Recognition ofRecognition of Qualifications andQualifications and

HarmonizationHarmonization

Olusola OyewoleOlusola OyewoleUniversity of Agriculture,University of Agriculture,

Abeokuta, NigeriaAbeokuta, Nigeria

Recognition of Recognition of Qualifications as an Qualifications as an

instrument to support instrument to support Harmonization, Harmonization,

Transnational education Transnational education and Mobilityand Mobility

Olusola OyewoleOlusola OyewoleUniversity of Agriculture,University of Agriculture,

Abeokuta, NigeriaAbeokuta, Nigeria

Bologna QuoteBologna Quote“Recognition (of

Qualifications) is avery importantdimension of theBologna process,regardless of whetherit involves degrees,competences, or theacknowledgment ofprior learningoutcomes

“Recognition (of Qualifications) is crucial to

• mobility, • life-long learning,• access,• employability • and ultimately to

the very existence of a coherent European Higher Education area”

What is QualificationWhat is Qualification• Basic taught

education,• Specialist

knowledge• Skills• Something

acquired by training or by experience

Acquired through both formal and informal education

Recognition of Qualification

Appreciation of Qualification as legitimate;

Acceptance of whole or part of credits connected to a qualification.

Acceptance of the equivalencies of a qualification to another qualification in a territory or system.

Issues Relating to Recognition of Qualifications

Difficulties in relating a claimed qualification in the context of another qualification to which it is being compared.

Recognition of period of studies or credits, being part of a final qualification that is yet to be concluded.

Recognition of non-formal qualifications and skills.

Recognition of prior-learning outcomes

Recognition vs. Recognition vs. Harmonization?Harmonization?

RECOGNITION HARMONIZATION

What Harmonization Is:What Harmonization Is:

A process of mutual recognition of A process of mutual recognition of the contents and quality of the contents and quality of educational programmes, degrees educational programmes, degrees and certificates in different and certificates in different nations and regions, with nations and regions, with appreciation of their equivalences appreciation of their equivalences or comparability within and outside or comparability within and outside ones own nation or regionones own nation or region

What Harmonization is not:What Harmonization is not:

Harmonization as applied to education Harmonization as applied to education is not synonymous with :is not synonymous with :UniformityUniformityStandardisationStandardisationRegulationRegulationCondensationCondensationHomogenizationHomogenizationUnificationUnification…………..of all higher education of all higher education systemssystems

African HE Harmonization African HE Harmonization Defined:Defined:

Harmonization of Higher Education in Harmonization of Higher Education in Africa refers to the agreement, and Africa refers to the agreement, and coordination of higher education coordination of higher education provision in Africa provision in Africa while developing while developing and agreeing to minimum standardsand agreeing to minimum standards

and and ensuring equivalencyensuring equivalency

and and comparability of qualificationscomparability of qualifications

between and within countries.between and within countries.

Anglophone vs. Francophone System

(Case for Harmonization. 1)

D

M

L

5 yrs EcoleMasters

Professional Ingeneur(terminal)

Double Competence Degree. E.g. Techn MBA

2 Yrs Techndegree

Anglophone system Francophone multi-degree system – Now

being harmonized into the LMD System

Prof. Bachelors(Terminal)

Professional PG

(terminal)

Difficult to understand the Multi- degree options. Hence the current LMD reforms

Doctorate

Case for Harmonization. 2

Entry Qualifications vary from country to country -

Pre- Higher Education years duration vary from country to country and even within the same region.

Contents of the Curriculum for the same qualification vary from country to country.

Absence of minimum academic contents for various courses.

System SupportRecognition Harmonization

1. Transparencies of contents.

1. Transparencies of contents.

2. Comparability of contents and Learning outcomes.And equivalencies (DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT)

2. Comparability and equivalencies of contents and Learning outcomes.

3. Confidence of existence of Assurance of Quality.

3. Confidence of existence of Assurance of Quality.

4. Skills, Competences and Learning Outcomes

4. Establishment of Minimum Academic Standards (Subject level contents, Skills and learning outcomes)

African Strategies for African Strategies for Harmonization and RecognitionHarmonization and Recognition

Political Mobilization.Political Mobilization.

Institutional Quality Assurance Institutional Quality Assurance ProgramsPrograms

National Quality Assurance Agencies National Quality Assurance Agencies and National Qualification frameworks.and National Qualification frameworks.

Regional Qualification Frameworks.Regional Qualification Frameworks.

African Quality Harmonization African Quality Harmonization Framework and African Credit Transfer Framework and African Credit Transfer Schemes.Schemes.

FUNCTIONAL QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM

QUALITY ASSURANCE

RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS

HARMONIZATION

NETWORKINGMOBILITY

EmployabilityAccess

Political System

Titled: The Arusha Convention

Regional Convention on recognition of studies, certificates, diplomas, degrees, and others academic qualifications in higher education in the African states.

Adopted: At Arusha, Tanzania, on 5th December, 1981.

Revised: Capetown, South Africa in June, 2002

Amended: in Dakar, Senegal, June, 2003

The Arusha Convention: The Arusha Convention: (Purpose and Objectives) (Purpose and Objectives)

Greater mobility of students and Greater mobility of students and people engaged in an occupation/ people engaged in an occupation/ profession throughout the African profession throughout the African continent.continent.

Reinforcement of African solidarity Reinforcement of African solidarity and the African cultural identity.and the African cultural identity.

Effective use of resources through Effective use of resources through improving academic mobility of improving academic mobility of students and teachers.students and teachers.

Recognition o full qualifications and Recognition o full qualifications and also, also, ““stages of studystages of study”” and and ““ experiential learningexperiential learning””..

The Arusha Convention: (Mechanisms)

The contracting states undertake to “take all necessary steps at a national level”, to recognise qualifications obtained in a higher education institutions situated in the territory of other contracting states and recognized by them.

The convention gives general guidelines and calls for the setting up of national and sub-regional bodies to implement activities.

There is a regional committee composed of representatives of all contracting states, which meets every two years

System to Support Harmonization in Africa

(1) Establishment and Maintenance of Political Commitment.

(2) Establishment of a Central Database for African HEIs and Programs.

(3) Development of an African Framework for HE qualifications.

(4) Creation of Minimum Standards in targeted Qualifications

(5) Establishment of Curriculum. And Student Mobility Schemes

Assessment of Harmonization Systems in Africa

Expected Outcomes

Specific Goals Ra

(1) Establishme nt and Maintenanc e of Political Commitmen t

Endorsement of the AU HEP Harmonization Strategy by African Ministers

5

Statements of Commitment from Key Agencies;

3

Revision of the revised Arusha Convention

2

2. Assessment of Harmonization Systems in Africa

Expected Outcomes

Specific Goals Ra

2. Establishme nt of a Central Database for African HEIs and Programs

Establishment and maintenance of central database of African HEIs

2

Establishment of African system to measure performance of HEIs

3

Representation of African interest sin global HEIs ranking system

2

3. Assessment of Harmonization Systems in Africa

Expected Outcomes

Specific Goals Ra

(3) Developme nt of an African Framework for HE qualification s

Provision of support to countries in establishing and running accreditation and quality assurance bodies

3

Establishment through RECS of Regional Harmonization Process

4

Research in Key areas 1

4. Assessment of Harmonization Systems in Africa

Expected Outcomes

Specific Goals Ra

(4) Creation of Minimum Standards in targeted Qualificatio ns

Establishment of a continental framework for qualifications

0

Development of Minimum Academic Standards in different qualifications

2

Quality Assurance Agency in each country providing monitoring and evaluation

3

5. Assessment of Harmonization Systems in Africa

Expected Outcomes

Specific Goals Ra

(5) Establishme nt of Curriculum. And Student Mobility Schemes

Joint Curriculum Development and Mobility Schemes

2

Intra- African Academic Exchange and Joint Degrees

2

Open Education Resource Development

2

Conclusion

Recognition (of Qualifications) is crucial to – mobility, – life-long learning,– access,– employability – and ultimately to the Harmonization of

Higher education programs in Africa