Quality Assurance, Harmonisation and Capacity Building – a German- Southeast Asian Case Study ASEM Conference Quality Assurance and Recognition in Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects Limassol, 7. December 2010

2 Overview 1.Interregional cooperation in the field of QA – where do we come from and why are we here? 2.Who we are: The DAAD and the DIES-programme 3.Upcoming cooperation on transnational Quality Assurance with partners in South East Asia

3 Berlin, May 2008: 1st Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME1) Berlin, April 2010: ASEM Expert Seminar on Credit Systems and Learning Outcomes Copenhagen, May 2011: Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME3) Limassol, December 2010: ASEM Expert Conference on Quality Assurance and Recognition ASEM: Interregional cooperation in the field of QA Ha Noi, May 2009: 2nd Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME2)

4 Who we are: the DAAD 14 Regional Offices and 50 Information Centres (IC) approx. 850 DAAD staff and approx. 500 DAAD Lecturers Host to the International ASEM Education Secretariat

5 Educational cooperation with developing countries Promoting academic, economic, and democratic development in developing and reform countries € 76 m Internationalisation of German universities Increasing the international appeal of German universities and promoting the international dimension in German higher education € 75 m Promoting German Studies and the German language abroad Promoting the German language and German Studies at foreign universities € 47 m Scholarships for foreigners Supporting future foreign elites at German universities and research institutes € 83 m Scholarships for Germans Supporting future German Leaders in their studies and Research abroad (including ERASMUS) € 111 m Who we are: the DAAD June 2010

6 Partnerships … aim at encouraging institutional partnership and at improving the management of university structures as well as resources at the institutional level Training Courses … give advice on improving management strategies and structures of universities UNILEAD International Deans’ Course UNITRACE Proposal Writing Dialogue … fosters the exchange on topics of higher education management and quality assurance DIES Conferences DIES Visits DIES Seminars DIES: Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies Who we are: the DIES-Progamme Projects … support developing countries in the establishment of transnational quality assurance systems

7 DIES: Our experience in transnational QA Projects Central America ( )  Regional University Association CSUCA strengthened  20 QA units established  150 study programmes and 6 universities evaluated  Central American Accreditation Council established  Regional QA agencies (Postgraduate + Engineers) established East Africa (2006 to date)  Regional QA Coordination Unit at IUCEA set up  Handbook as QA framework developed and politically endorsed  45 QA units established  50 self evaluations carried out

8 Long-term, general objectives: Increased mobility of students and researchers Increased employability of graduates Increased international competitiveness of HE in SEA Increased EU-SEA dialogue and exchange in HE Transnational: mutual learning, coordination, comparability, compatibility; trust building, transparency, credibility, efficiency DIES: Transnational Quality Assurance in South East Asia Partners: Projects … support developing countries in the establishment of transnational quality assurance systems

9 Specific objectives: Developing the capacity of staff working in the field of QA both on the university as well as on the system level (IQA officers & EQA agency/ ministry staff) Strengthening university structures by enhancing quality („quality culture“) Making curricula more relevant by meeting the demands of stakeholders (e.g. labour market, students) Facilitating a regional framework for QA, and thus increasing interregional higher education cooperation and mobility (recognition) Mapping QA standards and guidelines in Europe and in South East Asia Exchange of experiences and good practice in Europe and South East Asia (learning from each other) DIES: Transnational Quality Assurance in South East Asia Projects … support developing countries in the establishment of transnational quality assurance systems

10 Specific objectives (continued): Benchmarking regional learning outcomes on the subject level (joint standards) Increasing HE cooperation not only within but also beyond the region (European-South East Asian Dialogue) DIES: Transnational Quality Assurance in South East Asia  Dialogue & Multiplication Means: 1.Cooperation with regional higher education organisations, QA authorities (agencies and governments), relevant stakeholders (e.g. labour market and students)  Training for Self-Evaluation  Training for Peer-Review 2.Capacity Development in the field of QA Projects … support developing countries in the establishment of transnational quality assurance systems

11 DIES: Transnational Quality Assurance in South East Asia Evaluation IQA: University QA officers EQA: a. Middle Management QA agencies b. Peers/ assessors QA theory prepare SAR Elaborati ng regional QA standards Oct Draft SARs Report writing Peer training March 2012 Site-Visits Submit SARs Preparati on of site visits Oct Dialogue March 2011 Sensitisation : Delegation of Vice-Presidents June 2011

12 Under the framework of the DIES-programme, the DAAD in cooperation with AUN, AQAN, SEAMEO-RIHED and ENQA is launching a joint project on transnational Quality Assurance in Southeast Asia. This initiative is very much in line with the foci and recommendations of the 1st and 2nd ASEMME in 2008 and 2009, the ASEM Expert Seminar in 2010 and feeds into the 3rd ASEMME in May 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Its objectives aim at supporting and enhancing trust among stakeholders, transparency, mutual recognition of study periods and degrees, mobility. This project focuses on development capacity – if also embedded in a regional political process it gains more impact and sustainability. This project has the potential to serve as a starting point for further (bilateral) cooperation if comparable measures, trainings or workshops are supported and its results dissemminated accordingly. Resumé

Contact: Marc Wilde, Head of Unit, Joint Higher Education Management Programmes (DIES), DAAD Germany Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies THANK YOU!