COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Delegates who attended the UNESCO Regional Consultation Meeting for Anglophone and Lusophone African countries held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 19-21 November 2018 arrived at a consensus on the need to improve quality assurance in higher education. Attended by 60 senior officials from quality assurance agencies in Africa, higher education institutions, governmental bodies and the private sector, the meeting was held under the theme, “The Role of Quality Assurance in Higher Education: Challenges, Developments and Trends”. The principles guiding the recently adopted Education 2030 Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action: “Towards inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all” underscore the importance of establishing robust quality assurance systems.
Speaking at the meeting, UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa, Professor Hubert Gijzen proposed that Africa must indeed pursue a digital transformation which is critical for the 21st century universities for the attainment of quality higher education. The importance and centrality of Quality Assurance and Accreditation Systems to the globalization of universities must be given the rightful place as countries maintain their commitment to the ratification of the Addis Convention and moving beyond to its implementation at the institutional level.