Winter 2024
Introduction
Our Winter issue provides a snapshot of some transformative efforts to ensure quality higher education worldwide. From UNESCO’s Campus Africa project that is impacting quality assurance across nine Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, to the European Higher Education Area’s ambitious plans to revise its Standards and Guidelines, change is happening at every level.
This issue also recaps pivotal moments such as our recent webinar on the role of AI in quality assurance and the engaging visit from an African delegation that participated in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. We also welcome the opportunity to recognize the newest members of the CHEA International Quality Group (CIQG).
As you explore these stories and discover the remarkable initiatives driving progress in higher education, please know that the QI News Team thanks you for your continued support, and wishes you happy holidays!
UNESCO’s Quality Assurance Project to Benefit Nine Countries
UNESCO’s Regional Office for Southern Africa (UNESCO ROSA) has launched a quality assurance initiative to improve higher education systems in nine Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. Led by Dr. Peter Wells, UNESCO ROSA’s Head of Education, the initiative is part of the Campus Africa project, which aims to build inclusive and high-quality tertiary education systems. Dr. Wells highlighted that the program, piloted in Zimbabwe, focuses on implementing robust quality assurance practices, addressing digital transformation, and fostering international collaboration to align education standards with global benchmarks. He emphasized the program’s alignment with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s 2063 vision for equitable development, acknowledging the region’s strong academic history while addressing challenges such as fragmented practices and limited capacity.
The program includes training on quality assurance foundations, digital transformation, curriculum design, and internationalization. Participants in the Zimbabwe pilot recommended leveraging digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) for personalized learning, fostering partnerships to enhance global recognition of qualifications, and aligning institutional practices with international frameworks such as the Addis Convention. Dr. Wells underscored the importance of ratifying global conventions to facilitate academic mobility and qualification recognition, with 14 African countries ratifying the Addis Convention as of October 2024. This initiative positions UNESCO as a leader in advancing education quality across the region, ensuring continuous improvement and global competitiveness. READ MORE.
What’s Next for the European Quality Assurance Framework?
In the 2024 meeting of the ministers responsible for higher education in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and mandate was given to the authors of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the EHEA (ESG) to prepare a revised version of the document. The ESG form the accepted framework for internal and external quality assurance across EHEA and are fundamental for promoting trust and transparency between and within higher education systems, while facilitating accountability and enhancement. READ MORE.
Anna Gover, Director and Elena Cîrlan, Senior Policy and Project Coordinator
European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA)
Undoing Internationalization is a Problem, not a Solution
Looking at the current debate taking place in high-income countries about higher education and its international dimensions, one wonders if 50 years of internationalization in higher education have come to an end, with examples including discussions on caps on international student admissions, a sharpened focus on knowledge security and attacks on academics and institutions collaborating with certain countries. Are we undoing internationalization?
READ MORE.
Webinar: AI’s Role in Quality Assurance and Ethics in Higher Education
On November 6, CHEA hosted a thought-provoking webinar exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping quality assurance in higher education. The session featured an esteemed panel of speakers, including Prof. Nadia Badrawi, CHEA CIQG Advisory Council Member, President of ANQAHE, and Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at Cairo University, who served as the moderator; Dr. Fengchun Miao, Chief of ICT in Education at UNESCO; and Mr. Cato Rolea, Assistant Director for Digital Transformation at Ecctis Ltd.
Panelists highlighted the transformative potential of AI in accreditation, showcasing advancements such as predictive analytics, workflow efficiency, and improved data accuracy. They also addressed ethical challenges inherent in AI adoption, emphasizing the importance of fairness, transparency, accountability, and the protection of student data.
Watch the Webinar here.
CHEA Hosts African Delegation
On October 3, 2024, a sixteen-member delegation from African countries participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) visited the Council for Higher Education Accreditation/International Quality Group (CHEA/CIQG) as part of their project titled "Developing University Partnerships: Connecting African Universities with HBCUs." The participants sought insights into CHEA’s efforts to ensure quality and accountability in American higher education, as well as trends, challenges, and successes in the U.S. accreditation system. The group included university presidents, administrators, representatives of international exchange and academic services departments, ESL professors, and two French-language interpreters.
The IVLP, a flagship professional exchange program of the U.S. Department of State, fosters global connections by enabling current and emerging leaders to engage in short-term professional exchanges with U.S. counterparts. These interactions are designed to address participants’ professional interests while advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives through meaningful, long-lasting relationships.
Welcome to Our Newest Members!
We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of The CHEA International Quality Group (CIQG). The following international (non-US based) and affiliate (US-based) members joined CIQG over the 2023/4 and 2024/5 fiscal years.
- Applied Science University, East Al-Ekir, Bahrain
- Arab Open University - Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon
- Booth University College, Winnipeg, Canada
- EduLearn Connect, Nassau, Bahamas
- Egor Yablokov, Berlin, Germany
- Grenada Medical and Dental Council, St. George, Grenada
- INARU Education Partners LLC, Florida, United States of America
- Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence & Business Management, Lusaka, Zambia
- Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Sharjah Maritime Academy, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Terreve College, Grand Bahamas, Bahamas
- The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, Bucharest, Romania
- University of Doha for Science and Technology, Doha, Qatar
- University of Fredericton, Fredericton, Canada
Membership in CIQG reflects a shared commitment to advancing quality in higher education worldwide through collaboration and respect for the diversity of systems, practices, and perspectives within our community. We are excited to partner with our new members to champion excellence in higher education globally. Thank you for your dedication to quality and innovation!
A complete list of CIQG members is available here.
Announcements
The 2025 CHEA/CIQG Annual Conference is scheduled for January 27 – 30, in Washington, D.C. at The Westin Washington D.C. City Center Hotel. This year’s in-person event promises to build on the excitement and successes of last year’s Annual Conference. The theme for the four-day conference is “Quality Assurance in an Era of Change: Reflect, Reimagine, Recommit,” a powerful message that seeks to engage the global CHEA/CIQG community. Register today!
Submissions
Remember that you are invited to submit articles or op-eds that focus on current topics relevant to quality assurance and international higher education. After reviewing the Quality International Newsletter Guidelines, please submit your articles, op-eds, announcements by March 3, 2025, for consideration of inclusion in the Spring 2025 issue of QI News.
The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation,
its International Quality Group, its Board, or its members.
Become a CIQG member, today!