Quality assurance of joint degree programs from the perspective of quality assurance agencies: experience in East Asia

Joint degree programs have gained popularity in East Asia, due to the growth of transnational higher education in the region since 2000. However, the external quality assurance (QA) and accreditation of joint degree programs is a challenge for QA agencies, as it normally involves the engagement of s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Higher education research and development 2016-05, Vol.35 (3), p.473-487
Main Authors: Hou (Angela), Yung-Chi, Ince, Martin, Tsai, Sandy, Wang, Wayne, Hung, Vicky, Lin Jiang, Chung, Chen, Karen Hui-Jung
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Degrees
Accreditation (Courses)
Accreditation (Institutions)
Accrediting authorities
Agencies
Asia
China
Comparative Education
Cooperative Programs
Data Analysis
Degrees (Academic)
Educational quality
Europe
External assessment
Foreign Countries
France
Global Approach
Higher Education
Higher education programs
Hong Kong
Institutional cooperation
International Cooperation
International Education
Japan
joint degree program
Joint degrees
Korea
Netherlands
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Qualitative Research
Quality Assurance
Quality control
Quality management
Regulation
Semi Structured Interviews
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Taiwan
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Summary:Joint degree programs have gained popularity in East Asia, due to the growth of transnational higher education in the region since 2000. However, the external quality assurance (QA) and accreditation of joint degree programs is a challenge for QA agencies, as it normally involves the engagement of several institutions and multiple national accreditation procedures. The purpose of this study is to explore current QA approaches to joint degree programs in Europe and East Asia from the perspectives of QA agencies. There are four major findings from the study. First, East Asian countries tend to stipulate national regulations for a joint degree program. Second, an external QA mechanism for joint degree programs has not yet been developed in East Asian nations. Third, the adoption of international accreditation as the popular approach for joint degree programs in business fields in Asia raises the serious issue of national jurisdiction over higher education. Fourth, the European Consortium for Education's (ECA) single accreditation mode is highly recommended by QA agencies.
ISSN:0729-4360
1469-8366
DOI:10.1080/07294360.2015.1107878