Feedback on The Gulf Regional Seminar

QACHE Project

Challenges, Good Practices & Recommendations

Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar22-23 January 2015

Macao - CHINA

Content The Gulf Region

Representation & importance ofCBHE in the Gulf Region

Challenges

Opportunities/Benefit of CHBE

Good Practices Identified

Recommendations & Outcomes of theGulf Regional Seminar

The Gulf Region

Has become an internationalHigher Education Hub

Australia UK USA

Major Providers

Representation & importanceOf CBHE in the Gulf Region

UAE’s (CAA)licensed 66 privateinstitutions offering479 programmes

The Qatar Foundation’sgoal was to bring worldclass universities toDoha and recruitedHEIs regarded as top 10in their priority areas.

Oman and Saudi Arabia have no international branchcampuses, with Saudi Arabia the only Gulf State with noface-to-face transnational education.

Oman providesincentives forprivate HE;

24 private HEIsestablished as jointenterprises.

Bahrain and Kuwaithave few transnationalHEIs

Challenges

Importer & Exporter Perspective

Sy

stem

s

Maturity of some QAA which affectsmutual trust

Differences in systems and regulationsbetween the two countries

Difficulty of Recognition of CBHEQualifications

Variation in partnership and deliverymodels of CBHE

Challenges (Cont’d)

Importer & Exporter PerspectiveR

esp

on

sib

ilit

y &

ac

cou

nta

bil

ity

Cultural (reporting language barrier)and Political Differences

Aligning QA systems & defining thelevel of responsibility of both exporterand importer

Cost of QA CBHE and the level ofaccountability

Challenges (Cont’d)

Importer & Exporter PerspectiveE

con

om

y &

im

pac

t

Competition (importer nationalqualifications vs. exporter marketingtheir qualifications)

Impact of transnational provision oneconomic in the gulf not yet evident

Managing economic and marketdemands in light of such compaction inlight of the two points above

Challenges (Cont’d)

Importer & Exporter PerspectiveG

ov

ern

ance

Lack of agreed clear regulations tomonitor the relationship

The Governance of HE reviews & jointreview visits

Lack of Harmonization of Panels whichshould involve experts from bothcountries

Challenges (Cont’d)

Importer & Exporter PerspectiveG

ener

ally

Lack of Comprehensive QualificationFramework

Public Awareness

Opportunities/Benefit of CHBE

Studentsstudying inhome countryare less likely toleave, thereforereducing “braindrain” of Gulfnationals.

More nationalsstudy at homethan previously

As thereputation ofbranchcampusesincreases, theyare likely toattract studentsfrom oversees

Foreign HIEshave reinforcedthe capacity ofthe Gulf regionto enableparticipation inHE

Opportunities/Benefit of CHBE

Foreign HEIs thatmeet the demand ofprivate sector haveenabled countries toachievenationalization oflabor in some areas,reduce youthemployment, andlowering emigrationof skilled work force

Foreign HEIshave providedcompetition forthe governmentinstitutions, andencourage Gulfgovernments toimproveaccreditationand QA

Young gulfnationals havean opportunityto understandand collaboratewith personsfrom differentcultures.

Benefits ofinviting worldclass HEIs gobeyondeducationprovision

Good Practices Identified

Current QA networks which could beutilized to represent a wide number ofmany countries and their common views

Sharing experience and knowledgethrough utilizing regional andinternational reviewers

Referencing of NQF (ensuresthorough comparison of systems)

CBHE QA by exporter (having abranch QA office in the importerpremises)

Reaching a point of Quality Enhancement

Good Practices Identified

Conducting Joint Reviews

Developing MoUs with someinternational agencies

Development of a ‘’ Charter of CollectiveRequirements’’ for some Qualifications toensure alignment with QA requirementsin both countries

Bologna process and EHEAguidelines

Recommendations & Outcomes of the Gulf Regional Seminar

Sharing information, knowledge and experiencetransparently – mutual utilization of reviewoutcomes between QAA od exporter and importer

QAA External Reviews to build mutual trust

Working Groups that involvesstakeholders (networks and regulatorybodies)

Emphasize on QA networks role to ensure such representation and experience

Recommendations & Outcomes of the Gulf Regional Seminar

Utilize aligning the CBHE processprocedure with national andinternational guidelines

Improving Collaboration between QAA andinstitutions/stakeholders and adopting partnershipapproach

Staff development and capacity building

Recommendations & Outcomes of the Gulf Regional Seminar

Ensure that there is an appropriate‘MoU’ developed and implemented

Development of national and regional qualificationsframeworks and encourage referencing exercise

Thank You…