Assessing foreign qualifications: examples and practice Seminar on the recognition of qualifications Baku, 22 April 2005 Gunnar Vaht Head of the Estonian ENIC/NARIC

Differences in higher education systems Differences –access requirements general secondary education; vocational qualifications, preparatory year; state examinations; Bachelor Doctor –degree structures one-tier; two-tier; multi-tier structures –type of institutions university-type; non-university type; mixed; binary –nominal duration –credit systems/marking systems –names of degrees and other qualifications same or similar name of degree may have different content and outcome –graduation requirements –FAIR ASSESSMENT AND RECOGNITION - based on assessment of learning outcomes

Diversity of names of qualifications Baccalaureat, Bachiller, Bakalaureus, Bachelor, Bacharel Master, Maisteri, Maestro, Meester, Magister, Maitrise, Magistere, Mestre, Magisterexamen Licencie, Licenciado, Licence, Lizentiat, Lisensiaatti Kandidaat, Kandidaatti, Candidatus, Candidat, Kandidat nauk Diplomado, Diplomirani, Diplom, Diploma di Specialista, Diploma Universitarion, Diploma de… Laurea, Ptychio, Egyetemi oklevel, Gradue, Akademski, Doctorandus

Terminology academic (degree, education) degree university-type, non-university type qualification undergraduate-graduate-postgraduate professional degree, professional doctorate college, institute

Recognition problems Domination of assessment and recognition practices based on the name of degree –Bachelor, Baccalaureat, Bachiller etc are not corresponding degrees –Master, Maisteri, Maitrise, Magister are not equivalent qualifications Misunderstanding or incorrect interpretation of levels –Bachelor-Master indicates the levels and does not mean the named degrees –undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate may have different meanings and vary in the systems

Recognition Academic recognition –the recognition of a qualification for the purpose of further studies. Main task is to assess whether the applicant is capable of continuing studies in the chosen direction and at the chosen level. Professional recognition –the recognition of a qualification for the purpose of employment in a certain profession. Main task is to found out whether the knowledge and professional skills of the applicant are sufficient to pursue a particular profession. de jure - regulated professions; de facto - non-regulated

Legal instruments Conventions Declarations Directives Bilateral or multilateral agreements International recommendations National legal acts Internal regulations

The purpose of assessment of foreign qualification Higher education institution –in admission to HEI –in continue of studies on next stage –in transfer of credits –employment of teacher candidates Employer –what is the level of qualification higher- or vocational qualification? what is a speciality? is the degree at master´s level?

Assessment criteria - access qualifications I Assessment of institution –acceptance of the institution and curricula by competent authority of home country –in case of international qualification - is it awarded by the official international organisation (for example - IBO) –in case of “overseas” qualification - is it officially established and approved by the competent authorities II Assessment of qualification –type of curricula (general, specialised or vocationally oriented) –(nominal duration) –subjects, content and amount –results of studies, examinations, marks; central level examination(s)? –status of qualification and rights in home country (is the qualification eligible to higher education)

Assessment criteria - higher education qualifications I Assessment of institution –type of institution - HEI or vocational school, university of professional HEI, private or public, etc –quality assurance/accreditation –status and recognition of institution in home country II Assessment of qualification –access requirements (previous education) –field of study - specialisation –content (subjects), practice, research, graduation requirements –nominal duration, capacity of study program - number of credits –access to further studies –professional status/rights in labor market –Learning outcomes

Outcome of assessment Recommendation for recognition comparison, the corresponding qualification access to the same rights as to the holders of national corresponding qualification

Assessment procedure Information to applicants –acknowledgment of the receipt of their application –standardised information on the procedure and criteria for the assessment of qualification (required documents, translations, principles and criteria of assessment, fee, time, status of the evaluation statement) –advice applicants about the possibilities and procedures for submitting application –information on educational systems and legal acts, on principles of recognition

Translations Acceptance of as much languages as possible without translations Many countries or institutions issues the documents (diplomas, transcripts, Diploma Supplement) in two languages As a rule, titles of foreign qualifications should be provided in the original language, without translation –For example the degrees “Bakalaureus”, “Master” and “Doctorandus” from different higher education systems are corresponding qualifications. The result of translations may give a wrong value and recognition decision to the qualification

Translations PROBLEMS –direct translations of terminology –terminology is not correct –additions in the translations –omissions in the translations –general quality of translations is insufficent

Assessment of transnational qualifications Program articulation (joint degrees) Branch campuses in other territory Franchising Off-shore institutions (no “parent” institution, but belong to the educational system of another country) distance learning virtual arrangements

Transnational activities and assessment of qualifications Quality assurance Many “international” or “foreign” programs at national HEI and promotion of foreign degree - BA, MSc, MBA etc Joint study programs and joint degrees “European” or “International” universities (College of Europe, Central European University, European University) Non-recognised “studies” at diploma mills

Fraudulent documents Diploma mills (no study program, no license, no study, earn degree on 48 hours!) Incompetent institutions (legal institution but offer education at the level with no license (higher education program at training or consultation centre) Licensed but not accredited (quality assured) Unofficial degrees (recognised HEI, but degree awarded against the national legislation framework) Forgeries Altered credentials or credentials filled incorrectly