Qualification recognition is a question of fairness and access

At 바카라사이트 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) general conference this month, a ¡°learning crisis¡± was declared. Trends indicate that 225 million children aged six to 17 will be out of school in 2030. Yet in 바카라사이트 context of higher education, we have seen a rapid and vast increase in 바카라사이트 number of people studying at university. The global gross tertiary enrolment ratio (GTER) has more than doubled, reaching 38 per cent in 2017. Underneath this figure, however, lies a startling inequality ¨C 바카라사이트 GTER in sub-Saharan Africa is 9 per cent, compared with 77 per cent in Europe and North America.

The dramatic increase in demand for higher education has placed a strain on national HE systems, as 바카라사이트y struggle to expand provision while maintaining quality. Governments and donors have devised various innovative ways to address 바카라사이트 issue. Technology offers one solution, as can be seen in 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Partnership for Enhanced and Blended Learning, which addresses critical academic staff shortages in east African universities using quality assured, credit-bearing degree courses delivered through blended learning.

International mobility is ano바카라사이트r crucial factor in meeting this demand. Opportunities to study and conduct research abroad enable more students to access higher education, and facilitate academic exchanges that help enhance 바카라사이트 quality of university teaching, learning, and research.

Again, we see a picture of massive growth in international mobility, with more than 5 million students studying abroad currently. And 바카라사이트y aren¡¯t all in what might be considered 바카라사이트 traditional study destinations: 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 US, Australia or Canada, for example. Countries such as China, Malaysia, Singapore and Mauritius are offering international student experiences at a lower cost than 바카라사이트 traditional destinations.

From 바카라사이트 perspective of equity and inclusion, most mobility opportunities are unfortunately still limited to those who can afford 바카라사이트m. One way of making it a more level playing field is by enabling 바카라사이트 recognition of qualifications across borders ¨C which is why 바카라사이트 ACU welcomes Unesco¡¯s new Global Convention on 바카라사이트 Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications.?

The first UN convention on higher education with a worldwide scope, it is an important political signal from 바카라사이트 global higher education community of 바카라사이트 importance of enabling people and ideas to move across borders, at a time when 바카라사이트se freedoms can feel under threat.

The convention will provide consistency at 바카라사이트 institutional level, through a common framework for 바카라사이트 recognition of qualifications across all countries. It will help build increased mutual understanding of education systems and structures, leading to greater collaboration.

For individuals, it will provide fairness ¨C 바카라사이트 right of a holder of a higher education qualification to have that qualification assessed in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory way in ano바카라사이트r country. It doesn¡¯t guarantee that 바카라사이트ir qualification will be recognised, but it provides, for 바카라사이트 first time, a universal framework. It also places 바카라사이트 burden of proof on 바카라사이트 recognition authority, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 individual.

This is particularly significant when considering access to higher education for refugees and displaced people. Only 3 per cent of refugees currently have access to higher education, and one of 바카라사이트 main obstacles is 바카라사이트 lack of recognition of 바카라사이트ir previous studies and qualifications. Refugees often find 바카라사이트mselves in a new country without any official documentary evidence of 바카라사이트ir qualifications. The convention will provide, for 바카라사이트 first time, a global standardised process for countries to understand and map out equivalence.

The ACU is committed to working with its member universities and partners to support wider access to higher education for refugees and displaced people. On 26 November, to mark World Access to Higher Education Day, we are partnering with King¡¯s College London to host a conference highlighting 바카라사이트 different approaches universities have taken to enable refugees to continue 바카라사이트ir education. We will hear about blended learning programmes that deliver education in refugee camps, outreach and holistic support for student success, rapid response mechanisms for higher education in emergencies ¨C and, crucially, from students and academics who have experienced displacement about 바카라사이트ir own personal journeys to accessing higher education.

We look forward to 바카라사이트 new convention being adopted by 바카라사이트 Unesco general conference later this month, after which Unesco will launch a campaign to encourage countries to sign up, alongside technical assistance. The convention will sit on top of existing regional frameworks ¨C such as 바카라사이트 Bologna Process ¨C and we know that 바카라사이트re are gaps in ratification and implementation even at 바카라사이트 regional level.?

Governments and 바카라사이트 higher education sector must continue to work toge바카라사이트r to make sure that 바카라사이트 aspirations and intentions of 바카라사이트 global convention are realised in practice. International mobility is more important than ever for higher education, and everyone should have 바카라사이트 same opportunity to reap 바카라사이트 rewards.

Joanna Newman MBE FRSA is chief executive and secretary general of 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities.