The Kenya National Commission for UNESCO in partnership with a network of other organizations including UNESCO Headquarters, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa recently hosted a stakeholders sensitization workshop. It was on Ratification of The Regional and Global Conventions on Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
Embracing a Regional and Global Perspective:
As a nation, Kenya is part of both the continental and international community. In this increasingly interconnected world, it is essential to ensure that our qualifications are recognized not only within our borders but also across regions and globally. UNESCO, since its inception in 1945, has been dedicated to addressing issues of mobility in education, making this workshop all the more pertinent in today’s evolving global context.
The Role of Conventions:
The two conventions on Recognition of Qualifications, empower relevant bodies to recognize qualifications based on their respective country’s criteria. Indeed, Kenya has made substantial progress in enhancing the quality of qualifications awarded by institutions within the country, spanning certificates, diplomas, degrees, and Recognition of Prior Learning.
Key Objectives of the Conventions:
These conventions have been designed to achieve several critical objectives:
- Strengthening and promoting inter-regional and international co-operation in the field of recognition of qualifications;
- Defining and putting in place effective quality assurance and accreditation mechanisms at the national, regional and continental levels;
- Encouraging and promoting the widest and most effective possible use of human resources available in Africa and of the diaspora in order to speed up the development of their respective countries and to limit African brain-drain;
- Facilitating the exchange and greater mobility of students, teachers and researchers of the continent and the diaspora, by the recognition of qualifications delivered by other Parties in order to pursue higher education;
- Furthering the setting up of high-level joint training and research programmes between higher education institutions and supporting the award of joint degrees;
- Improving and reinforcing the collection and exchange of information for the purpose of implementing this Convention across the Continent and
- Contributing to the harmonization of qualifications, taking into account current global trends.
The workshop offered participants a chance to examine, consolidate, and provide thoughtful input to the technical committee. to enhance the quality of the document towards ratification and ultimately anchor Kenya as a center for education, research and training
The workshop was officially opened by Mr. Fredrick Ndambuki on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Education, KNATCOM Ag. Secretary General, Dr. James Njogu, HSC graced the opening ceremony.
