The HAQAA3 initiative, with the support of SADC and the Higher Education Council, has organized four days of key meetings on higher education integration in Africa held in Mauritius.
These meetings brought together participants representing national quality assurance agencies, ministries of education and qualifications authorities in the SADC region, associations of universities in Africa, and higher education integration experts from Europe. Representatives from Mauritian and staff from HEC and QQA staff also participated.
These meetings on higher education integration, held from August 5 to 9, were divided into three parts: a regional event on an ACTS, a Southern Africa focus group on the establishment of a PAQAA, and a SADC technical meeting on the EMIS system.
Regional event on an African Credit Transfer System
This hybrid event is one of the four planned to discuss an African Credit Transfer System (ACTS). These events discuss and debate results and implications for the further set-up and implementation of credit systems as well as the opportunities for increased student and staff mobility within Africa and the recognition of studies across borders.
These meetings are part of the process that will lead to one of the deliverables of the HAQAA3 initiative during the first year: a report on the state of the art of academic credit transfer systems in Africa.
Southern Africa focus group on the establishment of a PAQAA
This regional consultation event relates to an African Union initiative to establish a Pan-African agency that would serve as an articulating body for national quality assurance systems in Africa (PAQAA).
During the meeting we discussed the proposed functions of this agency, how it will complement and connect existing national quality assurance agencies in Africa and how the governance structure will be taken forward.
SADC Technical meeting on EMIS system
The SADC Secretariat, with the support of HAQAA3, organized this event with a focus on EMIS (Educational Management Information System) and how it could be strengthened to fulfill its role and to promote the sharing of best practices.
Participants also discussed the recommended data and their related definitions to be included in the Higher Education Regional Database, as well as the roll-out of the database in a phased approach depending on the maturity of the data system of the SADC countries.
The event is also aligned with the HAQAA3 work plan to support the establishment of regional data units for higher education in Africa.
