Global Competence through Multilateral Partnership

Tumbelaka, Hanny Hosiana and Meilinda, (2013) Global Competence through Multilateral Partnership. In: Australian Awards Alumni Conference, 28-08-2013 - 29-08-2013, Yogyakarta - Indonesia.

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Abstract

Abstract As a young and emerging country, Timor-Leste realises that in order for its higher education institutions to be recognised and for the graduates to be professionally mobile, regionally or internationally, attention needs to be paid to international standards of quality in higher education. Since 2008, Timor-Leste has gone through a national process of international assessment and accreditation of all higher education institutions by applying standards related to the achievement of the institution‘s mission and objectives and focusing on the quality of the institution as a whole. The process also served as an approval mechanism for the accredited institutions to confer diplomas and degrees as specified in the Timor-Leste National Qualifications Framework. Program accreditation processes for all courses will be implemented next year. Many of the higher education institutions in Timor-Leste have significant problems in terms of the institutional capacity for internal quality assurance and in meeting international standards. Apart from quality, steep challenges related to structure, management and performance in education and research remain, if the universities are to meet the growing economics demands for productivity and competitiveness. Hence, and also as part of preparation for program accreditation, two leading institutions (UNTL and DIT) are currently reforming their curriculum by streamlining the curriculum content (making them more relevant to the development needs) and modelling to the European Credit and Transfer System (ECTS) by providing a modern, more appropriate and student-centred work load. This paper outlines the challenges and opportunities for the Timorese higher education institutions in increasing the quality and relevance of competition in higher education. This includes endeavours to promote programs with credit transfers and grading policies which will be the key to exchange among universities in the region. Timor-Leste is soon becoming a member of the ASEAN community and immediately becoming integrated into the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 together with the other ASEAN ten member-states. Keywords: Higher education, quality assurance, ECTS, competitiveness

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