RECOGNITION IN LEBANON Equivalence in Diverse System

Transcription

1 RECOGNITION IN LEBANON Equivalence in Diverse System Ahmad JAMMAL Director General of Higher Education ajammal@higher-edu.gov.lb - Tel.:

2 OUTLINE 1. Introduction and motivation 2. Higher Education Institutions in Lebanon 3. Recognition Historical Background 4. Councils & Committees of HE in Lebanon 5. Higher Education System in Lebanon

3 OUTLINE 6. Recognition tools: 1. Equivalence Committee 2. Colloquium Examinations Committees 3. Engineering Practice Committee 7. International Conventions 8. Conclusion 9. Recommendations

4 INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION > Understand and recognize diplomas and degrees crucial for internal and external mobility Appropriate use of qualifications Preserve qualifications beholder rights > In Lebanon this is a crucial topic Strong migration of qualifications in both directions Expatriate rate 10% in % of Lebanese emigrants hold a higher education degree

5 INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION (2) > Recognition of qualifications to Enroll in a higher education institution or program - Multilateral agreements - Recognition of highest degree delivered? - Recognition within the same country Seek to practice a regulated profession - Colloquium for Medicine - PhD for University Position - Prepare students to international exams (preparation to USMLE) Integrate an active sector or profession - Information and knowledge are crucial elements - Some exams are organized by the institutions themselves - Private evaluation and certification

6 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS > Beginning of HE establishments in Lebanon was in the 19 th century AUB started in 1866 USJ started in 1875 Other Establishments were created during the 20 th century The Lebanese University (Public) started in 1953

7 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (2) Today, we have: >41 HEIs, they are classified as following: 1 Public University (Lebanese University) 31 Private Universities 9 University Colleges & Institutes >135 specialties in the different institutions >Different systems of Education: European, American, Arab, Canadian, French, other.

8 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (3) > Total Students: LU: Private:

9 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (4) > Total Students: st 8 HEIs: Other 32.8 HEIs:

10 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (5) > Total Students: st 9 HEIs: New HEIs:

11 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 1. Engineering Practice Committee: Equivalence Committee: 1957 & Regulations in HE National Examination in Health Sciences: 1959 Colloquium Exams Committees: Medical Doctor, Dental Doctor, Pharmacy, etc. 4. Council of Higher Education: Higher Council of Universities: 1967

12 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (2) 6. Directorate General of Culture & Higher Education 1992 : Ministry of Culture & Higher Education 7. Technical Committee: Equivalence committee for Higher Education: New Criteria 1996 : Decree No 9274/96 & 8864/96 (Licensing)

13 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (3) 10. Directorate General of Higher Education 2002: Ministry of Education & Higher Education 11. Criteria for Starting Up & Audit: External Audit (New since 2004)

14 Councils & Committees of HE in Lebanon Council & Committees of HE in Ministry of Education & Higher Education Lebanon DGE DGVET CNRDP, LU Higher Council of Universities Council of higher Education Directorate General of Higher Education External Audit Engineering Committee Technical Committee Equivalence Committee Colloquium Exams Committees Universities, Institutes, and Colleges

15 Architecture of Higher Education System in Lebanon Architecture of Higher Education Baccalaureate (General or Technical) University Degrees System in Lebanon 3 yrs 3 yrs 3 yrs 3 yrs Technical Degrees Licence BS BA BS Eng. DUT TS 1 yr 1 yr 4 yrs 2 yrs (Teaching Diploma) Diploma LT LET (Maîtrise) 2 yrs 1 yr 2 yrs 2 yrs 5 yrs Research Master DEA Professional Master DESS 1 yr Ms Eng. or BE (AUB) Engineering Diploma Doctorate PhD 3 yrs Medical Specialties: 1. Medical Doctor : 7 yrs 2. Dental Doctor: 5 yrs 3. Pharmacy: 5 yrs 4. Physiotherapy: 4 yrs 5. Nursery: min. 3 yrs Bachelor of Law: 4 yrs State Diploma

16 Higher Education not related to the MEHE Archi suite 2 Ministry of Culture National Higher Institute of Music Baccalaureate in Music Ministry of Justice Institute of Judicial studies 3 years after a Bachelor degree in Law Bachelor in Music Master in Music Ministry of Public Health Medical Specialties After MD Degree Lebanese Doctorate in Music

17 RECOGNITION TOOLS > MEHE DGHE: Equivalence Committee Exams (e.g. Colloquium) Associating Professional Bodies (Engineering) > HEIs (Public/Private) Entrance Exams International Exams (SAT, TOEFL, GMAT, ) > Ministry of Health Specialties in Medicine & Dentistry

18 EQUIVALENCE COMMITTEE > Names Equivalence Committee : Created in 1957 Equivalence Committee for HE: Renamed in 1996 > Composition President: Director General of Higher Education Members: - 2 DGHE - 6 from universities (different systems) - Administrative Judge

19 EQUIVALENCE COMMITTEE (2) > Role Recognition of the programs of private universities and institutes in Lebanon (Decisions O.J.) Equivalence to degrees from Lebanese universities Equivalence to degrees from outside Lebanon > The committee Reviews programs in the private Universities in Lebanon before giving the recognition. > The committee takes into consideration Accredited Programs from outside Lebanon.

20 EQUIVALENCE COMMITTEE (3) > The committee recognizes a program in a private university, the EQ.C. looks for: The license of the program. The reports of the TC about the institution. Admission Criteria's. Criteria to deliver the diploma of the program, Objectives, Contents, Curricula of the program, System (annual, credits, etc.).. /..

21 EQUIVALENCE COMMITTEE (4) > And the EQ.C. looks for: Academic staff & their qualifications. Human resources (Administrative, technical, etc.) Laboratories, and every additional activity related to the program Library For Post graduate degrees, especially for MSc & PhD, they verify research activities & research results (papers & participation in workshops, conferences, Thesis list, etc.)

22 COLLOQUIUM EXAMINATIONS COMMITTEE > Role Examinations in Health Specialties: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, Nursery, etc. > Composition President: Ministry of Education & Higher Education Vice-President: Director General of Public Health Members (A Commission by specialty): The examination commissions are composed of members from DGHE, MOPH and from Specialists from different universities in Lebanon

23 COLLOQUIUM EXAMINATIONS COMMITTEE (2) > Procedure Two times per year in July and in December, The DGHE organizes a national exam., called Colloquium exam. for Students that have Diploma in Health Sciences, etc. All Graduated students from in and outside Lebanon must pass this exam. The Program must be recognized by the EQ.C. as a condition for the student to pass the examination

24 ENGINEERING PRACTICE COMMITTEE > Creation in 1955 > Role Advise the Ministry of public works to give authorization of practice as Engineer. They apply the law 636/97 (Modification of 1955 law) that gives the rules of practice of engineers in Lebanon: - Engineering diploma (5 years) - Master of Engineering from Eng. schools

25 ENGINEERING PRACTICE COMMITTEE (2) > Composition DGHE Order of Engineers (Architect, Civil, Elect, Mechanic, etc.) Ministry of public works Ministry of agriculture Faculty of Engineering - LU. > Universities from outside Lebanon must be recognized and/or accredited: ABET, CEAB, NAAB, CTI, etc.

26 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS > International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab and European States bordering the Mediterranean, Nice 1976 > Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education in the Arab States, Paris 1978

27 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS (2) > UNESCO Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education in the States belonging to the European Region > Lisbon Recognition Convention

28 CONCLUSION 1. Existing and well established recognition system in Lebanon 2. Large recognition activity in Lebanon due to the large mobility of qualifications 3. Information is a key issue 4. How to reinforce MERIC and connect to the NARIC network

29 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Information is at the basis of the recognition process Transparent Precise Easy of access 2. ENIC-NARIC network is a key player in the information process Mediterranean Recognition Information Centers (MERIC) How to enforce this network and make it active through the region?

30 RECOMMENDATIONS (2) 3. Recognition depends largely on the information available regarding the institution/system delivering the Diploma 4. European Tools help in this direction ECTS and DS but also bridging with other credit systems NQF for a better reading of qualifications within a system and EQF for a better reading of qualifications across systems Mobility, multilateral conventions and joint degrees are very important in both information and trust building processes.

31 Many thanks for your kind participation