African Union Perspectives in E nhancing Q uality and Accelerating Harmonisation

1. 8th International Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in AfricaWindhoek, Namibia (19 – 23 September 2016) African Union Perspectives in Enhancing Quality and Accelerating Harmonisation Presented by Dr. Yohannes Woldetensae Senior Education Expert African Union Commission 1

2. Preamble Vision of African Union  To build integrated Africa (demands harmonised education system) Assembly/AU/Decl.6(XXV) • Committed to establish harmonised mechanism to ensure comparable higher education in Africa EX.CL/Dec.894(XXVII) • Requested setting-up of mechanisms for harmonisation and quality assurance processes Continental Education Strategy recognises the importance of harmonisation and quality assurance

3. African Union Strategy for Harmonisation – Major Goals • Bridge the gap between disparate educational systems in Africa • Provide an integrating platform to develop regional harmonization initiatives that cohere into a continental process of harmonization • Advance joint curriculum development and institutional partnerships among African Universities to ensure global competitiveness • Facilitate the recognition of qualifications and promote Intra-Africa academic mobility • Promote the development of harmonised quality assurance mechanisms

4. AU Harmonisation and Quality Assurance Initiatives HARMONISATION Recognition of Qualifications Joint Curriculum Intra-Africa Academic Mobility TUNING ADDIS CONVENTION QUALITY ASSURANCE PAQAF AQRM HAQAA INITIATIVE

5. Addis Convention • “Addis Convention” is the revised and updated version of the 1981 “Arusha Convention” Addis Convention • REVISED CONVENTION ON THE RECOGNITION OF STUDIES, CERTIFICATES, DIPLOMAS, DEGREES AND OTHER ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN AFRICAN STATES • Addis Convention is currently not operational due to the lack of ten countries having ratified. 16 African countries signed, no ratification yet • Informal Working Group is established to start preparing for the formal implementation

6. Addis Convention • AUC is working jointly with UNESCO to facilitate the ratification of Addis Convention • Qualifications issued by an accredited HEI of a Party shall be recognized in the receiving Party  The process for recognition of qualifications requires QA and accreditation mechanisms • There is need to set up QA agencies & information centers to implement the Addis Convention • Each Party shall ensure that adequate and clear information on its education system is provided

7. Addis Convention Requirements for Implementation • Setting up National Quality Assurance Authority  To carry out periodic evaluations of higher education institutions and programmes • Setting up a National Information Centre  To disseminate information on institutions and programmes status of recognition

8. Intra-Africa Academic Mobility • It involves mobility of students and academic staff among selected Networks of African Universities • The academic mobility scheme is managed by EC Executive Agency in collaboration with the AUC • The scheme promotes credit transfer and recognition of degrees between participating HEIs • A new call for Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme is launched with deadline of 15 June 2016 • Currently, 72 universities are involved in academic mobility from 34 African countries

9. 72 Universities from 34 countries are implementing academic mobility

10. Tuning/Harmonisation Initiative • Tuning is a methodology to develop curricula by identifying learning outcomes and competences • The Tuning Africa project is implemented jointly by the EC and the AUC • The Tuning initiative involves 105 HEIs from 41 African Countries in eight subject areas • The Tuning approach complements the African Harmonization Strategy  Bottom-up initiative • Tuning creates the basis for developing an African Credit Transfer System (Student workload survey)

11. - PAQAF -Pan African QA and Accreditation Framework • PAQAF guide implementation of continental QA and accreditation mechanisms • PAQAF was validated by national/regional QA agencies, endorsed by Ministers of Education and adopted by AU Assembly at 2016 January Summit • The development of PAQAF helps to establish harmonized QA practices in the continent • It facilitates the establishment of a Continental Accreditation Agency (AU Exec. Council decision)

12. - PAQAF -Pan African QA and Accreditation Framework Instruments • Continental Qualifications Framework • Addis Convention • Continental Standards and Guidelines for QA • African Quality Rating Mechanism (AQRM) • African Credit Accumulation and Transfer System • Continental Register for QA agencies and quality assured higher education institutions Implementing Agency A Pan-African QA and Accreditation Agency

13. HAQAA Initiative • HAQAA Harmonisation of African Higher Education, Quality Assurance and Accreditation • The HAQAA initiative aims to support PAQAF in the context of Africa-EU Strategic Partnership, and will be implemented from 2016 – 2019 Implementing Consortium AAU, EUA, DAAD, ENQA, University of Barcelona • The HAQAA Initiative has an Advisory Board of key African regional stakeholder organisations • The European Commission and the African Union form the key management steering group

14. Concluding Remarks • The AU Strategy for harmonization incorporates a strong focus on establishing effective quality assurance and accreditation mechanisms • The Africa Union emphasize the importance of coordinate efforts of key stakeholders in implementing the harmonization strategy  The HAQAA initiative is instrumental to advance the development of a harmonized quality assurance practices in the continent and to advance the implementation of PAQAF THANK YOU