welcome to the taicep webinar a brief introduction to
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Welcome to the TAICEP webinar A Brief Introduction to
International Credential Evaluation
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2018 TAICEP Webinar
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2018 TAICEP Webinar
A Brief Introduction to
International Credential
Evaluation
2018 TAICEP Webinar
Peggy Bell Hendrickson, Transcript Research: Peggy is the Director of Transcript Research. She presents & writes about: evaluation strategies, country updates, professional development, researching international institutions and education systems, electronic verification, native language documents, resource library, more.
2018 TAICEP Webinar
A Brief Introduction to International Credential Evaluation
Presented by:
LesLee Clauson Eicher, AACRAO International: LesLee is currently an Associate Director at AACRAO International. Her primary responsibilities are delivering training programs on international admissions and credential evaluation topics, and evaluating foreign educational credentials. She is President of TAICEP.
• Intro and Technology
• Glossary: Some key terms and concepts
• Educational Models
• U.S., U.K., France, Russia
• Methodology
• Benchmarking vs. Year-Counting
• Grading Comparability
• Credit Comparison and Conversion
• Document Authenticity2018 TAICEP Webinar
A Brief Introduction
to International
Credential Evaluation
Some Key Terms and
Concepts• External exams
• “Transcripts”
• Institution names (e.g. “college” and other school nomenclature that
means a variety of things depending on place/system)
• Qualifications framework
• Grading concepts
• “Credits”
• Recognition vs. accreditation
• Benchmarking vs. year-counting
• Lower vs. upper-division (a U.S. concept)
• Language of instruction vs. native language
• “Translation” vs. evaluation
• “Official” or “certified” translation vs. “word-for-word, literal, in the same
format as the original document”
• “Official” vs. original academic records
2018 TAICEP Webinar
International Credential
Evaluation Methodology
1) Benchmarking and Year Counting
2) Credit Comparison and Conversion
3) Grading Comparability
4) Document Authenticity
2018 TAICEP Webinar
Methodology
• Bench-marking
• Year Counting
Approach #1:
Benchmarking
Q: What is a benchmark, in terms of education?
A: It is the credential that leads to the next-higher level of education.
For example, in the U.S., a high school diploma is a benchmark credential. It leads to postsecondary education.
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Benchmarking
Philippines: 10-, 11-, or 12-year secondary. Admit to undergraduate program of study?
YES!
BUT…
Australia: 3-year Ordinary Bachelor’s degree. Admit to (post)graduate program of study?
NO!2018 TAICEP Webinar
Approach #2:
Year CountingQ: What is year-counting, in terms of education??
A: It is a comparison of the number of years in the “foreign” system to the number of years in the “domestic” system. Admissions decisions are based on whether the number of years in each system matches up.
For example, the Russian Bakalavr is a four-year degree. International credential evaluators generally consider this degree comparable to four-year degrees from other countries and systems.
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Year-Counting
If you’re a
year-
counter, is
this Russian
student
admissible
to graduate
study?
My Secondary School System
Secondary School Diploma = 12 years
Undergraduate degree = 4 years
Russia
Atestat o srednem obrazovanie = 11 years
Bakalavr = 4 years
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Methodology
Credit Comparison and Conversion
Credit
Comparison and
ConversionCredits, units, modules, and other measures of academic workload are
simply quantifiers (numbers). There are no absolute measures.
For instance: Some systems for quantifying undergraduate workload
around the world:
⚫ Bologna ECTS credits = 60 per year FT
⚫ US semester credits = 30-32 per year FT
⚫ UK “CATS” credits = 120 per year FT
⚫ India = # of marks possible per semester or year FT
depends on the program
⚫ Some countries’ systems show no weighting at all
Credit
Comparison and
Conversion
Best Practice is:
One Year of Full-Time Study
=
One Year of Full-Time Study
No matter where you do it, or how you count it.
Bologna and ECTS(One year FT = 60)Mathematics = 15Literature = 10Biology = 15Biology Lab = 5Economics = 15Total = 60
Credit
Comparison and
Conversion
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U.S. Semester Credits(One year FT = 30)Mathematics = 7.5Literature = 5Biology = 7.5Biology Lab = 2.5Economics = 7.5Total = 30
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The Educational
Models
• United States
• United Kingdom
• France
• Russia
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United States
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United States
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U.S. Education
Structure
Years Credential
12 High School Diploma
2 Associate’s Degree
[optional]
4 Bachelor’s Degree
2 Master’s Degree
3+ Doctoral Degree
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U.S.
Postsecondary
Grading
Letter Grade Grade Point
A, A- 4.0, 3.7 (4.00, 3.67)
B+, B, B- 3.3, 3.0, 2.7 (3.33, 3.00, 2.67)
C+, C, C- 2.3, 3.0, 2.7 (2.33, 2.00, 1.67
D+, D, D- 1.3, 1.0, 0.7 (1.33, 1.00, 1.67) Conditional
pass
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Computing a
U.S.-style GPATo compute a U.S.-style Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Find the letter grade’s corresponding number (e.g. A [4.0], A- [3.7]). This
number is called a “quality point.”
• Multiply the quality point by the credit value of the subject. (e.g. 3.7 x 3 =
11.1). The resulting number is called the “grade point.”
• Add the total of grade points, then divide by the total number of credits. The
resulting number is the GPA.
Letter Grade Quality
Points
Credits Grade Points
A 4.00 3 12
C+ 2.30 4 9.2
B- 2.70 3 8.1
A- 3.70 4 14.8
14 44.1
44.1/14 GPA = 3.15
Example
U.S. High
school
Transcript
Grades
9, 10, 11, 12
U.S. Undergraduate Transcript
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Based on the U.S.-model:
Korea
12 years
High
School
Certificate
of
Graduation
High
School
Transcript
10th
, 11th
, 12th
grades
Graduation
Certificate -
Bachelor’s
Degree
4 years
Bachelor’s
Degree
Transcript
(1)
4 years
Bachelor’s
Degree
Transcript
(2)
4 years
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Selected List of
Countries Based on
the U.S. ModelArgen-
tina
Bahrain Brazil China Colom-
bia
Costa
Rica
Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia
Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Korea Kuwait Liberia Libya Mexico
Oman Philip-
pines
Qatar Saudi
Arabia
Swazi-
land
Taiwan Thailand Turkey Yemen
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United Kingdom
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United
Kingdom (England, Wales,
Northern Ireland,
Scotland)
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U.K. Education
Structure (not including Scotland)
Years Credential
11 General Certificate of Secondary
Education (11)
+2 General Certificate of Education,
Advanced Level
3-4 Bachelor’s Degree
1-2 Master’s Degree
3+ Doctoral Degree
England, Wales, Northern Ireland: Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) (as of 2015)*
http://www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk/qualifications-and-credit-framework-qcf.html
* A new framework has been
developed called the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). It was introduced on 1 October
2015, and is being implemented gradually. It should be complete by 2018.
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U.K.
Postsecondary
GradingUndergraduate
70-100% First Class
60-69% Second Class, Upper
50-59% Second Class, Lower
40-49% Third/Pass Class
Postgraduate
Distinction
Merit
Pass
These grading scales
may vary depending
on institution and
program.
General
Certificate
of
Secondary
EducationAfter Year 11
US grade comparabilities
General
Certificate
of
Secondary
Education
After Year 11
General
Certificate
of
Secondary
Education
After Year 11
General
Certificate
of
Secondary
Education
After Year 11
General
Certificate
of
Education:
Advanced
Subsidiary
and
Advanced
Level
After Year 12
and Year 13
Bachelor
of Arts
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Selected List of
Countries Based on
the U.K. ModelAustra-
lia
Baha-
mas
Bangla
-desh
Botswa
-na
Camer-
oon
Carib-
bean
Hong
Kong
India Indonesia
Ireland Lesoto Myan-
mar
Macau Malawi Malay-
sia
Malta Nepal New
Zealand
Paki-
stan
Singa-
pore
South
Africa
Sri
Lanka
Tanza-
nia
Ugan-
da
Zambia Zim-
babwe
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France(and
Francophone
Africa)
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France
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French Education
Structure – LMD (Bologna)
Years Credential
12 Baccalauréat
3 Licence (Professionnelle) - 180 ECTS
[Bac+3]
2 Master Recherche / Master
Professionnel - 120 ECTS [Bac+5]
3 Doctorat [Bac+8]
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French Education
Structure – 1st Cycle
Years Credential [Bac+2]
2 Diplôme d’Études Universitaires
Générales (DEUG)
2 Brevets de Technicien Supérieur (BTS)
2 Diplôme d’Études Universitaires
Scientifiques &Technologiques (DEUST)
2 Diplôme Universitaire de
Technologie (DUT)
2 Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes
Écoles (CPGE)
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French Education
Structure – 2nd Cycle
Years Credential
1 (after 1st Cycle) Licence (Professionnelle) [Bac+3]
1 (after Licence) Maîtrise / Diplôme d’Ingénieur
Maître [Bac+4]
2 (after 1st Cycle) Maîtrise de Sciences Techniques /
Maîtrise de Sciences de Gestion
(MST/MSG) [Bac+4]
3 (after 1st Cycle) Diplôme d’Ingénieur [Bac+5]
3 (after 1st Cycle) Diplôme from a grande école [Bac+5]
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French Education
Structure – 3rd Cycle
Years Credential
1 (after Maîtrise or
Ingénieur)
Diplôme d’Études Supérieures
Spécialisées (DESS) [Bac+5 or 6]
1 (after Maîtrise or
Ingénieur)
Diplôme d’Études Approfondies (DEA)
[Bac+5 or 6]
2-3 (after 1st
Cycle)
Magistère [Bac+4 or 5]
2-4 (after DEA) Doctorat [Bac+7 or more]
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French
Postsecondary
Grading
20-point Scale Descriptive Grade
16-20 Tres Bien / Very Good
14-15 Bien / Good
12-13 Assez Bien / Quite Good
10-11 Passable / Satisfactory
7.0-9.9 May be Conceded if Passed the YearGrading scale may
vary depending on
institution and
program.
12 years
High
School
Graduation
High
School
Transcript
10th
, 11th
, 12th
grades
DEUG
(1st
Cycle)
2 years
DEUG
Transcript
(2)
4 years
DEUG
Transcript
(2)
2 years
Licence
Diploma
1 year (after
1st cycle) or
3 years after
Bac
Licence
Transcript
1 year (after 1st
cycle) or 3 years
after Bac
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Selected List of
Countries Based on
the French ModelAlgeria Benin Burkina
Faso
Cameroon Central
African
Republic
Chad Congo
(Republic)
Congo
(Democratic
Republic)
Cote
d'Ivoire
Djibouti France Gabon Guinea Haiti Lebanon Madagascar
Mali Martinique Morocco Niger Reunion Senegal Togo Tunisia
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Based on the French Model:
Cameroon
Licence
Cameroon
3 years
Licence
Cameroon
Transcripts
(3)
3 years
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Russia (and former USSR)
Russian Federation(and former USSR)
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Russian Education
Structure
Years Credential
11 Аттестат о среднем (полном) общем
образовании (Certificate of Secondary
(Complete) General Education)
4 бакалавра (Bachelor)
5-6 специалиста (Specialist)
2 магистра (Master)
3+ кандидат наук (Candidate of Sciences)
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Russian
Postsecondary
Grading
5-point Scale Descriptive Grade
5 Отлично/Excellent
4 Хорошо/Good
3 Удовлетворительно/Satisfactory
-- Зачет/Passed
11 years
Certificate
of
Secondary
(Complete)
General
Education
Secondary School Attachment
Specialist
Diploma
5 years
Specialist
Diploma
Attachment
to the
Diploma (1)
5 years
Specialist
Diploma
Attachment
to the
Diploma (2)
5 years
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Selected List of
Countries Based on
the Russian Model
Albania Armenia Azer-
baijian
Belarus Bulgaria Czech
Republic
Estonia Georgia
Hungary Kazakh-
stan
Kyrgyz-
stan
Latvia Lithuania Moldova Monte-
negro
Poland
Romania Serbia Slovak
Republic
Slovenia Tajiki-
stan
Turkmeni
-stan
Ukraine Uzbeki-
stan
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Based on the Russian Model:
Ukraine
Ukraine
Bakalavr
Degree
4 years
4 years
UkraineBakalavrattach-ment(1)
4 years
UkraineBakalavrattach-ment(2)
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Methodology
Grading Comparability
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Grading
Comparability
• Institutional Policy Questions
• Basic Elements
• Major Grading Systems
• Grade Conversion Strategies
Institutional Policy
Questions
• Do you use the indigenous average? Degree Class?
• Do you look at the entire program or only last 2 years?
• Do you use weighted values for each course or calculate
a simple average?
• Do you include repeats in GPA even if the
credential doesn't?
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Basic Elements
of Grading Systems
• Grading scales are often skewed so that a portion (generally
the highest) is never used
• Many systems incorporate a minimum pass mark that is below
the average passing grade
• Condoned/conceded pass may be considered a D grade
• Need to use the scale for that program/institution before
converting
• Scales that look like yours (100 point, A-E, etc) might not
correspond in how they're used (India vs. Korea for example)
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Major Grading
SystemsUS-based: A, B, C, D, F
British-based: First Class, Second Class Upper Division,
Second Class Lower Division, Third Class, Pass Class
Russian-based: Отлично, Хорошо, Удовлетворительно,
Зачет
French-based: Tres Bien, Bien, Assez Bien, Passable
Latin-based: Sobresaliente, Muy Bueno, Bueno, Aprobado
Numerical Scales: 0-5, 1-7, 1-20, 1-60, percentages, points,
marks, etc.
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• US-based systems often have 3-4 passing grade ranges
• Grades are often a combo of numerical, descriptive, and/or letter
• While the number ranges may vary, descriptive grades are fairly
standard: excellent, (very good), good, average, condoned pass
Korea Iran Mexico US possibility
90-100%, A+,A0, A- 17-20 Muy Bien A
80-89%, B+, B0, B- 14-16 Bien B
70-79%, C+, C0, C- 12-13 Regular C
60-69%, D+, D0, D- 10-11 --- D
0-59%, F 0-9 No Suficiente F
Grade Conversion
Strategies: U.S. System
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Grade Conversion
Strategies: British System
• British systems usually have degree classifications
• Classifications may be different at different levels (Diploma vs.
Bachelor vs. Master degree)
UK Bachelor UK Master India US possibility
First: 70-100% Distinction – 70-100% First: 60-100% A
Second Upper:
60-69%
Merit – 60-69% -- B+ or B
Second Lower:
50-59%
Pass - 50-59% Second: 50-59% B
Third: 40-49% Pass – 50-59% Third: 40-49% C+ or C
Minimum Pass -- Minimum: 35-35% C
Grade Conversion
Strategies:
French System• French systems usually modeled around 20 point scale, but also
includes variations of 10, 60, 80, 100
• French systems may allow failed courses to count if passed the year
(condoned/conceded pass)
France 40 pt variation 60 pt variation US possibility
16-20, 14-15 32-40, 28-31 48-60, 42-47 A+, A
12-13 24-27 36-41 B
10-11 20-23 30-35 C
7-9 14-19 21-29 D
Grade Conversion
Strategies:
Russian System• Russian grading is generally done on a 5-point scale, but failed
grades will not typically appear on completed records
• Usually only 4-6 subjects per term have numerical grade
• Зачет (pass) is used for electives, multi-semester course, no
final exam, not in major field – NOT like US "pass" (pass/fail)
Russian Ukranian Uzbek US possibility
5 - Отлично Відмінно Аъло A
4 - Хорошо Добре яхши B
3 - Удовлетворительно задовільно Ўрта C
Зачет Зараховано Ўтди Pass/Credit
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Grade Conversion Strategies:
Bologna System
• The Bologna Process aims to provide transparency in qualifications,
education levels, credit systems, and grading
• Diploma supplement usually includes grading system
• Some countries/institutions also include crosswalk to local grading
system in their grade legend
Letter Grade Description US possibility
A Excellent A
B Very Good B+ or B
C Good B
D Satisfactory C+ or C
E Sufficient C
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Methodology
Document Authenticity
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Document
Authenticity
• Types of Document Fraud
• Simple Strategies to Help Limit Fraud
• Strategies to Examine Documents
• Causes for Concern
• Security Features
• Diploma Mills
• Counterfeit/Forged Documents
• Falsified/Altered Documents
• Internal Fraud (blanks sold or stolen, changed
by employee)
• Bonus: Translations
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Document Authenticity:
Types of Document Fraud
• Set clear policies & expectations for "official" documents
• Publish your requirements; make requirements and expectations clear up-front
• Send everything for verification
• Use a verification or evaluation service
• Create standardized in-house process for researching institutions, examining documents, archiving verified
documents/contacts, etc
• Set standards for translations
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Document Authenticity:
Simple Strategies to Limit
Fraud
Document your procedures (originals, sealed envelopes, direct, etc)
Name of institution, country, educational authority based on year
Know your history/current events
Send for verification
Visual inspection (signatures, format, layout, font, size, stamp/seal,
color, logo, wear, etc)
Examine with tools (microscope, magnifier, UV light, etc)
Feel the document (weight, texture, grain, thickness, gloss)
Make a copy to look for security features
2018 TAICEP Webinar
Document Authenticity:
Strategies to Examine
Documents
• Type (font, size, spacing, spelling, handwriting vs. computer vs. type)
• Computer-generated appearance
• Asymmetrical
• Alterations or white-out
• Language, accent, spelling errors (especially on pre-printed parts)
• Forced/shaky signature
• Seals/logos look hand-drawn
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Document Authenticity:
Causes for Concern
• Pixelation under microscope
• Missing security features (UV, watermark, expected
stamps or seals, signatures, etc)
• Biographical mismatch (name, date of birth, age, gender)
• Gaps in educational history or incomplete history
• Grades or credits don't match the GPA or degree class
• Coursework doesn't correspond to major
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Document Authenticity:
More Causes for Concern
• Watermarks/artificial watermarks
• Holograms/kinegrams (often foils)
• Foil printing (diploma books)
• Embossing
• Perforated/continuous paper
• Security border, band, or box with messages
• UV thread, fibers, images, watermarks
• Colors or ink (under microscope)
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Document
Authenticity:
Security Features
• Guilloche and other fine-line patterns
• Hidden message technology
• Metallic/foil image, word, numbers
• Security paper/anti-copy paper
• Thermochromatic security ink
• Prismatic printing (rainbow effect)
• Security threads
• Chemically sensitive paper
2018 TAICEP Webinar
Document Authenticity:
More Security Features
