS” CONCLUSIONS Dr Despina Martidou Forcier Chief Education Officer Department of Higher and Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, Cyprus 6 - 7 December 2010 Mediterranean Beach Hotel Limassol, Cyprus

2. I. QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HE IN ASEM COUNTRIES • Quality assurance is vital for making HE attractive and trustworthy • At national level, many countries in Europe have established quality assurance agencies based on the European Standards and Guidelines on Quality Assurance • The European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR), which was set up in 2008, is the major new body in the European context for the accreditation of QA Agencies • In Asian countries also QA bodies have been created, such as the Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) and the ASEAN University Network (AUN) • HEIs both in Europe and Asia have established internal QA mechanisms, but they still need to develop further a quality culture Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

3. I. QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HE IN ASEM COUNTRIES • EQAR is open to agencies operating both in the European Higher Education Area and worldwide who can demonstrate their compliance with the European Standards and Guidelines • Promotion of the development of ASEM Quality Assurance Networks in order to ensure high quality education provision from Higher Education Institutions both in Europe and in Asia • Establishment of mutual framework in which Asia and Europe which will follow the same standards and guidelines on quality assurance issues Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

4. II. RECOGNITION IN HE IN ASEM COUNTRIES • Globalization, and increased academic and professional mobility are making mutual recognition and cross-border QA increasingly important • In Europe, recognition councils/agencies follow the principles of the Lisbon Recognition Convention placing emphasis on learning outcomes in the description of qualifications • In Asia also recognition bodies are establishing: SEAMEO RIHED and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) have been coordinating to establish the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN) from early 2008 Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

5. II. RECOGNITION IN HE IN ASEM COUNTRIES • Establishment of joint recognition strategies between ASEM countries will • Enhance cooperation between HEIs in Asia and Europe • promote mobility of students, academics, and researchers which will lead to the augmentation of a multicultural dialogue, and the exchange of experiences and good practices between the two regions Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

6. QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RECOGNITION IN ASEM COUNTRIES Recommentations – Steps forward • Experts from QA and recognition Agencies from Asia and should meet and set certain common standards and guidelines to be followed by both regions • Raise awareness of the common standards and guidelines e.g. organize a Conference with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders • Exchange good practices • Establish networks of QA and Recognition Agencies of both regions Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

7. QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RECOGNITION IN ASEM COUNTRIES Recommentations – Steps forward • Plan for training seminars of HEIs official in Asia • Promote collaborations between HEIs in ASEM countries • The ASEM Education Secretariat is asked to coordinate these activities and to convey the results and recommendations of the Limassol Conference to the SOM and the Ministerial Meeting in Copenhagen. Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects