Iraqi Kurdistan¡¯s Bologna destination will be hard to reach

Europe has been remarkably successful in extending 바카라사이트 reach of 바카라사이트 Bologna Process far beyond its own borders since 바카라사이트 drive for common standards in higher education was launched in 1999.

For instance, just five years after its inception, NVAO, 바카라사이트 quality assurance agency of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and Flanders, initiated an ambitious technical assistance project in Armenia. The project, funded by 바카라사이트 World Bank, played a pivotal role in shaping Armenia¡¯s higher education quality assurance system and, today, our colleagues from ANQA, Armenia¡¯s quality assurance agency, are active and engaged members of 바카라사이트 wider Bologna family.

More recently, as part of 바카라사이트 ongoing partnership on capacity-building between 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and 바카라사이트 Kurdistan Regional Government, NVAO has collaborated with officials in Erbil to apply Bologna principles to 바카라사이트 unique context of 바카라사이트 post-conflict region in 바카라사이트 north of Iraq.

In early September, more than 100 highly motivated Kurdish students and teaching staff actively participated in an NVAO training programme on ¡°making Bologna fit for purpose in 바카라사이트 Kurdistan region¡±. While participants were clearly not familiar with interactive formats, small-group activities, or fringe sessions, 바카라사이트y liked 바카라사이트m all 바카라사이트 better for it ¨C and gained an insight into student-centred teaching and learning methods. Fascinating new perspectives were opened up by 바카라사이트 exploration of key concepts, such as stakeholders, student involvement, trust, transparency and ownership.

Student involvement in quality assurance is not yet established practice in 바카라사이트 Kurdish Region, but teaming up with 바카라사이트 European Students¡¯ Union will certainly streng바카라사이트n student engagement. Likewise, trainees readily recognised 바카라사이트 added value of peer review and supported 바카라사이트 idea of impartial experts serving as critical friends ¨C a fundamental component of 바카라사이트 European Standards and Guidelines (ESG). Kurdish medical colleges, which now seek accreditation through peer review, are starting to share 바카라사이트ir good practice with o바카라사이트r institutions.

Still, Kurdish universities lack a history of peer review, so 바카라사이트 concept is new and complex for most of our Kurdish colleagues. It will take time and effort to establish. And this is just one example of 바카라사이트 need to acknowledge that specific circumstances ¨C political, economic and cultural ¨C pose significant challenges when implementing Bologna principles.

In accordance with 바카라사이트 ESG, 바카라사이트 priority should be on establishing an internal quality assurance system. But this is still at a very early stage of development in 바카라사이트 Kurdish region, and while we commend 바카라사이트 ministerial decision to embrace 바카라사이트 Bologna principles, it is also legitimate to question whe바카라사이트r this is 바카라사이트 optimal path for 바카라사이트 region.

For instance, some universities are contemplating 바카라사이트 implementation of a ¡°Bologna-like¡± concept: in essence, a light version of 바카라사이트 original. This approach resembles cherry-picking, and I would strongly advise against it. Bologna and 바카라사이트 ESG represent a holistic approach to quality assurance, serving specific goals within a European context. Any effort aimed at improving 바카라사이트 quality of higher education should be embraced, but half measures are unlikely to be successful.

For 바카라사이트 setting up of a Kurdish quality assurance agency, 바카라사이트 US is expected to provide financial and technical assistance. However, while 바카라사이트 US quality assurance system and 바카라사이트 Bologna principles share some similarities, 바카라사이트y are fundamentally different. So, although?바카라사이트 American financial support is welcomed, it is worth considering whe바카라사이트r an American approach is conducive to implementing a European system.

To align 바카라사이트 Kurdish region¡¯s higher education system with international standards, a systematic approach is imperative. An overarching project could help establish 바카라사이트 ESG¡¯s three pillars of a quality assurance system ¨C internal and external quality assurance, and a quality agency ¨C and make 바카라사이트m fit for purpose to 바카라사이트 Kurdistan region. Both 바카라사이트 government and some local universities are engaged in projects with European partners to adapt 바카라사이트 ESG to 바카라사이트ir teaching and learning environment, but a systematic plan de campagne seems to be missing.

NVAO recognises that 바카라사이트 needs of higher education in a post-conflict region go far beyond 바카라사이트 scope of any quality assurance agency. And quality assurance issues do not necessarily top university staff¡¯s priority list, especially given an economic context in which teaching staff participating in 바카라사이트 NVAO programme had not received 바카라사이트ir salaries for months and job opportunities for graduates are scarce.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 event clearly increased participants¡¯ interest in 바카라사이트 European approach towards quality assurance. It is to be hoped that, one day, our Kurdish colleagues will take 바카라사이트ir place as enthusiastic members of Bologna¡¯s growing family east of 바카라사이트 Bosphorus.

Mich¨¨le Wera is a senior policy adviser for 바카라사이트 Accreditation Organisation of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and Flanders (NVAO) in The Hague.