john lesperance reports on the transnational qualifications framework at oeru meeting
DESCRIPTION
Presentation on the Transnational Qualifications Framework at the OERu TQF and course articulation meeting hosted by COL on 4 November 2013.TRANSCRIPT
What VUSSC is or isn’t?
VUSSC is not a university!
Ironic?
If not, then what?
What VUSSC is or isn’t?
VUSSC is not a university in the traditional sense. There are no:
• faculties• departments• schools, • classrooms or • lecturers
What VUSSC is or isn’t?
VUSSC can best be described as a concept!
What does this mean?
What VUSSC is or isn’t?
• An initiative of the education ministers of the 32 small states that account for two-thirds of the Commonwealth member states.
• To make available post secondary and tertiary level qualifications available to member states.
• To share post-secondary and tertiary level qualifications among member states.
What VUSSC is or isn’t?
• VUSSC is “collaborative network” contributing to the strengthening and development of the tertiary education sectors in participating states.
• VUSSC is a “clearing house” for “collecting” and “registering” qualifications.
• VUSSC is a platform for “storing” qualifications.
Participating countries
• Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Lesotho, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, The Bahamas, The Gambia, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
• Montserrat, The Cayman Islands (non-Commonwealth).
• University of Zanzibar, Zanzibar, Tanzania
The Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth
The TQF
What is the VUSSC Transnational Qualifications Framework (TQF)?
The TQF
• is a translation instrument for the classification of VUSSC qualifications to improve credit transfer and promote common accreditation
mechanisms between participating VUSSC countries
The TQFTQF as a mapping instrument
• Improve credit transfer and articulation between countries
• Promote common quality assurance mechanisms
• Does not replace existing qualifications frameworks
• Unified, credit-based with 10 levels• Sectoral and incremental implementation• Non-regulatory
Level Qualifications Titles Minimum Credits
10 Doctoral Degree 360
9 Masters Degree 240
8 Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma;Bachelor’s Degree with Honours 120
7 Bachelor’s DegreeGraduate Certificate and Diploma; 360
6 Advanced/ Higher DiplomaAssociate Degree/ Foundation Degree 240
5 Diploma 240
4 Advanced Certificate 120
3 Certificate III 40
2 Certificate II 40
1 Certificate I 40
Referencing the TQFLevel Qualifications Titles Minimum
Credits
10 Doctoral Degree 3609 Masters Degree 240
8Postgraduate
Certificate and Diploma;
Bachelor’s Degree with Honours
120
7Bachelor’s Degree
Graduate Certificate and Diploma;
Referencing the TQF360
6Advanced/ Higher
DiplomaAssociate Degree/ Foundation Degree
240
5 Diploma 240
Level Qualifications Titles Minimum Credits
4 Advanced Certificate 120
3 Certificate III 40
2 Certificate II 40
1 Certificate I 40
Level Qualifications Titles Minimum Credits
10 Doctoral Degree 360
9 Masters Degree 240
8Postgraduate Certificate and
Diploma;Bachelor’s Degree with
Honours120
7Bachelor’s Degree
Graduate Certificate and Diploma;
360
6Advanced/ Higher Diploma
Associate Degree/ Foundation Degree
240
5 Diploma 240
4 Advanced Certificate 120
3 Certificate III 40
2 Certificate II 40
1 Certificate I 40
Underlying Principle
TQF Referenced to MQF & EQF
TQF Referenced to CQF
The VUSSC Transnational Qualifications Framework (TQF)
RQF
MoUGuidelines forRecognition
Registration of courses onto TQF
Note: Dotted lines refer to registration process of courses that have already been quality assured by the NQAA or other recognised authority
Providers
VUSSC
Conduit coordinated by COL
Optional
Course material developed using ODL
mode
PROVIDERS
offer a range of courses
REGIONAL QA REQUIREMENTS
(RQF, where applicable)
Optional
TRANSNATIONAL QA REQUIREMENTS
Optional
National recognition
National and regional
recognition
National, regional and transnational recognition
No/very limited recognition (non-
(formal)
Ministerial request,
transnational needs
NATIONAL QA REQUIREMENTS
(NQF or MOE)
Compulsory
Benefits of the TQF• Increase access to online
learning• Promote life long learning• TQF is voluntary – not
replacing existing system• Enhance transnational
education and training system
VUSSC OER CYCLE
The TQF Management Committee
• Oversee the development and implementation of the TQF
• Oversee the evaluation of programmes to be registered on the VUSSC TQF
• Communicate and advocate the TQF within Small States of the Commonwealth.
• Recommend the appointment of external observers, technical experts and external evaluators to COL when required
• Develop and maintain appropriate strategic networks to enhance the objectives and performance of the TQF.
Challenges of the TQF• Registration of Qualifications on the NQF/TQF• Ventilation of the TQF• Referencing of the TQF with other meta-framework
like the EQF• Involvement of all stakeholders• Other countries that wish to use TQF• Certification
www.col.org/vusscwww.vussc.info
www.facebook.com/vussc