Rationale for Establishing a Continental Accreditation Agency Dr. Yohannes Woldetensae

1. African Union Commission Workshop on Establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency for Higher Education in Africa 10 – 11 April 2013, Addis Ababa Rationale for Establishing a Continental Accreditation Agency Dr. Yohannes Woldetensae Senior Education Expert Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology African Union Commission 1

2. African Union Commission Background and Rationale • Because HE systems in Africa are structured in different ways, it is imperative to integrate into a continental system of harmonization to facilitate recognition of qualifications across the continent • Continental cooperation in QA and accreditation is imperative to facilitate student & staff mobility • There is a strong need for effective networking of QA and accreditation agencies in Africa at national, regional and continental levels to promote an equivalent way of assessing quality

3. African Union Commission Background and Rationale • The AU harmonization strategy incorporates a strong focus on establishing effective QA and accreditation mechanisms in order to enhance the global competiveness of African universities • A partnership at continental levels is vital to assure the quality of higher education systems and their compatibility in accreditation process • It is crucial to harmonize standards and criteria so that universities in Africa will be regulated on agreed and comparable standards

4. African Union Commission Background and Rationale • Yet Africa does not have any continental QA and accreditation system of HE, but several countries have their national QA system put in place • Efforts need to be made to ascertain comparability and equivalencies across nations and regions in higher education quality monitoring, leading to an African-wide structure • It is imperative to reinforce cooperation between national regional QA / accreditation bodies andpromote the establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency for HE in Africa

5. African Union Commission Background and Rationale • One major requirement for the PAU is ensuring excellence through internal quality assurance mechanisms and external accreditation • But institutions that form the PAU are located in several different countries. Currently, there is no continental mechanism for accreditation • The establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency is vital to guarantee high quality of education provision in the Pan African University and to ensure its international recognition

6. African Union Commission Background and Rationale • The AU Executive Council decision of January 2012 on the establishment of the PAU also requested the AUC to develop an African Accreditation Agency in collaboration with relevant stakeholders • Communiqué of the 5th International Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa also recommended that Key stakeholders should collaborate to establish a Continental Accreditation Agency for Africa and work out the possible operational modalities

7. African Union Commission Background and Rationale • As national QA system has only limited value in this globalization era, creation of a continental accreditation mechanism is paramount • The creation of continent-wide accreditation body will strengthen cooperation in: • Quality monitoring • Development of compatible methodologies • Harmonization of accreditation procedures • Mutual recognition of academic qualifications • Mobility of students and academics

8. African Union Commission Background and Rationale • Initiatives in QA shall be better coordinated and aligned towards a common Africa vision by identifying opportunities for synergies • Formal cooperation between national and regional regulatory bodies is crucial to foster development of compatible accreditation standards and continental framework for QA • There is an urgent need to exert coordinated efforts to establish a continental accreditation agency for higher education in Africa

9. African Union Commission Continental Accreditation Agency OBJECTIVES • Foster collaboration and linkages among QA and accreditation bodies across the continent • Advance good accreditation practices in Africa • Provide advice and expertise to assist the development of national QA/accreditation bodies • Foster development of compatible accreditation standards in Africa • Supervise the quality of education provision in the Pan African University

10. African Union Commission The Way Forward • A first step towards the establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency is to create a platform for key stakeholders to discusson the process of establishing and possible modalities • Such consultative meeting is essential to identify areas of collaboration between quality assurance and accreditation agencies towards harmonization • Critically examine the technical, financial, and administrative issues with regard to establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency

11. African Union Commission The Way Forward • Spot comparable practices that create basis for regional and continental harmonization in QA and accreditation practices • Work out the possible operational modalities for developing a Pan-African QA framework and a continental accreditation mechanism • Identify the specific roles of both AfriQAN and the Continental Accreditation Agency • Strengthen collaboration among QA agencies

12. African Union Commission Concluding Remarks • African countries and universities need to work to improve the quality of their educational programs and to establish coherent systems of equivalence and accreditation • Continental Mechanism  From diversity to harmonisation while maintaining institutional and national identities and autonomy • Ensuring quality of higher education is crucial to promote African integration through mutual recognition of qualifications and mobility of students and academics

13. African Union Commission Concluding Remarks • There should be a robust QA and accreditation mechanism in Africa that is well integrated at national, regional and continental levels • Synergy of key stakeholders is crucial for the development process of a Pan-African QA and accreditation scheme and its effective realization  Explore a common ground for joint action • Support of all the key partners is imperative THANK YOU