putrajaya, malaysia november 16, 2007. issues of quality assurance in off-shore degree programs in...
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Putrajaya, MalaysiaPutrajaya, Malaysia
November 16, 2007November 16, 2007
Issues of Quality AssuranceIssues of Quality Assurance in in
Off-Shore Degree Programs Off-Shore Degree Programs in Asiain Asia
Stephen C. DunnettProfessor &
Vice Provost for International Education
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Brief review of American and Brief review of American and Asian Student Mobility trends Asian Student Mobility trends from the post-war years to the from the post-war years to the present.present.
1960’S
1980’S1945 -1970’s
With respect to student mobility, a new With respect to student mobility, a new trend arose in the late 1990’s and has trend arose in the late 1990’s and has accelerated in recent years, that is the shift accelerated in recent years, that is the shift of Asian students from study in the United of Asian students from study in the United States toward study in other Asian States toward study in other Asian countries, as well as Australia, Europe, the countries, as well as Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and Canada. United Kingdom and Canada.
Now, international students from Now, international students from Asian countries can be found Asian countries can be found studying in China, Japan, Taiwan, studying in China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.Philippines, and Singapore.
International Student International Student Enrollments in ChinaEnrollments in China
KoreansKoreans 54,03654,036
JapaneseJapanese 18,90518,905
VietnameseVietnamese 5,7845,784
IndonesiansIndonesians 4,6554,655
ThaisThais 3,6683,668
Source - IIE: Atlas of Student Mobility (2005)
Total International Students Studying in China: 141,087 (2005)
International Student International Student Enrollments in JapanEnrollments in Japan
ChineseChinese 74,29474,294
KoreansKoreans 15,92015,920
TaiwaneseTaiwanese 4,2454,245
ThaisThais 2,1222,122
IndonesiansIndonesians 2,1222,122
Source - IIE: Atlas of Student Mobility (2006)
Total International Students Studying in Japan: 117,927 (2006)
International Student International Student Enrollments in MalaysiaEnrollments in Malaysia
ChineseChinese 10,46010,460
IndonesiansIndonesians 5,6255,625
BangladeshiBangladeshi 2,1282,128
PakistaniPakistani 1,1551,155
IndiansIndians 942942
Source - IIE: Atlas of Student Mobility (2003)
Total International Students Studying in Malaysia: 30,407 (2003)
China: 141,087 (2005)*China: 141,087 (2005)*Japan: 117,927 (2006)*Japan: 117,927 (2006)*South Korea: 22,624 (2006)*South Korea: 22,624 (2006)*Malaysia: nearly 40,000 (2006)*Malaysia: nearly 40,000 (2006)*Singapore: approximately 72,000 (2005)**Singapore: approximately 72,000 (2005)**
(mostly from Southeast Asia, China and India)(mostly from Southeast Asia, China and India)
International Student Enrollments International Student Enrollments in Asiain Asia
*IIE: Atlas of Student Mobility**Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)
Malaysian campuses in China, Thailand Malaysian campuses in China, Thailand and Indonesiaand Indonesia
Singaporean campuses in China, India Singaporean campuses in China, India and Indonesiaand Indonesia
Japanese campuses in Singapore and Japanese campuses in Singapore and ChinaChina
Branch Campuses of Asian Branch Campuses of Asian Institutions in Other Asian CountriesInstitutions in Other Asian Countries
ethical recruitment practices ethical recruitment practices
appropriate admission requirements appropriate admission requirements
protect students from foreign degree mills protect students from foreign degree mills
protect students from poor quality distance protect students from poor quality distance learning programslearning programs
Quality Assurance in Establishment Quality Assurance in Establishment of Academic Programs Overseasof Academic Programs Overseas
Ensure:Ensure:curricula of foreign academic programs are curricula of foreign academic programs are relevant for host country needsrelevant for host country needsentrance requirements for foreign academic entrance requirements for foreign academic programs are appropriateprograms are appropriateforeign and locally hired faculty are suitably foreign and locally hired faculty are suitably qualifiedqualifiedfacilities and student support services are facilities and student support services are adequateadequate
Quality Assurance in Establishment Quality Assurance in Establishment of Academic Programs Overseasof Academic Programs Overseas
protect students from exorbitant tuition and protect students from exorbitant tuition and feesfees
protect students from “fly by night” programsprotect students from “fly by night” programs
ensure transfer creditsensure transfer credits
ensure recognition of foreign degreesensure recognition of foreign degrees
Quality Assurance in Establishment Quality Assurance in Establishment of Academic Programs Overseasof Academic Programs Overseas
Accreditation in the United States:Accreditation in the United States:ContextContext
no national higher education authority, no no national higher education authority, no ministry of educationministry of education
some quality assurance provided by state some quality assurance provided by state governmentsgovernments
Result: high variability in quality in U.S. higher Result: high variability in quality in U.S. higher educationeducation
Accreditation in the United States:Accreditation in the United States:ContextContext
tradition of non-governmental peer tradition of non-governmental peer evaluation of institutions and programsevaluation of institutions and programs
regional accrediting agencies such as regional accrediting agencies such as Middle States AssociationMiddle States Association
professional accrediting bodies, e.g. professional accrediting bodies, e.g. AACSB, ABET, etc.AACSB, ABET, etc.
Quality of International Quality of International Student ServicesStudent Services
NAFSA and AIEA: standards and best NAFSA and AIEA: standards and best practices for services to international practices for services to international studentsstudents
Accreditation of Overseas Accreditation of Overseas Programs by U.S. AgenciesPrograms by U.S. Agencies
AACSB accredits programs in other countriesAACSB accredits programs in other countries
ABET does not accredit foreign programs but ABET does not accredit foreign programs but recognizes “substantially equivalent” recognizes “substantially equivalent” programs overseas, comparable in programs overseas, comparable in educational outcomeseducational outcomes
In Asia, accreditation is not well established or In Asia, accreditation is not well established or non-existentnon-existent
quality assurance responsibility of ministries of quality assurance responsibility of ministries of educationeducation
Asia-Pacific Associations for International Asia-Pacific Associations for International Education (APAIE)Education (APAIE)
in Asia, little or no oversight of programs for in Asia, little or no oversight of programs for international studentsinternational students
Accreditation of Overseas Accreditation of Overseas Programs by U.S. AgenciesPrograms by U.S. Agencies
University at Buffalo University at Buffalo Academic Programs in AsiaAcademic Programs in Asia
first U.S. MBA program in China (1984-1989)first U.S. MBA program in China (1984-1989)
first branch campus in Malaysia (1986-1991): first branch campus in Malaysia (1986-1991): twinning program with Mara Institute of twinning program with Mara Institute of TechnologyTechnology
EMBA at Singapore Institute of Management EMBA at Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) (1996)(SIM) (1996)
University at Buffalo University at Buffalo Academic Programs in AsiaAcademic Programs in Asia
EMBA at Renmin University of China (1998)EMBA at Renmin University of China (1998)
EMBA at Motorola University, Beijing (1999)EMBA at Motorola University, Beijing (1999)
Economics and Business Administration Economics and Business Administration (EBA) Program at Konan University (2001)(EBA) Program at Konan University (2001)
Undergraduate programs at SIM (2004)Undergraduate programs at SIM (2004)
Benefits of Overseas Benefits of Overseas Academic ProgramsAcademic Programs
raise profile and prestige of universityraise profile and prestige of university
contribute to increased high-quality contribute to increased high-quality international student enrollmentsinternational student enrollments
create opportunities for research in the host create opportunities for research in the host countrycountry
contribute to the overall internationalization contribute to the overall internationalization of the campusof the campus
Benefits of Overseas Benefits of Overseas Academic ProgramsAcademic Programs
enhance the development of international enhance the development of international alumni relationsalumni relations
foster and support bilateral academic foster and support bilateral academic exchanges relationshipsexchanges relationships
financial incentivesfinancial incentives
Common Difficulties in Common Difficulties in Overseas ProgramsOverseas Programs
cross-cultural communication problems cross-cultural communication problems with local partnerswith local partners
inadequacy of fundinginadequacy of funding
communication between home and communication between home and branch campusesbranch campuses
cultural adjustment of expatriate faculty cultural adjustment of expatriate faculty and staffand staff
Common Difficulties in Common Difficulties in Overseas ProgramsOverseas Programs
difficulties with recruitment of qualified difficulties with recruitment of qualified facultyfaculty
recruitment of suitably qualified studentsrecruitment of suitably qualified students
ensuring academic quality of program ensuring academic quality of program and performance of studentsand performance of students
replicating U.S. learning environmentreplicating U.S. learning environment
UB Policies on Overseas UB Policies on Overseas Academic ProgramsAcademic Programs
To be approved, proposed program must meet the To be approved, proposed program must meet the following conditions:following conditions:
be consistent with institutional prioritiesbe consistent with institutional priorities
prior approval and registration of degree program prior approval and registration of degree program by appropriate authorityby appropriate authority
meet applicable accreditation requirementsmeet applicable accreditation requirements
adhere to university’s standards for admission and adhere to university’s standards for admission and English language proficiencyEnglish language proficiency
partner institution must be duly recognized by partner institution must be duly recognized by appropriate authoritiesappropriate authorities
UB Policies on Overseas UB Policies on Overseas Academic ProgramsAcademic Programs
To be approved, proposed program must meet the To be approved, proposed program must meet the following conditions:following conditions:
faculty must be suitably qualifiedfaculty must be suitably qualified
full direct and indirect costs must be recoveredfull direct and indirect costs must be recovered
budget must include provision for academic budget must include provision for academic reinvestment fund (10 percent of total direct costs)reinvestment fund (10 percent of total direct costs)
all instructional facilities including library and IT all instructional facilities including library and IT must meet UB standardsmust meet UB standards
students services must meet UB standardsstudents services must meet UB standards
UB Quality Assurance ProvisionsUB Quality Assurance Provisions
Admission requirements and process exclusive Admission requirements and process exclusive responsibility of UBresponsibility of UB
Selection of faculty solely at discretion of appropriate Selection of faculty solely at discretion of appropriate UB departmentUB department
Oversight committee responsible for academic quality Oversight committee responsible for academic quality and smooth administration of programand smooth administration of program
frequent visits to overseas programs by UB faculty frequent visits to overseas programs by UB faculty and staff with oversight responsibilityand staff with oversight responsibility
constant monitoring of learning outcomes (student constant monitoring of learning outcomes (student performance) and compliance with accreditation performance) and compliance with accreditation requirementsrequirements
RecommendationsRecommendations
quality assurance should be the shared quality assurance should be the shared responsibility of foreign and local responsibility of foreign and local partnerpartner
governments should regulate foreign governments should regulate foreign education programseducation programs
local institutions enrolling international local institutions enrolling international students should meet world class students should meet world class standardsstandards
RecommendationsRecommendations
local institutions should provide satisfactory local institutions should provide satisfactory services and support for international services and support for international studentsstudents
governments and institutions of higher governments and institutions of higher education should work together to establish education should work together to establish procedures for mutual recognition of procedures for mutual recognition of qualifications, transfer of credits across qualifications, transfer of credits across borders, and harmonization of their borders, and harmonization of their educational systems, along lines of Bologna educational systems, along lines of Bologna process in Europeprocess in Europe
