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

2. ASEM CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS Limassol, Cyprus 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 I. QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HE IN ASEM COUNTRIES 6-7 December 2010 Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

3. ASEM CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS Limassol, Cyprus 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 I. QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HE IN ASEM COUNTRIES 6-7 December 2010 Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

4. ASEM CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS Limassol, Cyprus 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 II. RECOGNITION IN HE IN ASEM COUNTRIES 6-7 December 2010 Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

5. ASEM CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS Limassol, Cyprus 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 II. RECOGNITION IN HE IN ASEM COUNTRIES 6-7 December 2010 Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

6. ASEM CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS Limassol, Cyprus 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 ASEM COUNTRIES 6-7 December 2010 Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects

7. ASEM CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS Limassol, Cyprus 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 ASEM COUNTRIES 6-7 December 2010 Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects