Capacity Building for QA: The experience of RIACES Third Global Forum on International Quality Assurance, Accreditation and the Recognition of Qualifications Maria Jose Lemaitre Dar es Salaam, September 2007

September 2007MJL2 RIACES Iberoamerican Network for Quality Assessment and Assurance in Higher EducationIberoamerican Network for Quality Assessment and Assurance in Higher Education Established in Buenos Aires, in 2004Established in Buenos Aires, in 2004 Has 29 members, in eighteen countries in Latin America, the Spanish speaking Caribbean dn SpainHas 29 members, in eighteen countries in Latin America, the Spanish speaking Caribbean dn Spain Its funding comes from fees paid by members (small) and a grant from the World Bank for three years, starting 2006Its funding comes from fees paid by members (small) and a grant from the World Bank for three years, starting 2006

September 2007MJL3 RIACES Its goal is to promote cooperation and exchange among iberoamerican countries on issues of assessment and accreditation of quality in higher education, and thus, to contribute to the quality of higher education in the region

September 2007MJL4 Member countries:

September 2007MJL5 Countries with QA agencies as RIACES members Argentina BrazilChileColombia Costa Rica CubaEcuadorSpainMéxicoParaguay Dominican Republic

September 2007MJL6 Priorities for action Support to quality assurance activities in those countries with no agency or where QA is in its initial stagesSupport to quality assurance activities in those countries with no agency or where QA is in its initial stages Support to existing agenciesSupport to existing agencies Strengthening of links with international organizations (IESALC, INQAAHE, OEI, ALCUE)Strengthening of links with international organizations (IESALC, INQAAHE, OEI, ALCUE) Strengthening of the secretariat in order to provide information and act as a clearinghouse for QA issues ( of the secretariat in order to provide information and act as a clearinghouse for QA issues ( Strengthening of mutual recognition processesStrengthening of mutual recognition processes Carrying out studies on subjects identified by the GACarrying out studies on subjects identified by the GA

September 2007MJL7 Capacity building activities Training opportunities for the human resources within the external quality assurance agencies: Internships for staff members Internships for staff members Participation in international meetings and seminars. Participation in international meetings and seminars. Translation and dissemination of quality assurance materials from agencies around the world Translation and dissemination of quality assurance materials from agencies around the world Participation in conferences and seminars on QA in Latin America and other regions Participation in conferences and seminars on QA in Latin America and other regions

September 2007MJL8 Capacity building activities Training of academic and administrative staff within higher education institutions organization of meetings and workshops and other projects proposed and developed by the agencies.organization of meetings and workshops and other projects proposed and developed by the agencies. funding of projects to develop a self assessment capacity within higher education institutions,funding of projects to develop a self assessment capacity within higher education institutions, funding of specific projects, that may involve the presence of foreign consultants to work with groups that are trying to set up a quality assurance agency (Uruguay, Central America, Paraguay and Bolivia).funding of specific projects, that may involve the presence of foreign consultants to work with groups that are trying to set up a quality assurance agency (Uruguay, Central America, Paraguay and Bolivia).

September 2007MJL9 Capacity building activities Training of academic and administrative staff within higher education institutions (cont.) Organization of study visits for representatives from higher education institutions to learn about self assessment and quality assurance Organization of study visits for representatives from higher education institutions to learn about self assessment and quality assurance Organization of seminars or conferences on quality assurance related issues Organization of seminars or conferences on quality assurance related issues Training of external reviewers Participation of potential reviewers as observers in external review processes Participation of potential reviewers as observers in external review processes

September 2007MJL10 Capacity building activities Main objectives: To set up quality assurance as a joint effort of quality assurance agencies, higher education academic and administrative staff and evaluatorsTo set up quality assurance as a joint effort of quality assurance agencies, higher education academic and administrative staff and evaluators To invite government officials and other stakeholders to join these primary actors in working towards qualityTo invite government officials and other stakeholders to join these primary actors in working towards quality To help develop a regulatory framework both for national and transnational offeringsTo help develop a regulatory framework both for national and transnational offerings