The initiatives under this priority highlight the need for in-depth communication and dialogue among experts in this field in order to better understand quality assurance systems of other countries as it would lead to better recognition of learning outcomes and academic degrees among ASEM members. Quality assurance and recognition are seen as crucial elements for the attractiveness, transparency, comparability and permeability of education systems leading to increase a more balanced mobility.
The problem of recognition is particularly observable among the Asian countries, where unlike those in Europe covered by the Bologna Process, up to now there has not been any consensus on the equivalence of degrees and learning outcomes. Under this priority, there are five ASEM initiatives that involve discussions among groups of experts and policy makers at the national level, followed by with a larger seminar involving institutional managers.
Thus far, there have been several documents produced under the ASEM initiatives of the First Priority. These documents can be referred to by the ASEM countries as they increase transparency of each country’s quality assurance system and recognition guidelines. These include the Asian National Information Centres’ Website (ANICCW), Handbook of Guidelines, Principles and Good Practices on Recognition, Guidelines of Student Mobility, Guidelines on Transcripts, and Compendium on Credits and Learning Outcomes. These documents can be viewed as tangible products of the five Pillar 2 initiatives in this First Priority.
