Crossborder Education: Programs and Providers On The Move
Crossborder Education: Programs and Providers On The Move
By Dr. J a n e K n i g h t
Globalization is transfarming the world and internation glomerare) to establish the Al-Ahram Canadian
he Global Student Mobility 2025 Report (2002) pre Nijenrode) has recently opened a branch campus in
demand for international education will increase from • In 2002, Australian universities had over 97,000 stu
1 . 8 million international students in 2000 to 7.2 million dents enrolled in 1 , 5 6 9 crossborder programs. (This is
international students in 2025. By all accounts these are in addition to foreign srudenrs at Australian-based
be met by student mobility but it is clear D U R I N G THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE MOVEMENT OF
thar rhere will be exponential growrh in the
EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PROVIDERS ACROSS
movement of programs and instirutions,
and providers across national borders. New NATIONAL BOUNDARIES HAS BEEN A HOTBED OF
types of providers, new forms of delivery
ACTIVITY AND INNOVATION.
and new models of collaboration are being
During the last five years che movement of education • The International Institute of Information
programs and providers across nacional boundaries has been Technology (India) is establishing a reaching centre in
a hotbed of activity and innovation. The following are Moscow to offer irs Master's and PhD programs.
examples of hundreds of new initiatives that have developed • Dubai has developed a "Knowledge Village" in rhe
since 2002. Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone and to date
• Phoenix Universiry has become che largest privare uni rhe London School of Economics, Indiás Manipal
versity in the US (owned and operated by the Apollo Academy of Higher Education and rhe University of
Group company) and is now present or delivering Wollongong (Australia) are offering courses through
courses in Puerto Rico, Netherlands, Mexico and franchising agreements and branch campuses.
Canada. Other Apollo companies are offering courses • Laureate Education (formerly Sylvan Learning
in Brazil, India and China. Systems) has purchased whole or part of prívate
higher education institutions in Chile, Mexico, A fascinacing but very complex world of crossborder
Pana1na and Costa Rica and owns universities in education is emcrging. The purpose of rhis paper is to
Spain, Switzerland and France. delve into sorne of the trends, issues, challenges and
• The Universicy ofWescminster (UK) is rhe key for implications of rhese new developments. The objectives
eign academic partner in the new prívate Kingdom are: 1) to clarify the relationships between globalization,
University of Bahrain and plays a similar adviso internationalization, crossborder education and trade of
ry/provision role with new institutions in Nigeria, educational services; 2) to provide concrete examples of
Uzbekisran and Kazakhscan. che current types and models of program and provider
• As of ]une 2003, 858 degree-level programs from mobility; 3) to cry to develop a conceptual map of con
1 1 different countries were operating in Hong ceprs, terms and issues related to crossborder education;
Kong, and Singapore had 522 degree-level and 4) to identify issues and implications rhat need to be
programs from 12 foreign countries. addressed at che system level, such as qualicy assurance of
• Harvard University is developing rwo branch cam providers and recognition of qualifications.
pus initiatives in Cyprus and Uniced Arab Emirates. Given che rapid and perhaps tumulruous expansion
• Jinan University will be rhe first Chinese university of internacional academic mobility, it is important to be
to open a branch campus outside China - in clear about che paramecers of chis paper. The primary
• Germany invested 14 million Euros in acadernic providers across borders, not che mobility of students,
year 2003/2004 to encourage German universities The emphasis is on higher education, however many of
to operate abroad and to increase foreign student che issues and challenges apply to ocher levels. le is
These examples involve higher education providers ment cooperation projects or academic exchange agree
(including institutions and companies) delivering rheir ments. The paper concentrares on the provision of credit
courses and progran1s to students in their home coun based courses and programs leading to
tries. Ir is convincing evidence that it is no longer just certificares/ degrees and does not address in any substan
students who are moving across borders and that, even cial way che crossborder mobiliry of research and scholar
though in colonial times there was significant mobiliry ly initiatives. The discussion of issues and challenges is
of institutions, we have now entered a new era of cross targeted to system level policies and responsibilities.
border education.
1 . 2 TERMINOLOGY
1.1 PURPOSE
T
he knowledge society, lnformation and differs within and between countries. Even though
T
Communications Technologies (ICTs), and che one of the objeccives of chis paper is to make sense
market economy are increasing che demand for ter of the myriad of new terms rhat are emerging, it is
tiary and continuing education. This is leading to important to clarify how key concepts are interpreted
types of educacion providers, new modes of delivery, new Traditional higher educacion inscicucions (HE!s) are
programs and qualifications, new parrnerships and affilia no longer the only deliverers of academic courses and
rion models, new national regulations and in general, a programs. Internacional conglomerares, media and IT
shift from academic cooperarion and exchange to com companies, new partnerships of prívate and public bodies
2
THERE IS GREAT CONFUSION ABOUT THE M E A N I N G AND USE OF THE TERMS
both domestically and internationally. The terrn educa tions in terms of che recognition of providers and rheir
tion provider is now becoming a more comrnon and qualifications, the quality assurance of the programs
inclusive terrn as it includes tradicional HEis as well as being dclivered, and the role of national, regional and
organizations and companies. This paper uses rhe term internacional regulatory fratneworks.
T
of rhe environmenr in which higher education, and
etc. There is great confusion about che rucaning and use
especially che internacional ditnension of higher
of che terrns 'transnational, crossborder, and borderless'
T
section
T
che environment is impacring internationalizarion
che internacional dünension of education. An
and how growing internacional dimension of high
plerhora of new terrns, concepts and issues related to of che nature, causes, elements, consequences and futurc
crossborder education is addressed and a conceptual map irnplications of globalization on education is prolific,
in the form of typologies is presenred to clarify sorne of rather controversia! and very important (Altbach, 2004;
che confusion and misunderstanding. The lasr secrion Breton and Lambert, 2003; Enders and Fulton, 2 003;
concentrares on the identification of issues and implica- Marginson, 2 0 0 1 ; Scorr, 2 000). However, for che
3
purposes of this discussion, a neutral or non-ideological tions relate to all aspects of internationalization-the
definition of globalization is purposely adopted, and sec curriculum and teaching process, student and acadernic
ondly, globalization is posirioned as a key cnvironmental mobility, crossborder delivery of education progra1ns,
factor that has multiple effects-both posirive and nega internacional devclopment projects, study of foreign lan
It is important to note rhat the discussion does not The chart includes three columns, which are purposely
centre on the 'globalization of education'-rather, global not alígned because the impact of globalizarían is not
ization is presented as a phenomcnon impacring interna linear. The elements of globalization lisred in the first
tionalization. In fact, substancial efforts have been made colurnn have implications for many different aspects
during this pase decade to maintain che focus on the of higher education and in turn rhe internacional
term 'globalizarían of education'. This has had mixed This chart attemprs to position globalization and
results, but sorne success has bccn achieved in ensuring internationalization as different but closely linked
thar these two terms are not seen as synonymous and are processes. It reinforces rhe notion rhat globalization is a
not used interchangeably. rather generic process which irnpacrs different sectors, of
Globalization is defined as "rhe flow of technology, which higher education is just one. Examples of how rhe
PAST DECADE TO MAINTAIN THE FOCUS ON THE as both a reaction to and an agent
of globalization.
'INTERNATIONALIZATION OF EDUCATION' AND TO AVOID
Why is internationalization
economy, knowledge, people, values, and ideas . . . across cation needs to prepare students far living and working
borders. Globalization affects each country in a different in a more connecred, interdependent and globalized
way due to a nation's individual hisrory, traditions, cul world, and secondly, that research and scholarship need
ture and priorities. Globalization increases and reflects to contribute to nacional and internacional issues. On
the growing connectiviry and interdependence among rhe other hand, internationalization is seen as an agent of
nations" (Knight & de Wit, 1997, p. 6) . This definirían globalization, especially economic globalization or trade,
a cknowledges thar globalization is a multi-faceted process because the rnarket approach to higher education is
and can impact countries in vasrly different ways but ir becoming more active in rhe for-profit side of foreign
does nor take a position as to whether this i mpact has student recruitment and commercial crossborder delivery
whether these are catalysts far globalization or whether nly in the lasr two decades has the term interna
they are consequences of globalization, for this tionalization bcen an important part of higher
O
bur
discussion they are presented as elements or f actors of education vocabulary. Prior to this time, interna
globalization which have an enormous impacr on the cional development cooperation, internacional academic
education sector. affairs and foreign students were the key concepts used to
C hart One describes each of these fi ve elements of describe rhe kind of internacional activiries that post
globalizarían and notes sorne of rhe key i mplications for secondary institurions engaged in. Beginning in the
postsecondary education in general and rhe internacional mid-eighties internationalization of higher education,
dimension in particular. Thís chart presents highlights interprered in rhe broadest sensc, starced to increase in
only, not a complete analysis. Its purpose is to illustrate importan ce, scope and vol ume. Evidence of rhis includes
severa! of the major environrnental changes that are shap • growing number of studenrs, professors, and
4
• increase in che n umber of courses, progra ms an d internacional, interculrural or global dimension into rhe
• development of new intern acional networks a nd nationalization should be described in terrns of promoting
• increase in cam pus bascd extra-curricular activities qualiry and relevance of highcr education or contriburing
• irnperus given to recruitment of foreign st udents While these are noble inrentions and internationalization
• ris e in nurnber o f j oint or dou ble degrees can contribute to these goals, a definition needs to be
• e xpansion of partnerships, franchises , o ffshore objective enough chat ir can be used to describe a phe
sa cellite ca mpuses no menon which is in fact uni versal but which has di ffer
• establishment of ne w na cional organi zations ent purposes an d outcomes, d epending on rhe actor or
focused on in ternacional ed ucation sta keholder. The refore, ir is impo rtant to explain why s pe
cies and programs sup porting academic mo bilicy rhe proposed wor king definirion of internarionalizarion.
and orher inremationalization initiarives The te rm 'process' is deliberately used to conve y rhat
Ir is interesting to loo k a r che way in which definí 'Process' denotes an evolut onar i y or dev elopmental quali
tions / meanings of terms need to evolve to re flect ne w ty to the concept. The concept of 'integration' is specifi-
new definition is proposed which ac knowledges both Iev cally use d ro denote che process.of inf using ar ernbed
els and che need to address che rela tionship and coher ding rhe interna cional and interc ultural di mension into
ence be tween them, policies and programs in arder to ensure thar rhe interna
T he c hallenging pare of develo ping a defini rion is r he cional dimens on i rema ns i central - not 1narginal - an d
n eed far r
i to be generic enoug h to ap ply to m any differ sustainable. The conce pts of 'purpose, function a nd
en t counrries, l
cu tures and education systems . While i r is
i
del very ' have been carefully chosen and are meant to be
not necessarily the intention to develop a uni versal de fi used toget her. Purpose refe sr to che overall role an d
broad range of conrexts and for co mparative purposes an insritution. Funcrion refers to che primary elem ents or
across countries /regions of the world. With chis in mind, rasks chat charac terize a n acional post-second ary system
it is important to ensure that a de finition does not s peci or indivi dual institution, Usually these incl ude t eaching,
fy the ra cionales, benefits, outcomes , actors , activities, research an d service /outreach to socicry, Delivery is a nar
and stakeholders of interna tionalization as the y vary ro wer conce pt and refers to che offering of education
institution. What is critic a! is chat the interna cional co untries. This includes delive ry by tradicional higher
i
d mension relates to a li as pects of educ arion and che rol e education instituricns but al so by ne w providers uch
s as
thar ir pla ys in socie cy. T he fo llowing working de finition mulri-national companies who are afeen more interested
s proposed:
i
in che global deliver y of rheir prog rams and services than
i
t onal levels is de fined as "che process of integrating an or research and ser vice f unctions.
5
CHART ONE: IMPLICATIONS OF GLOBALIZATION FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION
Knowledge Society Growing emphasis on continuing New types of priva te and pub] ic providers
lncreasing irnportancc attached ro educacion, lifelong learning and continua! delivering education and rraining programs
che production and use of k..nowl- professional development crcating a across borders. For example. privare media
cdge as a wealth crearor for nations greater unmer demand for posrsecondary companies, nerworks of public/private insti-
nacional companies
ICTs New delivery mcthods used for domescic lncreased internacional mobiliry of stu-
New dcvclopments in information and crossborder education, especially on- dents, academics, education and craining
and communication cechnologies line and satellite based programs, research, providers and projects.
Market Economy Greater commercializarion and commodi- lnnovative internacional delivery mcthods
Growch in number and influencc of ficacion of higher educacion and training such as e-learning, franchises, sacellice cam-
markct-based economies around che at domestic and internacional levels puses require more attcntion given to
recognicion of qualifications
Trade Liberalization Import and export of cducational scrvices New concerns abouc appropriateness of cur-
New internacional and regional and produces increased as barriers riculum and teaching matcrials in different
trade agree1nents developed to removed cultures cnd countries and che potencial for
Governance The role of nacional Ievel education actors Increasing emphasis on comrnercially ori-
Creation of new internacional and boch government and non-governinent is ented expon and import of education pro-
regional governance structures and changing grams and diminished importancc to inter-
6
Another interesting development in the intcrnation world where education providers are moving across bor
alization vocabulary is rhe growing use of rwo new terms ders, this definition appears to be more applicable to pro
which reflect two related but different streams or compo gram mobilicy than provider mobilicy. In fact, it is curi
nents. of internationalization (Knighr 2003a). The first is ous to note the similarities thar now exist between this
'internationalization at home' (Nilsson, 1999) which first definition of transnational education and rhe current
refers to rhe internacional and intercultural dimension of deíinition rhat is being used to describe distance educa
curriculum, rhe teaching/learning process, research, tion. Perhaps this is also reflecred in the fact thar GATE
extra-curricular activities, in fact a host of activiries is now managed by rhe US Distance Learning
second cotnponent is 'internationalization abroad' which of Practice on Transnational Education' have described
involves students, teachers, scholars, programs, courses, transnational education in a similar way. They define
curriculum and projects moving between countries and transnational education to mean 'ali types of higher edu
2.3 CROSSBORDER EDUCATION: INNOVATION definicion is useful for sorne crossborder movement of
ANO COMPLEXITIES programs bur may have limired application far the
rossborder ed ucation is a terrn that refers to the vare companies which are establishing independenr or
derless education,
Australians were among rhe first to use rhe term attached to a "home" university bur instead are attached
'cransnational education' as they wanted to differentiate to a "home" company. Would one describe this situarían
between the recruitment of internacional studencs to as rhe learner being located in a different country chan
Australian campuses and those who were studying for the awarding insritution?
education became used to simply describe offshore inrer Melbourne Institute ofTechnology (RMIT) from
method,
which offers a wide selection of programs complete with
The Global Alliance far Transnational Education rhe physical facilities and the necessary adminiscrative,
(GATE) which was established a s a n independent organi academic, technological, socio-cultural serviccs. Is ir
zation in 1996 has, over the years, changed in terms of appropriate to describe chis situacion as che 'learners
disseminacing good pracrices in transnational ed ucation rhe awarding institution is based? In technical terms, the
and offering certification services. The definicion created answer may be yes, because RMIT Vietnam still has its
by GATE is "Transnational education . . . . denotes any degree conferring power from Australia, even though ic
teaching or learning activiry in which the studenrs are in may deliver progran1s in Vietnam thar are not offered in
a different country (the hosr country) to that in which Australia. Yet, the student at RMIT Vietnam is studying
rhe institution providing rhe education is based (the in a foil Viernam-based RMIT campus. These same
home country). This siruation requires chat nacional questions will apply to the ncw campus rhat rhe
7
for crossborder mobiliry of pro
ANOTHER REASON THAT A NEW FRAMEWORK IS
grams and providers and has provi
Education Programs,
AGREEMENT IN TRADE OF SERVICES ( G A T S ) .
signaling the similarities between
program or provider are virtual and delivering by dis offer an alternative to the ttade framework that the General
The term borderless education first appeared in an agreement managed by the World Trade Organization to
Australian repon by Cunningham et al (2000) and was íurther liberalize trade in services. Educarion is categorized
followed by a similar type of study in che United as a service, in the same way that transportation, communi
Kingdom. Basically che terrn borderless education refers cation, health and culture sectors are. The GATS has iden
to 'the blurring of conceptual, disciplinary and geograph tified four modes of trade or supply of services. They are as
important development following rhe publication of Mode 1: Crossborder supply focuses on the service
these reports was rhe establishment of the Observatory of crossing the border, which does not require the con
Borderless Higher Educacion (OBHE) in the UK. sumer to physically move. Examples in higher educa
menrs.
and transnational educarion in their reports. A close look
8
implied regarding the central features of rhe four modes semester/year abroad program, etc. The funding for
for trade services. On che contrary, ir is quite an accorn such crossborder education can be through exchange
supply of cornrnercial services for che 12 major service privare sources and self-funding. Professors, scholars
The concern abour these four trade modes focuses acriviries, technical assistance and consulting assign
on the fact thar they are now beginning to be seen as rhe rnents, sabbaricals, seminars and other professional
four primary elements and methods of crossborder edu acrivities. These types of initiarives can be self or
cation and as such, they do not capture or reílect rhe institution funded, based on exchange agreements,
tion is given to the analysis of tnajor actors, stakeholders, public and privare funding.
rion, funding, access, ir is important that these matters The prograrn, not the student, moves in this catego
are addressed for the largcr picture of crossborder educa ry. The delivery of the program is often done
activity is one approach, bur, given rhese new develop tional/foreign and domestic providers or can be an
framework is too limited andan education framework is programs can be delivered by distance, face-to-face,
oping a conceptual framework to address che scope of forms of arriculation and validation arrangemenrs are
educarion move? How does rhe movement occur? Why involves yet another set of circurnstances.
to classify "who/whar" moves across borders are described tion/provider rnoves to have physical or virtual pres
below:
ence in che receiving/host country. Ir is not the stu
People
student, The movernent of a provider can involve a
The firsr category covers che movement of people more substancial range of programs and
scholars/cxperts. Students are mobile in a number of provider can establish a sarellite ca1npus or establish
ways. They can rake whole degrees in another coun a full institution, In other scenarios thc provider
undertake field work or an internship, register for a tion. Virtual universities are yet another example of
9
the provider moving across borders through distance ment cooperarion/aid education projects, 2) academic
delivery of a selection of programs. The providers exchanges and linkages, and 3) commcrcial trade iniria
can include privare and public, for-profit or non tives. (In contrast, the GATS framework only covers
companies, Both recognized bona fide Chart 1Wo presents a framework for crossborder
institutions/providers and non-recognized "rogue" education based on two elements: what moves - people,
providers are included in rhis category. providers, programs, and projects and under what
There are a wide range of education related projects comrnercial/profit-orien red initiatives.
and services which need to be considered when ana This chart can also be used to illustrare significant
lyzing crossborder education. Such acriviries could trends or shifrs in crossborder education, and perhaps for
include a diversity of initiatives such as joint curricu internationalization in general. The first trend is rhc
lum development, research, benchmarking, technical focus of this paper - the vertical shifr downwards from
assistance, e-learning plarforms, professional develop student mo b ili ty to program and provider mobility. Ir is
ment and other capacity-building initiatives especial important to note that the number of students seeking
ly in the intormation technology area. The projects education in foreign countries is still increasing.
and services could be undertaken as part of develop However, there is currently new emphasis being placed
ment aid projects, academic linkages, and comrner on taking foreign academic courses and programs to stu
A sccond set of kcy factors relate to the fact that students do no t have to leave home to get it.
crossborder education occurs under different kinds of The second shifr is from lefr to right signifying sub
arrangements. Therefore, rhree different sets of condi stantial change in orien tarion from development cooper
tions far crossborder delivery are proposed: 1) develop- ation to competitive commcrce or, in other words, from
• Students
People • Professors/Scholars
• Researchers/
• Experrs/consultanrs
l
.
• Stand Alone
• Twinning
• Joint/Double Award
• Online/Distance
t
• Branch Campus
• Merger/ Acquisition
T
• Capacity Building
Projects • Research
• Curriculum Devc:lopment
• Educacional services
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aid to trade. However, ir would be an oversight not to 3.1 INNOVATIVE N E W INITIATIVES
that is happening under rhe academic exchange and l ink his section tries to illustrare the scope of new devel
T
opments in program and provider mobility. The
number of concrete examples of this growing phenome examples have been taken from rhe breaking news
non of crossborder program and provider mobility. service of the Observatory on Borderless Higher
3.0 DEVELOPMENTS IN iniriatives ann oun c e d or established in rhe last two years
T
provider mobility are remarkable. This section aims
Examples are from the Observarory of Borderless
to provide a glimpse of these changes by identify Higher Education (OBHE) unless otherwise nored.
er reliable data on srudenr mobility, bue GATHER RELIABLE DATA ON STUDENT MOBILITV,
it is only in che last five years that coun
BUT IT IS ONLV IN THE LAST FIVE VEARS
tries and internacional organizations are
European mobility.
campus in che United Arab Emirates (Iune 200 4).
11
In Bahrain, a new Euro University is being planned focus to industry training only, Troy State University has
in affiliation with rhe University of Hanover (Germany). a teaching site in Bangkok for its MBA progcam and stu
Egypt is home to the American Universiry established dents can transfer to the US depending on funds and
more than 80 years ago, bur in rhe last rhree years the visa requircmcnts. Other institurions operating in
Ger1nan Universiry in Cairo and rhe Université trancaise Thailand i nclude the Thai-German Graduare School of
d'Égypte have been established and a new Bri tish Engineering as well as 13 Australian and nine UK uni
els bctween local and foreign partners are slightly diffcr In Singapore, che University ofNew South Wales
ent thereby illustrating the creativity and diversity of new (Australia) will establish the first 100% forcign owned
forms of collaboration. An interesting example of rhis is higher education institution. lt plans to offer undergrad
rhe franchise agreement where the distance MBA pro uare and graduare leve! programs and to develop a strong
gram of Heriot-Watt University from the UK is being research capacity, Other respected foreign institutions
offered through the American University in Egypt offering education programs and training in Singapore
(March 2004). The Al-Ahram Canadian University has rhrough joint ventures, exchanges and branch can1pus
already been cited (section 1 . 0 ) . models include the Chicago University Graduare School
THE SPEED OF CHANGE AND INNOVATION IN INDIA'S Johns Hopkins University, rhe
AND INCLUDES BOTH THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF Universiteit Eindhoven from the
Vietnam is an emerging hotbed of activity with the Universiry aimed at both Chinese and Singapore sru
developrnenr of 100% foreign owned branch campus of dents. Ir is also embarking on a new graduare school ini
RMIT from Australia. The lnternational College of IT tiative for Chinesc students to be located in Suzhou
and Management, established by Troy State University Graduare Town which is part of the Suzhou Industrial
(US) is another example of a foreign branch campus. The Park (Seprernber 2003).
University of Huc in Vietnam recenrly developed a fran Raffles LaSalle Limited from Singapore is a publicly
chised/joint degree bachelor's program in tourism with traded company very active in providing programs in
che University of Hawaii, and Hanoi University of fashion and design in many Asian countries. Ir has a
Teclrnology is current!y offering master's and bachelor's number of innovative partnership arrange1nents and
degrees wirh higher education institutions from Belgium spans many countries. OBHE (December 2003)
( ! ) , France (8), Germany ( ] ) Singapore (2) and the US describes i t a s "a remarkable instance of international
(1). The Vietnamese government recently announced the partnership, combining a Singapore firm wirh branches
development of the "Internacional University in Vietnam in Australia, China, Malaysia and Thailand, accreditation
"as another initiative to increase nacional capaciry for from an Australian state and a Canadian province,
higher education. lt is expected that half the university degrees from an Australian a n d a UK university, and a
teaching staff will be Vietnamese and che orher half from number of in-county university and college partners."
foreign universities, The involvement of foreign institu The speed of change and innovation in lndia's higher
cions will build on and expand from the current links of education sector is unprecedcnted and includes both che
Ho Chi Minh City National University (january 2004). import and export of programs and services. One of the
Thailand is another country of increasing impor more interesting initiatives is che partnership between rhe
tance for crossborder education and is an appealing desti Capare Croup, a UK firm with intereses in steel, engi
nation for institutions and providers from Egypt, China, neering and hotels and Carnegie Mellan University (US)
Australia, and the US. Far example, che Egyptian Al to set u p a new campus in India Quly 2003).
Univetsity ofTechnology (Australia) has been operating a The Universiteit Nijenrode (Netherlands Business
branch campus since 1998, although ir is changing its School), a priva te instirution, has recently established a
12
new branch campus in
MAURITIUS IS TAKING S O M E BOLO NEW STEPS AS IT TRIES
Nigeria in partnership
side of South Africa (April 2004). In Sourh Africa, in che Internacional Slavonic Institute and the Moscow Stare
last few years, there have only been a handfu] of foreign University of Industry, are operaring progra1ns abroad,
institurions with branch campuses including Monash and such as in Bulgaria. However, Russia is not only a send
Bond from Australia, De Montfort (UK), and che ing country it is also a receiving country of progra1ns
Netherlands Business School. As a result of the recent through joint/double degrees, twinning, and franchise
review of ali MBA programs offered in South Africa, arrangements. For instan ce, the Higher School of
thrce of the foreign institurions are leaving because of Economics has a double degree program with rhe
accreditation relared issues. Monash will remain (it does London School of Economics. The Stockholm School of
not offer an MBA program) as well as che UK-based Economics is operating in Sr. Perersburg and the
Henley Management College which is primarily a dis University of Oslo's Centre for Medica! Srudies is in
tance provider (June 20 04). South Africa is an example Moscow. The UK Open University is active through
of a country where there has been a decrease in the num 80 business training centres across che country. The
ber of foreign programs being offered, !argel y due to gov University of Southern Queensland is partnering with
cmmenr regulacions and accrediration processes. Kenya is rhe Far Eastern Nacional University in Vladivostok for
home to rwo privare non-profit universities. The Aga program delivery (October 2003) . The Pune-based
Khan Universiry frorn Pakiscan opened a branch universi Internacional Insriture of Infonnarion 1tchnology plans
ty ca1npus in Kenya in 2002 which specializes in nursing to offer its Master's and PhD courses through che newly
education and Alliant lnternational University from established Russian-lndian Centre for Advanced
the US provides educacion in social sciences and the Compurcr Research in Moscow.
Mauritius is taking sorne bold new steps as it tries to active for more rhan a decade, first rhrough an articula-
establish itself as a
"cyber island" by
attracting foreign IT
firms from the west A REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS REGIONAL SECTIONS SHOWS
complex, is a key
date, there are already more than 50 foreign universities rion program whereby srudenrs would start their studies
and professional bodies offering programs locally. Thesc in Athens and then go to rhe US for cornpletion of che
progratns tend to be at rhe diploma or certificare leve! progran1. This model has now evolved into a campus
and in specialized fields (October 200 3 ) . The concept of in Greece called che University of Indianapolis Athens
1nay have posirive consequences in terms of stemming Educacion owns a pare or ali of che Universidad Europa
impact on local education institutions is not yet known. in Swirzerland and che Ecole supérieure du Commerce
Euro pe
ing its courses in che Netherlands, and Raffies La Salle
Russia is an example of a country undergoing majar eco from Singapore has recendy signed an agreement with
nomic refonn with major implicarions for rhe higher Middlesex University to offer rheir Bachelor's and Master's
education sector. Many HEls, for example the Moscow programs in fashion and design (December 2003).
13
North America Apollo Group, DeVry, Career Education Corporation
To report on US crossborder activities is a challenge and Laureare Education. Kaplan owns 57 colleges in che
because of the volumc, diversity of providers and types of US bue now owns che Dublin Business School - Ireland's
partnerships. A review of the previous regional sections largest privare undergraduate insri tution. This is likely to
shows that US HE!s and privare companies are probably be the first of many futurc purchases of foreign institu
che rnost active and innovative in program a nd provider tions (December 2003). The Apollo Group owns
mobili ty around the world. One of rhe more interesting Phoenix University, which is the largest American privare
recent developmenrs is rhat George Washington university and is aggressively seeking to broaden its for
University is one of che firsr HEis planning to open a eign investments and holdings. Since 1 9 9 5 , Apollo has
branch in Sourh Korea in 2006, now thar the govern also owned Western lnternational University (WIU)
ment of South Korea has changed irs regulatory system which runs a branch campus called Madi Apollo
to permi t foreign providers. There are severa! examples of Internacional Institute in New Delhi through a partner
US program mobiliry into Korea c hrough partnerships ship with rhe KK Madi Croup, an Indian industrial con
wich local institurions and companies. Por instance, glomerare. WIU has an agreement with rhe Canadian
Syracuse University, in conjunction wirh Sej ong lnstitute of Business and Technology (CIBT) whereby
University in Seoul, offers a spccially designed MBA CIBT offcrs WIU programs chrough its rhree business
THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH KOREA HAS CHANGED ITS will be a company to watch in
progratn for Korean students. Dukc and Purdue siry offcring programs in business and TT; it has recently
Universities are also offering MBAs in Korea, and opened a branch campus in rhe Czech Republic and has
Stanford University is delivering online graduare and delivery partnerships in China and India (August 2004).
postgraduate courses and uses alumni as local tutors These are only a few examples of the hundreds of new
(August 2004). These types of crossborder activities from initiatives and partnerships that US HEis and companics
US HEis can be found in many Asian counrries, for are underraking to deliver education courses and pro
example, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, gra1ns to other coun tries of che world.
Singapore, Philippines and more rcccndy India as well as In terms of Canada, che first note to be made about
che Middle East. The University of Missouri at St. Louis provider and progran1 crossborder activity is the lack of
has been in volved in rhe establishment of che first prívate any systernatic data on ir frorn universities, colleges and
university in Kuwait, rhe Gulf University of Science and school boards. Australia, New Zealand and now rhe
Technology and has a similar relationship with the United Kingdom are making significant efforts to collect
Modern College of Business and Science in Ornan annual sraristics 011 crossborder program and provider
A.t1 importan e fearure of rhc US crossborder acrivity task but needs to give serious consideration to doing so.
is rhe activity by privare and publicly traded companies. Tt is assumed that there are many successful and innova
The Global Education lndex (GE[), dcveloped by che cive examples ofHEI crossborder mobility bur to date
OBHE, is a system of classifying many of the largest and little information is available. This gives che irnprcssion,
more active publicly traded companies providing educa inrernationally and dornesrically, thar Canada is priinarily
tion programs and services. A sean of more than 50 corn interested in internacional student recruinnent to
panies (Garett, 2003) shows rhar the US is home to the Canadian-based programs and is not active in che deliv
majority of these companies. Sorne of the better-known ery of education programs abroad. There is not enough
ones include Kaplan (owned by the Washington Post), reliable or up-ro-dare data to confirm or reject this
14
hyporhesis, The following infor THE AL-AHRAM CANADIAN UNIVERSITV IN EGVPT IS
marion is therefore incomplete
CANADA'S FIRST AND TO DATE ONLY EXAMPLE OF
but illustrates sorne of che cur
about public inscitutions. ed Canadian company offcring generic and bespoke soft
In early 2004, the Canadian Internarional ware plus more than 1 , 8 0 0 courses mainly in IT. Serebra
Management Insritute, a privare post-secondary institu is working with the Consortium for Global Education -
� tion that represents che recruiting intereses of 10 a group of 45 Baprisr higher education institutions in the
Canadian universities and colleges, signcd a memoran US to provide quality assured IT training in the develop
1
1
dum of understanding with the Chinese Scholarship ing world. Serebra also played a key role in the creation
Council to offer a foundation and credit transfer program of rhe Pakistan Virtual University (November 2003).
to students in China wanting to gain Canadian University Anorher for-profit Canadian company is
degrees. Ir is a five-ycar program during which students LearningWise located in Victoria, Brirish Columbia. Ir.
will be based in China for foundation studies, cultural was incorporated in 1999 and was established to serve as
adjustment and language training for the first three years. an intermediary between Canadian tertiary institutions
If students rneet grade requircmcnts rhey can continue and the Asian market. Currently ir offers English as a
the i r studies either in Canada or China for rhe final rwo Second Language Training on line and is promoting
years. The China-based partner for this initiative is che nursing programs for the University ofVictoria. A 2003
Shougang Institute ofTechnology, which is a municipally change in legislation in BC now allows public out of
managed higher education insrirute specializing in manu province and privare institutions to apply for universiry
facturing, business and services disciplines Qune 2004). title and/or degree awarding powers. LearningWise has
The College of the North Arlantic-Qarar opened in applied for permission to grant mixed mode MBA
2 0 0 3 . The Canadian Bureau for International Education degrees (February 2004). While it claims it will serve rhe
(CBIE) developed and negotiated the establishment of local system, it would not be a surprise to see it go ovcr
Canada's largest educational cooperation project to date. seas given its previous work in international education.
This initiative represents Qatar's first major educational Severa! school boards in British Colombia are under
partnership with Ca.nada. The 10-ycar agreement pro taking sorne interesting new crossborder initiatives in
vides for a rurn-key operation rhat i ncl udcs ali of rhe China. To date the only approved and operational public
infrastructure necessary to operare a full service Canadian school offering the BC currículum is rhe Dalian Maple
college, inclmling Canadian programs and degrees, diplo Leaf International School in China. In 2004, 1 , 3 0 0 stu
mas and certificares in as many as 32 fields dents were enrolled and there are claims that lOOo/o of its
In partnership with an Egyptian investor, CBIE The Dalian school has a direct relationship with the BC
established the Canadian International School of Egypt Ministry of Education but thcre are currently six BC
(CISE) in 2002. The Cairo-based CISE is currcntly public school boards plus more than 1 O priva te entrepre
operaring as an elementary and secondary school cover neurs rhat are planning to operare more than 2 1 for
ing ki ndergarten through to G rade 10 but will expand profit schools in China. While China is the immediate
to offer a ful! secondary program. W ith 200 students destination, there are proposals being prepared for
t ion , CISE uses rhe O nrario curriculum. Egypt and Jordan. Ir is acknowledged that the rationale
The Al -Ahram Canadian U niversity in Egypt is driving these new developrnenrs is to generare alrernative
Canada's rst
fi nd to date only exam ple
a of Canadian uni sources of income for public schools, and secondly, to
versities directly supporting rhe establishment of a new attract and facilitare rhe transfer of foreign students into
foreign university. The Al-Ahram O rganization is a large BC universities, It is assumed that graduares of these
company thar owns the Egyptian daily newspaper. Ir is approved schools will avo id many of rhe university
coopcratin g with McMaster U niversity, Ecole en trance and English proficiency exams, bur not the
Q uébec in Montreal to establish a new privare university In tcrms of privare providers esrablishing a presence
thar is expected to enrol srudents as of September 2004. and offering progran1s in Canada, there are so1ne inter-
15
esting developments. To date, Phoenix Universiry has a inforrnation on program mobility creates an undesirable
program operaring in Brirish C olumbia, De Vry has environment of spcculation, confusion and ofien misinfor
esrablished a degree granring insriturion in Alberra and mation, This can have negative consequences in terms of
Lansbridge is delivering disrance degree programs in New confidence in rhe qualiry and dependabiliry of crossborder
Brunswick. There are other foreign providers operating education provision and impedes the analysis needed to
in Canada or delivering crossborder program at the sub underpin salid policy and regulatory frameworks.
degree level, but systematic information on what types Australia is rhe leader in terms of having up-to-date
and level of programs, in which provinces and in whar and fairly cornprehensive data from universities on rhe
kind of parrnerships is just not available. volume, types, award leve], and discipline of crossborder
In Mexico, rhe University of rhe lncarnate Word (UIW), and Technology collect, analyze and publish this data on
a privare US insticution from Texas opened a new campus an annual basis. In New Zealand, che International
in 2003. Other American institutions with Mexican cam Policy and Dcvelopment Unir of rhe Minisrry of
puses include Endicott College and Allianr lnrernational Educarion undertook in 2 0 0 1 , a major survey of cross
Universiry, and Texas A&M which has a 'university cen border delivery in all terriary institutions but this is not
tre' in Mexico City (September 2 00 3) . In 2000, Laureare an annual data garhering exercise yet. The UK Higher
Education purchased rhe Universidad del Valle de Mexico Education Statistics Agency has collecred information for
and is currendy planning to open a new Branch in rhe 2002/03 academic year on UK education programs
Guadalajara. It also owns Universidad Interamericana, a offered abroad. This is the first rime ir has gathered this
privare university with campuses in Costa Rica and data and published its findings. This is definitely a step
Panama (November 2003) and parr of rhree privare uni forward, and rhere is news thar OECD is also trying ro
versities in Chile (Iune 2003). Bologna University (lraly) develop a set of indicators to assist wirh the collection of
che future.
is one of the few foreign instirutions with a branch cam arder ro manage a degree of cornparabiliry, sorne of rhe
pus in Argenrina. In terms of exporting, rhe Technical raw quantitative data was converted inro percentages. It
lnstitute of Monterrey (ITESM) in Mexico is well known is emphasized rhat the information presented in Chart
for its on line education programs, especially rhe MBA, Three is for illustrative purposes only. It is also noted
delivered to many countries in Larin America. that these three reports provide data on rhe export of
These new initiatives illusrrare rhe diversity of educa programs and do not provide inforrnation on any cross
tion activiries by conventional higher education insritu border educarion co m ing into rheir j ur isd ic ti on.
tions and new commercial providers. They demonstrate However, ir is probably fair ro say that rhe number of
rhe range of counrries and types of parmerships being crossborder programs and providers being imporred into
formed to promote, exchange, link and predominanrly rhese three countries is insignificant cornpared to the
sell higher education across borders. nurnber of outgoing programs and providers.
Comparative analysis of Australia, UK and New three countries is mainly concentrated in che Asia Paciíic
Zealand HEis crossborder program acrivity region. This is due to reasons of geographical proximiry,
As already pointed out, one of che glaring challenges in historical and linguisric ries, and most imporrantly che fact
trying ro analyze che implications of crossborder delivery that many Asian countries do not have the capacity to rneet
of education programs is the lack of clara. While rhere is the increasing local demand for tertiary level education,
more reliable information and informed analysis on the Asia is certainly che region to watch for new develop
movement of srudenrs across borders, the paucity of ments. As this analysis shows, Malaysia, Singapore,
16
CHART THREE: COMPARATIVE DATA ON PROGRAMS OFFERED ACROSS BORDERS
delivering cross- HE Is
programs 1997)
1997)
Joint Degrees 21 o/
o Administrarion Special Medicine l 5o/o
IT 8 . 5 % Management 130/o
based teaching
only
byOBHE
July 2004
17
China and to a lesser extenr Thailand, India and opportunities for commercial delivery of education pro
Vietnam have been che most popular desrinarion coun grams in other countrics. The majority of these are bona
tries during the last five to ten ycars. During chis period, fidc institutions rhat cornply with domestic and foreign
maelstrorns of new types of partncrships have developed regularions (where they exist), bur there is also an
through franchising, twinning and articularion programs increasc in rogue or low quality providers not recognized
between fnreign HE!s ami local HE!s and privare compa by bona fide accrcditation/licensing bodies. In addirion,
nies. These receiving counrries have learned a grear deal rhere is a worrisome in crease in che number of "degree
from thcir foreign partners and are currently being more milis" operating around thc world. These are often no
proacrive and strategic in exporting rheir own programs more rhan web based companies rhat are sclling certifi
and providers to neighbouring counrries in Asia and che cares based on 'life experiences' and are not delivering
number of privare commercial cornpanies such as Raffies The expansion in numbers and types of entities
LaSallc, lnformatics and Hartford in Singapore, Aptech thar are providing education courscs and programs
and NIIT from India and SEG and Stamford College in across borders is causing sorne confusion and chaos.
Malaysia. Given that Asia will rcpresent approximately This also applies to the mcdes of crossborder progran1
70% of che global demand in 2025 (IDP 2002), this part rnobility and provider mobility. This general stare of flux
of the world will be che region to carcfully warch for new may well indicare progress and innovation bue ir also
trends and developments. begs for sorne kind of classification system or typology
crossborder education.
t is exciting, confusing and slighdy overwhelming to mode of mobility. To date, much of rhe discussion about
track new developments in the movemenr of programs program and provider mobility has consciously or
I and providers across borders. The number of new unconsciously linked che type of provider wi th a certain
actors involved in the promorion, provision and regula mode of dclivery. This is one of rhe reasons for the state
tion of crossborder education is increasing exponentially. of confusion and thcrefore, a generic classification system
Whether one is supporrive or critica! of rhe change, the for crossborder providers is proposed. A second typology
realiry is that the education sector in 1nany countries is on che different modes of program mobility is presented.
becoming a cornperirive and dynamic market place for It is important to ernphasize rhat che different forms of
both local and foreign providers. program mobility can apply to any or ali of the
Given rhe increase in demand for higher education, providers. A rhird typology focuses on rhe ways that
there are new providers, new delivery mcthods and new providers move across borders. This typology rests on the
typcs of programs. These new providers includc media assumption rhat che movement of (individual or a set of
companies such as Pearson (UK), Thomson (Canada), progran1s' needs to be differentiated fro1n che movement
multinacional companics such as Apollo (USA), and presence of 'providers'. Again the third typology is
lnformatics (Singapore) and Aptech (India), corporate applicable ro che ful! range of providers.
providing services and do not focus on research pcr se. his typology is a work in progress. As already men
They can complement, cooperare, compete or simply tioned, rhe tern1 provider is used as a generic term
coexist with che tradicional public and privare highcr T to include all types of higher education institutions
education institutions whose mandare is rradirionally the as well as co1npanies and networks involved in crossbor
rrinity of teaching, research and scrvice. However, as der educarion. lt is an atte1npt to conceptually map the
Section 3 illusrrates, it is not just for-profit companics diversiry of actors and to separare the type of provider
that are becoming increasingly interestcd in commercial from the form of crossbordcr delivery. The key factors
crossborder initiatives. Conventional higher cducation used to describe cach catcgory of provider and to distin
institutions, both privare and public, are also seeking guish one category from another are the following:
18
CHART FOUR: TVPOLOGY OF CROSSBORDER/INTERNATIONAL PROVIDERS
Recognized Can be public, privare or religious institutions Can be non-profir or Known as tradicional cype of
licensing/accrediring body
Non-recognized Usually privare and not fonnally pare of nacional Usually profit 'Diploma rnills' sell degrees
lncludes HETs chac provide a course of study bue are crossborder educarían bue are
accreditation body
lf che non-rccognized HEls are of low qualicy they accredircd by agencies thac
{accreditation mills) or by
self-accrcditing groups or
compan1cs
Commercial Can be publicly traded company (see Global Profir oricnced Known as rype of "new
,,
l. Companies chac establish HEL, thar m a y a r 1nay panies (i.c. media, l'l� pub-
not be 'recognized' by bona fide liccnsing/ accred- Iishing) thar provide educa-
Corporate HEis Not pare of home nacional cducarion syscem Not relevant Known as cype of "new
providcr
ourside of nacional education sysrem. Noc usually Often collaborate with tradi-
recognized by nacional bona fide licensing/ accredita- tiona\ HETs especially for
Affiliations/ Can be combination of public/public or public/pri- Usually profit Known as type of "new
Virtual HEis The affiliations/nctworks 1nay or may not be part of Usually profir ori- Difficult far receiving nation-
home nacional cducation system: and they may or en red if delivering al cducation system to moni-
1nay not be rccognized by nacional bona fide Iiccns- crossborder tor or regulare internacional
ing/accreditation body. However sorne of the indi- virtual HEis due to distance
19
• Public, privare or religious of a comprehensive HE!, thus the crossborder profile of
• Recognized by a bona fide national profile, On rhe other hand, program mobili ty can also
licensing/ accrediting body involve the only program or course offered by a provider.
• Part of the national 'home' higher Franchising, twinning, double/joint and other articula
education sysre1n rion models are thc more popular rnethods of crossborder
program mobility,
The proposed typology is purposely generic and <loes lt is clear that a key factor in program m obility is
not provide specific details on the characteristics of each 'who' awards the course credits or ultimare credential far
category of provider. The typology is oriented to interna the program. A s rhe m ovement of programs p roliferares,
tional academic provision but may have sorne relevance there will undoubtedly be Iurther changes to national,
far domestic delivery as well. There is a flow of regional and even international regulatory frameworks.
announcements about new providers and new forms of The question of 'who granrs the credirs/awards' will be
parrnerships berwcen providers. !t is an cvolving field augmcnred by 'who recognizes rhe provider' and whether
that needs to be monitored and this is why the typology or not the progran1 has been 'accredired or qualiry
The description and classification of the different w hether the qualification is recognized far employment
types of new crossborder providers is challenging. The or further study in rhe receiving country and in orher
tendency is to use factors inherent to traditional HEls countries as well. The perceived egitimacy, recognition
l
and apply them to new providers. This may change and u ltimare mobiliry of rhe qualificarion are fundamen
One of the central issues is who recognizes and gives Given that severa! modes far program mobiliry
the provider the power to award the qualifications in rhe involve partnerships rhere are questions about who
ing counrry'. However, as previously pointed out sorne of and materials. What are the legal and moral roles and
the 'new providers' are not part of, or are not recognized responsibilities of the participating partners in terms
wiJI be addrcssed in Section 5 on "Issues and and administrative matters. While the movement of pro
Implications". A norher challenge in developing a typ olo grams across borders has been taking place for many
gy is that the terms 'public, privare and religious' are years, it is clear that the new types of providers, partner
interpreted and used in different ways among countries ships, awards and delivery modes are chaJlenging national
(and somerimes within countries as well). The emergence and international policies and regulatory frameworks.
regardless of their status at home. This adds yet another rossborder m obility of provider can be described
complicating dimension ro
definition
among countries.
of the terms profit and
Ir
the task. F urthermore,
non-profit
is interesting to follow
also varies
the changes
rhe
in national regulatory systems far crossborder education and/or services to students and other clients.' The differ
(especially in China, I ndia, M alaysia, J apan and South ence between program and provider rnobility is one of
Af rica) in terms of these issues, and especially how scope and volume in terms of programs/services offered
profit and non-profit educarion entities and services and the local presence (and investment) by the foreign
rossborder mobility of programs can be described branch campuses, mergers with or acquisitions of domes
modes. C redits towards a qualification can be awarded by m obility is rhat with provider mobiliry thc learner is not
the sending fareign country provider or by an affiliated necessarily located in a different country than rhe award
@)���������
CHART FIVE: TYPOLOGY OF CROSSBORDER PROGRAM MOBILITY MODES
Franchise An arrangement whereby a provider in the source country A Arrangements far teaching, manage-
authorizes a provider in anorher country B to deliver their mene, assessment, profit-sharing, award-
course/program/service in councry B or other countries. The ing of credic/qualification, etc. are cus-
Twinning A sicuarion whereby a provider in source country A collaborates Arrangements far twinning programs
with a provider locared in country B ro develop an arciculacion and awarding of degree usually comply
system allowing scudents to cake course credits in country B with nacional regulations of the providcr
and/or source country A. Only one qualification is awarded by in rhe source country A.
Double/Joint Degree An arrangement whereby providers in different countries Arrangements for program provision
collaborate to offer a progra.in for which a student receives and criteria for awarding che qualifica-
a qualification from each provider or a joint award from che tions are customized for each collabora-
al regularions.
.Articulation Various types of articulation arrange1nents between providers in Allows scudenrs to gain credit far work
different countries permir students to gain credit for courses/ done with a provider orher than the
Validation Validation arrangetnents between providers in different countries In sorne cases che source country
which allow provider B in receiving country to award che provider 1nay not offer thesc courscs or
Branch Campus Provider in country A establishes a sarellire campus in country B Monash University from Australia has
to deliver courses and programs to students in country B. (may established branch ca.1npu�es in Malaysia
also include country A students taking a semestcr/courses abroad). and South Africa. University of Indianapolis
The qualification awarded is from provider in country A. has a branch campus in Athens.
lndependent Foreign provider A (a tradicional universicy, a commercial compa- The German University in Cairo, Phoenix
Institution ny or alliance/network) establishes a stand alone HEI in country B Universities in Canada and Puerto Rico
Acquisition/ Foreign provider A purchases a pare of or 1 OOo/o of local HEI in Laureare has merged with and/or purchased
LA countries.
Study Centre/ Foreign provider A establishes study centres in country B to sup- Texas A&M has 'university centre' in
Teaching Site port students taking rheir courses/programs. Study centres can be Mexico City. Troy University (US) has MBA
Affiliation/ Different types of 'public and privare', 'tradicional and new ' Parrnership between che Capara Group and
Networks providers from various counrries collaborate rhrough innovative Carnegie Mellan Universicy to establish cam-
types of partnerships to establish nerworks/institutions to deliver pus in India. Netherlands Business School
courses and programs in local and foreign counrries through dis- branch can1pus in Nigeria in parcnership
Virtual University Provider that delivers credir courses and degree progran1s to students Internacional Virtual University, Hibernia
in different countries through distance education modes and thac College, Arab Open University.
generally does not have face to face support services far studcnts.
21
5.0 I S S U E S AND IMPLICATIONS provided. The fifth issue focuses on the challenge and
he typologies of crossborder providers and the dif environments in which program and provider mobiliry
is operating.
T
ferent means and arrangements for providing edu
the issues and challenges. This section focuses primarily fundamental quesrion is whether rhe instirutions,
A
on issues rhat relace to recognition of providers, programs companies and nerworks that are delivering award
and credits/qualificarions ar nacional and internacional based programs are registered, licensed or recog
levels. This <loes nor diminish che importance of acadern nized by che receiving country. The answer to chis ques
ic and administrative implicacions far individual tion varies. There are many countries rhar do not have the
providers and especially traditional higher education regulatory sysrems in place ro regiscer out of country
institutions. These are naced bue not elaborared on in providers. Several reasons account for rhis, including lack
Ar che current time, chcre are five macro issues rhat or recognized ir is difficult to monitor their performance.
are receiving che mase arrenrion and which have different Tt is usual pracrise, that if an instirurion/provider is nor
dimensions and consequences far the various types of registered as pare of a national system, rhen regulatory
providers. These issues are interrelated and ali are inllu frameworks for quality assurance or accreditarion do not
enced by regulations of the sending and rhe receiving apply. This is che situation in many counrries in che world
country. The first issue is the licensing or registering and hence foreign providers (bona fide and rogue) do not
of instirurions/providers that are delivering across borders have to cornply with nacional regulations.
courses/programs and hence qualificarions, Are chey provider is a company that has
recognized and part of the home national system and no home based presence and only establishes institutions
also recognized/licensed in che receiving country? The in foreign councries? How <loes one track ali che types of
second issue focuses on the qualiry of the courses/pro partnerships berween local domestic insriturions/
grams being offered and che quality of che academic cornpanies and foreign ones? Is it even possible ro regisrer
experience of the student. The rhird issue follows on rhe a completely virtual provider? Clearly, there are challenges
saine rheme and focuses on che role of accreditation and and difficulties involved in trying to establish appropriare
che more recent rrends of internarionalizarion and and effective nacional or regional regularory sysrerns.
cornrnercializarion of accreditation far worldwide status Often there are bilateral cultural/academic agree
and profile, rarher rhan far srandards. The fourth issue menrs in place ro facilitare and monitor the foreign pres
addresses che recognition of che actual award or qualifica ence of educacion providers. However, che facr rhar edu
tion being offered far purposes of employment and cation services are now pare of bilateral and multilateral
further scudy. This poinr relates direcdy to rhe impor trade agreements introduces new regulations and chal
tance of smdent/employer and public being aware of lenges. The existence of trade agreements that aim to lib
the quality and validiry of the programs and awards eralize and promete trade in educarion services is a rela-
tivcly recent factor to be considered. Trade agreemcnts border providers and programs have developed regulatoty
can help to provide new opporruniries, but also present systems to register and monitor rhe quality of foreign
new dilemmas. A key question facing national govern provision. The United Kingdorn and Australia are exam
ments, as well as intemational organizarions, is to what ples of sending countries thar have introduced qualiry
extent will the introduction of new national regulations assurance for exported crossborder provision by their rec
to license or recognize out of counrry providers be inrer ognized HETs. The question now facing rhe sector is how
prcted as barriers for trade and therefore need to be mod does one deal with che increase in crossborder educarion
ified to comply with trade policies. by public/private institutions, and in particular by the
All and all, rhe issue of regulating and licensing new privare commercial companies and providers who
providers rhar deliver education across borders needs are nor part of, or recognized by nationally based quality
regional and international policies and frameworks are It is probable that sectors, in addition ro education,
necessary and feasible in light of new trade regulations will be interested in developing internacional quality
merits study by the education sector. This is a complex standards and procedures for education. ISO standards,
5.2 ASSESSING AND E N S U R I N G OUALITY The education sector has mixed views on che appropri
f we thought questions related to registration and are divergent opinions on che desirability and value of
licensing were complex, ir beco mes even more com pli any internacional standards or crireria for qualiry assur
I ca red when one looks at accrediration and quality ancc as chis 1nigh t jeopardize the sovereignty of national
assurance of providers and iinported/exported education level systems or contribute to standardization - not
programs. The terrns accreditation and quality assurance necessarily qualiry standards. This issue is complex and
have different meaning and significance depending on rhere are many different actors and stakeholders involved.
the country, actor or stakeholdcr using che tcrm. However, given the realities of today's growth in che
Terminology related to qualiry is a minefield and the number and types of crossborder education providers
cause of much debate and confusion ar che internacional therc is a sense of urgency to the question of how to
leve!. Far the purposes of this discussion, quality recogni ensure the quality of imported and exported education
tion and assurance is used in a general sense and includes providers and programs.
crossborder education is needed to attract che attention arket forces are making che profile and reputa
Firstly, ir must be noted thar increased importance M courses more and more important. Major
has ccrtainly been given to quality assurance at rhe insti invesrrnenrs are being made in marketing and branding
tutional leve! and at rhe national leve! in the pasr dccadc. carnpaigns in order to get name recognition and to
Quality assurance mechanisrns and nacional organiza increase enrolments. The possession of sorne type of
tions have been developed in over 60 countries. New accrcditation is pare of che campaign and assures
regional quality networks have also becn established. The prospecrive students thar che programs/awards are of
primary task of these groups has been to assess and assure high standing. This is introducing an interriationaliza
quality of domestic higher educarían provision of public tion and even commercialization dimension to accredi
and privare higher education institurions. However, the ration practices. However, it is very imporrant not to
increase in crossborder education by institurions and confuse commercial bona fide accreditation agencies
the field of quality assurance. Historically, national quali le is interesting to note the increase in rhe number of
ty assurance agencies have generally not focussed their bona fide nacional and internacional accreditation agen
efforts on assessing the qualiry of imponed and exponed cies now working in over 50 countries. For instance,
programs, with sorne notable exceprions. Hong Kong, che US national and regional accrediting bodies are
Malaysia, Sourh Africa and Israel, as receivers of cross- providing/selling their services in over 65 countries. The
23
same trend is discernible for accreditation bodies of the how rhese UNESCO conventions can be used as instru
professions such as ABET (Engineering) from che US ments ro assure students, employers and the public that
and EQUIS (Business) from Europe. rhere are systems in place to recognize academic and pro
At che same time, there are networks of institutions fcssional qualificarions, Given che growth in academic
and new organizations that are self-appointed and engage mobiliry and rhe increased mobiliry of che labour force
in accreditation of their members, These are positive there is a clear and urgent need thar this issue be
developmencs when seen chrough che lens of crying to addcessed. Questions are also being raised as to whecher
improve che qualicy of che academic offer. However, rhese UNESCO convenrions can be strengthened or
there is sorne concern thar they are not totally objective whether alternative regional or international agreements
tributing to the race for more and more accreditation The credibilicy of higher education programs
'stars' chan to improving qualicy. Anorher relaced and and qualifications is exrremely important for students,
more worrisome development is che growth in accredita employers, che public ar large and for che academic
tion mills. These organizacions are not recognized or communicy irself. Additional efforts are needed ar
legitimare bodies and they more or less 'sell' accreditation institucional, nacional and international levels to keep
status without any independenr assessment. They are che different stakeholders cognizant of new opportunities
similar to degree mills chat sel! certificares and degrees for education and professional mobilicy but also new risks
wirh no or minimal course work. Different education such as rogue providers, and diploma and accreditarion
stakeholders, especially studencs, employers and che mills and the more subtle issues related to new providers
public, need to be aware of these accreditation (and and new qualificacions. The larger and perhaps most criti
degree) mi!ls which are afeen no more chan a web address cal issue is assurance that the education and the qualifica
and are therefore out of the jurisdiction of national regu tion awarded are legitimare and will be recognized for
crossborder activity. The key questions are who awards f current interese and debate, is whether nacional
O
the qualification, especially in privare company providers Ievel accreditation and quality assurance systems
and networks, is che provider recognized, if so by what (where they exisc) are able to attend to rhe corn
kind of accredicing/licensing body and in wbat councry is plicating factors of education mobilicy across ccunrries,
that body locaced? Given che importance of boch scudenc cultures and jurisdiccional systems. A fundamental ques
mobilicy and professional labour mobiliry, wichin and tion is whether countries have the capacicy to esrablish
between countries, rhe mechanisms for qualification and monitor qualicy systems for both incoming and out
recognition have to be national, regional and or interna going educarion programs given che diversity of providers
tional in nature and applicacion. and delivery merhods. Should nacional qualiry/accredita
UNESCO has long acknowledged che requirement tion systems be complemented and augmented by
of an internacional systen1 to facilitare and ensure recog regional or internacional frameworks? Is it advisable and
nition of academic and professional qualifications, feasible to develop mutual recognition systems between
Regional UNESCO convencions on che Recognicion of and an1ong countries? Would an lnternational Code of
Qualifications were established more rhan 25 years ago Good Practice be appropriarc or strong enough to moni
and have been rarified by over 100 Member Sra res in tor quality? These are key questions for rhe education
Africa, Asia and che Pacific, che Arab Srares, Europe and sector to address.
Larin Arnerica. They are unique legally binding instru Both UNESCO and OECD have identified che
ments dealing with crossborder mutual recognition of acceleraced growch and increasing importance of cross
qualifications. There is limired awareness of rhese instru border educacion as a priority area for the higher educa
ments except for the European regional convention, tion sector. Together they are working on two new inicia
which in 1997 was updated joinrly by UNESCO and the tives. The firsr is che "UNESCO/OECD Guidelines far
Council of Europe in che form of rhe Lisbon Qualiry Provision in Crossborder Higher Education."
Convention. At rhe present time, rhere is discussion on The purpose of che joint guidelines is to 'ensure thar the
24
qualiry of crossborder provision of higher education is Provisions - UK Quality Assurance Agency:
rogue providers and to cncourage those forms of cross • Code of Ethical Practice in the Offshore Provision
border delivery of higher education rhat providc new of Education and rhe Educational Services by
opportunities, wide access and increase the possibilities of Higher Australian Higher Education lnstitutions -
improving the ski lis of individual students' (UNESCO/ Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee:
principle of mutual trust and respect among countries • Principies of Good Practice for Educational
and recognize the importance of nacional authority and Programs far Non-US Nationals:
activity in education policy making. The guidelines make www.neasc.org/ cihe/ overseas_programs.PD F
recommendarions far six key stakeholder groups: nation • Code of Good Practice in che Provision of
srudent groups, quality assurance and accreditation agen and the Council of Europe:
cies, credencial and qualification evaluation groups and www. ce pes. ro/hed/ recogn/ groups/ transnat/
regulatory power, but they are critica! to ensuring thar • Code of Conduct for Crossborder/Transnational
crossborder educarion provision is a priority issue and Delivery of Higher Education Programs - South
receives attention and action by key stakeholders. A sec African Ministry of Educarion
ond joint activity is the development of "An Information • Code of Practice far Overseas Education
Too! on Rccognized Higher Education lnstitutions". This Instirurions Operating in Mauritius - Tertiary
vide concrete information about higher education insti tec. in tent.m u/ distanceEdu. h tm
ticipating countries.
responsibiliries of ali the players involved in quality assur t would be wrong if one were left with che impression
ance including individual institurions/providers, nacional that these issues do .not have implications far individ
quality assurance systems, non-government and independ I ual providers and especially higher educarion institu
ent accreditation bodies, and regional/internacional organi tions. Quality assurance starts wirh che provider who is
zations. Ir will be irnportant to work in a collaborative and delivering the program - domestically or internacionally.
complementary fashion to build a system rhat ensures the Mase HEis have adequate quality assurance processes in
quality and integrity of crossborder education and rnain place for domesric delivery, bur these processes do not
tains the confidence of sociery in higher education. cover ali che aspects of delivering abroad. The challenges
ocles of conduce far crossborder/transnational load, delivery modes, adaptation of rhe curriculum, qual
to guide che practice of delivering programs across borders ment and return to rhe source provider. Inrellectual
and for establishing partnerships with foreign providers. property ownership, choice of partners, división of
They are intended for public and privare higher education responsibilities, academic and business risk assessments,
institutions but have relevance, bue no imperative, far interna! and externa! approval processes are only sorne of
orher providers as well. The codes differ in substance and the issues rhe HE!s need to be dear about.
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27
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 . 0 INTRODUCTION 1
4.0 TOWARDS A TYPOLOGY FOR NEW CROSSBORDER PROVIDERS AND DELIVERY MODES 18
6.0 CONCLUSION 26
to the publication o
f this research paper
Crossborder Education:
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