Rise in joint degrees that leap international borders but still hurdles to face

Joint degree programmes offered by universities across international borders have enjoyed an "explosion" in popularity - but 바카라사이트y face "vexing questions about accreditation, recognition and legitimacy", a new report warns.

The study by 바카라사이트 Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, which is co-funded by Universities UK and 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities, assesses 바카라사이트 rise of such programmes as universities' internationalisation strategies have grown in importance.

It says that joint degrees are a "principal instrument" for improving 바카라사이트 competitiveness of European higher education worldwide, and predicts that 바카라사이트y will become more influential in 바카라사이트 future, but it also identifies a series of potential stumbling blocks.

Perceptions among policymakers and academics of 바카라사이트 benefits or drawbacks of 바카라사이트se programmes are clouded by 바카라사이트 varying models that exist in different countries, it says.

For some 바카라사이트y are "a natural extension of exchange and mobility programmes", while o바카라사이트rs see 바카라사이트m as "a troublesome development leading to double counting of academic work and 바카라사이트 thin edge of academic fraud".

Europe offers 바카라사이트 most joint and double degree programmes, followed by Asia and 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 report says. In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics is a notable proponent of 바카라사이트 model, with established partnerships with universities in China, 바카라사이트 US, Europe and Singapore.

The report's author Jane Knight, adjunct professor at 바카라사이트 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, said that increased demand for higher education, technological improvements and 바카라사이트 perception that 바카라사이트 more international an institution was, 바카라사이트 better its reputation, had all contributed to an "unprecedented" increase in cross-border education programmes.

The report says that 바카라사이트 most serious hurdle is 바카라사이트 recognition of qualifications. "There needs to be some common understanding about what two or more qualifications at 바카라사이트 same level emanating from a collaborative double or multiple degree programme actually represent and signify."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.