CALOHEA Regional Subject-Specific Reference Frameworks as tools for promoting recognition and internationalization

The Faculty of Education has become part of the Measuring and Comparing Achievements of Learning Outcomes in Higher Education in Asia (CALOHEA) project. CALOHEA aims to enhance the internationalization of higher education institutions in Southeast Asia by developing a series of interrelated measures across three Key Recognition Mechanisms. One key initiative by the CALOHEA Erasmus+ project participants is the creation of Regional Subject-Specific Reference Frameworks, which facilitate the recognition of degrees and study periods within the ASEAN region and between ASEAN and other world regions.

A Qualifications Framework is a structure that allows us to classify different qualifications in a geographical area covered by the framework and establish a broad equivalence of qualifications (e.g. first cycle of higher education/undergraduate, etc.) across the region. This is done through describing what a learner will have developed in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, competences, etc upon successfully completing a particular level of studies.

Regional Qualifications Reference Frameworks seek to establish broad equivalence among qualifications offered in more than one country. Such frameworks are intended to be used as Reference Documents – facilitating recognition but not overruling National regulations or National Qualifications Frameworks. The ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) could be two good examples here.

CALOHEA Subject-Specific Qualifications Reference Frameworks facilitate recognition through allowing to:
1) clearly see which key dimensions must be addressed by each programme in the subject area;
2) establish equivalence between qualifications offered in different countries in terms of their level, regardless of how the qualifications are referred to in each of the countries;
3) express specialisation of a particular programme in terms of the sub-dimensions addressed;
4) compare the level of achievement aimed at for each of the sub-dimensions – in terms of knowledge, skills or responsibilities;
5) compare shorter periods of study as well – periods of study during which only particular types of knowledge, specific skills or capacity to perform particular responsibilities can be developed.

CALOHEA Regional Subject-Specific Qualifications Reference Frameworks state in a detailed manner what knowledge, skills, attitudes, competences, etc. are expected from graduates of a ARQF Level 6 degrees in Civil Engineering, Medicine and Teacher Education; & allow recognition across all the countries involved in the development of the Frameworks. 

To see the CALOHEA Reference Frameworks, visit https://calohea.org/