IAO Accreditor

ACCREDITOR

IAO

International Issue

Latest from The World of Educational Accreditation

MAIN STORY:

ETC.

IAO’S

A Day in the Life of IAO’s Evaluation Commission Member

POINTS PROFILE

UPFRONT IAO'S Exclusive Accreditation Consultancy

SYSTEM

Unifying Educational Parameters Around the Globe

In Conversation with Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Refaat Azmy

Vice President MENA Region, IAO

IN THE LIMELIGHT

HOT TOPIC

ALLIANCE

Featuring

Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges (SRC)

Universities Offering Unique Student Services Enjoy an Edge over Others

The Recent Emergence of International Co-branding in the World of Education

Page 18

Page 34

Page 40

To view online or subscribe, visit: www.iao.org

Students

Faculty

Alumni

Administration

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Feedback

feedback TREP OF THE MONTH

H

ad to share ! I am a faculty member at one of the leading universities of the Africa region.

I was thrilled to read your last issue’s main story - The Astonishing Pros & Cons of ERP Systems in Your College. I made sure my fellow colleagues and peers from other education systems get to read that too so I shared the story on facebook. The story was indeed an eye-opener for us and I won’t take away from the readers, the fun of the read just yet. The vice chancellor of the university got back to me with the curiosity of knowing more about IAO, after having shared as to how he enjoyed the read. Our university soon applied for accreditation at IAO, having found out its international stature and fortunately, today we are in the process of receiving the candidacy status from IAO soon. Simultaneously another university in the region also applied for accreditation at IAO and now anxiously awaits IAO’s response. IAO INISIGHT sure is a good way for reaching out to deserving and competent education providers worldwide.

- Samantha Hopkins

TELL US ABOUT IT There is a whole world of IAO INSIGHT online, and our Facebook fans, Twitter followers and official blogs are buzzing 24/7 about what matters to educationists most. Come, join the conversation with our editors and readers.

Become our fan on Facebook: Facebook.com/IAO Follow us on Twitter: @IAO

LETTERS Impressed!

The Hot TOPICS in the last issue were not only enjoyable to read but highly informative at the same time. They were well-knit with the main story covering ERP system’s advantages and disadvantages. Other related aspect of ERP solutions were depicted aptly. Expecting more such worthwhile features in the next issue! Keep it up IAO INSIGHT! - Raymond Lee

Never knew ‘ETC.’ could be so power-packed!

First of all, I love it how you call these resourceful and handy write-ups “etc.”

I so engagingly read the first one that I actually found myself turning pages to get to other such fascinating pieces that you so endearingly call “etc.”

By all means I liked all those articles particularly in the last issue. Hoping to find more such captivating write-ups in the upcoming issue! Thanks for sending in the last one; good luck!

- Amber Brown

Join our online community: Blog.iao.org

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS email us at: feedback@iaoaccreditor.com 6 IAO Insight

Editorial Editorial

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL NOTE NOTE Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusAt IAO, doloremque we foster excellence education over the world in antium laudantium,in totam rem all aperiam, eaque ipsa collaboration with regional accreditation bodies through the develquae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta opment of criteriaNemo and guidelines for assessing educational effectivesunt explicabo. enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit ness.

We encourage institutional improvement of education aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores endeavors across the globe through continuous self study and eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt.

Neque porro quisquam evaluation. est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore Itetisdolore with great pleasure that we present you the international of magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

Ut enim ad issue minima IAO INSIGHT magazine another step in the direction towards veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laborioachieving ouraliquid mission. sam, nisi ut ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil In this issue you will read our qui main story eum - Technology molestiae consequatur, vel illum dolorem fugiat quoFurther volupRevamps the Education Stratum in 2012 that foresees the educatas nulla pariatur?" tion industry to be adapting even smarter technologies by 2012, in order to deliver education in a more seamless manner.

1914 translation

by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing Featured In thepraising Limelight is the pleasure and pain wasSaudi born Arabia’s and I willrenowned give you ainstitution completeSulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges (SRC).

Find out how the institution is account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the satisfying the needs of the Saudi market and contributing towards great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. the existingordiagnostic medical units the region.

No performance one rejects, of dislikes, avoids pleasure itself,inbecause it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue IAO INSIGHT then gets in conversation with Dr. Ahmed pleasure rationally encounter consequences that areMohamed extremely Refaat Azmy – the Vice President at the IAO for MENAorregion.

The painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues desires to issue also discusses the aims & objectives of regional accreditation obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally agencies for collaborating with toil international circumstances occur in which and pain authorities. can procureAdditionally, him some a number of hot topics and fast tips will engage your and great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us interest ever underprove to be informative, effective and easily applicable to your daily takes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage lives from at it?work.

But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who A Day in the Life IAO’s Evaluation Commission Member will walk avoids a pain thatofproduces no resultant pleasure?" you through a typical day of our members.

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Hope Ciceroyou in 45enjoy BC your read as much as we did while putting it all together.

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos We are declaring an ‘open-door’ policy We invite our readers dolores et quas molestias excepturi sinthere. occaecati cupiditate non to contact us with ideas, comments, criticism, whatever willanimi, help us provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia id keep IAO INSIGHT the respected industry resource it has become. est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et Visit us online at www.iao.org. We look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely, IAO Chancellor Sincerely,

Jeff Wright Editor-in-chief j.wright@iaoaccreditor.com

52 IAO Insight

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Contents

Featured in this issue main story 28 Aiming for a Higher Assessment Score at IAO

events in focus IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit to: 10 11 12 13

Al Faisal International Academy SNGCE University Chreso University Shardha University

interview 14 In Conversation with Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Refaat Azmy

in the limelight 18 Featuring Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges

hot topic 22 Multi-Media Solutions for Managing School Activities 34 Universities Offering Unique Student Services Earn an Edge over Others

etc.

32 How Quality Educational Facilities Earn You an Edge?

IAO Insight

38 The Role of an International Accreditation Body on the Education Front Worldwide 52 A Day in the Life of IAO’s Evaluation Commission Member

Contents

alliances 40

The Recent Emergence of International Co-branding in the World of Education

upfront 49

Accredited Faculty Program Exclusive Accreditation Consultancy

50

IAO’s Globally Accredited Education Providers

q&a 53 Q&A Session with Brayden De Satg

learning trends 43 Technology Further Revamps the Education Stratum in 2012

fast tips 47 Developing Relationships with Students for Increased Enrolments and Admissions

quotes 60 Quotes of Wisdom to Gear up Your Mind

facts & figures 56 Worldwide Education Facts 2011

events directory 54 When and Where?

book review 58 4 Books You Must Read this Season IAO Insight

Events in Focus

Events in Focus IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit Al Faisal International Academy

Commission member at the Central Administration

The university management engrossed in a discussion

At the English Lab with the Faculty members

10 IAO Insight

Commission member with the Heads of the University

The university management completing forms

The Commission member now bids farewell to the university heads

Events in Focus

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit SNGCE University

Impressive university premises

Commission member signing the site visit documents

A large and well-stocked library

SNGCE’s state-of-the-art computer laboratory

Spacious classroom

The modern Engineering Unit at SNGCE

11 IAO Insight

Events in Focus ALLIANCE

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit Chreso University

From left: Chairman, Vice Chancellor, Professor Krishna and staff head

Students at the University’s well-equipped computer lab

The administration secretary at work

12 IAO Insight

Group photo of university staff and students

Students enjoying pool

And the journey ends

Events in Focus

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit Shardha University

Entering the university premises….

Commission member visiting the computer lab

Commission member chatting with the students

Commission member signing the site visit documents

Visiting the Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology

Taking a tour of the library boasting of resourceful material

13 IAO Insight

Interview

IAO In Conversation with

Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Refaat Azmy Q:

Could you please tell us about your academic background and achievements?

I

have acquired the following qualifications: B.Sc., Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufya University, Egypt M.Sc., Department of Electrical

Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufya University, Egypt Ph.D., Department of Electrical Engineering, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany

From 2010 to present, I have been serving as an Associate Professor, Department of Power Engineering and Electrical Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt.

Q:

You extensive experience can be a source of inspiration for many; please share with us the professional milestones you have achieved so far?

I have served with a number of educational instituA: tions in the following capacities: Instructor, Department of Power Engineering and Electrical Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt Assistant Lecturer, Department of Power Engineering and Electrical Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt 2001-2005, Research Assistant, Department of

14 IAO Insight

Interview Electrical Engineering, University DuisburgEssen, Germany Lecturer, Department of Power Engineering and Electrical Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt Peer reviewer in the projects of universities infrastructure and training projects January 2007-present, Director of the automated library project in Tanta University (one of the main projects of education development in Egypt 2007- present, Director of the quality assurance unit, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt Director of the continuous improvement and qualification for accreditation program CIQAP, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt Presently, I am the head of the department of Electrical Power and Machines Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt.

Experience Q:

As the head of the department of Electrical Power and Machines Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, what are some of your long and short term goals for the education system at the University?

A:

The short-term goal for the education system at the University is to develop a complete course specification and establish an effective internal auditing system. As for the long-term goals, I have to work on the development of the curriculum, in line with the requirements of the industry and society. In addition, I would pay special attention to increase the weight of practical activities and field training.

Q:

What's the most surprising experienced so far in your role?

A:

The capability of people to perform complex and difficult tasks within a short time and when the tasks were not pre-planned or strategized.

thing

you've

15 IAO Insight

Interview Q:

As the head of department, what do you think your biggest challenges will be?

A:

A:

The resistance to change will be a big challenge.

Normally, people tend to accomplish the work with a conventional and routine manner. In addition, there is a shortage of information in most institutions, which prevents the correct decision making.

This cannot take place. The enrolment in higher education represents a dream for each student. If students have no chance of enrolment, they try to join private institutions that charged even higher tuition fees.

Q:

In the recent times it has been observed that many students are opting for non-traditional methods of education, like distance learning, etc.

Do these alternative methods produce equally competent graduates?

A:

I do not think so. There is mostly a difference in the level and qualification.

Q:

What, in your opinion, is the perceived value of accreditation for:

Q: A:

Educationists are advised to share their experience and learning. What way of information dissemination would you say is most effective for this purpose?

The Egyptian personality tends to depend on direct contact to share experience. Therefore, wellorganized workshops can achieve fast, effective and guaranteed way. However, chatting can also help in this direction since more participants can share.

(a) Education Providers (b) Students

A:

(a) Gives more opportunities to obtain a suitable position (b) Gives more trust in the institution and increases the turnout

Q:

Do you think IAO’s international accreditation has made a difference in the world of education?

If so, then how?

A:

IAO’s international accreditation defines a simple but sufficient framework for accreditation. Any institution that applies correct quality procedures can obtain the accreditation. In addition, IAO puts roles that enable every institution to measure its performance.

This makes a difference regarding other accreditation with complex and complicated requirements and finally, the requirements are basically the same.

Q:

Do you think technological advancement has helped in effective learning for students or is it more of a distraction?

A:

Technological advancement represents a real assistance in effective learning for students all over the world.

Interests & Opinions: Q:

What is your philosophy for effective teaching methodology?

A:

A hybrid teaching method comprising lectures, tutorials, practical training and e-learning.

Q:

In the wake of hiking tuition fee, do you predict a decline in overall enrolment in higher education institutes/universities?

16 IAO Insight

Interview

Ending Note Q:

What do you do in your spare time?

A:

Really, I do not have any spare time. If I have some, reading will be the first choice.

Q:

Dr. Ahmed, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions for IAO Insight. Do you have any message or piece of advice for educationists and students?

A:

Education is a way for improving our life, not to destroy the world.

“IAO’s international accreditation defines a simple but sufficient framework for accreditation. Any institution that applies correct quality procedures can obtain the accreditation.”

17 IAO Insight

In The Limelight

Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges (SRC) As part of the process to pursue IAO’s international accreditation, The Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Rajhi University has been recognized as a candidate for accreditation by the IAO. Candidacy status means that The Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Rajhi University’s educational programs have met the necessary criteria for accreditation. The university will be expected to provide the IAO with supporting data of its high-quality teaching and academic programs; it should also prove that it qualifies for the IAO’s 26 accreditation metrics.

An Evaluation Commission team of the IAO will visit the university on a suitable date to assess the university’s standing as a full candidate for accreditation.

Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Rajhi University is envisaged to further improve the health sciences education, patient care and biomedical research to match the international standards. The colleges and the hospital are conceived as “Islands of Excellence” to keep pace with the knowledge explosion, technological advances and scientific breakthroughs. Accreditation by the IAO is indicative of the institution’s high quality programs. It will also mean that the university’s graduates will be eligible to apply for ‘advanced standing’ in health programs.

IAO’s international accreditation will make it easier for the University to share the best practices with other health institutions worldwide, improve international recognition and students’ enrollment and strengthen relations with counterparts related to scholarships and grants.

18 IAO Insight

Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges’ Mission To build leaders for future revival by equipping our “students with knowledge, practical and personal skills tied with high professional values in a challenging learning

“

Featuring

environment, enriched with scientific research to meet the current and future needs of the community

About Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges (SRC) is a not-for-profit, studentcentered and an outstanding medical school. The college aims to nurture future leaders by equipping them with practical skills and the latest knowledge. SRC’s futuristic curriculum ensures a challenging learning environment that stimulates students to pursue scholarly activities. Islamic values and academic professionalism define their education philosophy. The institution offers the programs in the following categories: Medicine Nursing Applied Sciences Clinical Laboratory Sciences Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Maastricht with the direct supervision of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education for Educational Affairs. University of Maastricht is one of the most distinguished European universities in the field of medical education in particular and higher education in general.

Sulaiman Al Rajhi’s Teaching Hospital is dedicated to provide the highest quality patient health care in the treatment and prevention of human illness. It has emerged as an excellent academic medical center that provides a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art secondary, tertiary and quaternary care. The Teaching Hospital aims to provide high-quality health care,

In The Limelight emphasizing its core mission, that is:

“To improve wellbeing of the community through provision of distinguished healthcare and medical education in an environment governed by high professional values, enriched by medical research and enabled by cutting-edge technology.”

SRC Successfully Adheres to IAO’s Evaluation Standards The IAO’s evaluation commission assessed SRC’s performance and study programs against IAO’s patented Evaluation system – Points Profile IAO testifies that SRC identifies society’s demographics, technology, resource allocation and other factors relevant to medicine and health care and accurately addresses these changes in the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Development and dissemination of new knowledge and cutting-edge technology Explore new basic and applied research frontiers in health and biomedical sciences Improve access to health care and education through community service and outreach region’s populations Serve the needs of the state's citizens as well as conduct a progressive, viable business in a competitive marketplace

According to IAO’s Evaluation Standard of Organizational Management, the SRC: Encourages rational, optimal and innovative use of existing human, financial and physical resources Seeks opportunities for new and sustained funding for medical education and educational research Provides the required physical facilities, clinical training resources and resources for information and communication technology Ensures establishment of research facilities and delineates research priorities for the College including research in medical education Provides facilities and resources in medical education (medical education unit/centre and educational expertise) Opens sustainable channels of communication and means of collaboration with other educational institutions to facilitate exchange of faculty and students, sharing of resources and experiences, mutual transfer of education credits, etc

19 IAO Insight

In The Limelight According to IAO’s Evaluation Standard of Academic Management, the SRC: Facilitates effective and efficient curriculum management, ensuring ongoing curriculum renewal, and encourages active participation of faculty and students in the process

According to IAO’s Evaluation Standard of Institutional Performance, the SRC: Maintains a student assessment system based on educationally sound basis, in line with the educational objectives and fair to students and responds to students' personal and academic needs

Provides students with the required skills and motivation to continue to educate themselves and others, throughout their careers and ensures that they are able to work as members of a multidisciplinary health care team

Prepares students for life-long learning in the study and practice of medicine, and for the initiation, and adaptation to, changes in medicine and health care

Successfully adheres to IAO’s evaluation standards and ensures that they have developed a curriculum responsive to international education community needs and expectations

Produces students who act as change agents and contribute to community development with special reference to the development and success of health care programs and health institutions

Implies sound mechanisms of program evaluation involving a large base of representation of stakeholders to monitor and evaluate the curriculum and ensure timely identification and rectification of obstacles and problems

Produces students who conduct relevant health research (especially health system research) to contribute to the solution of health problems and the evolution of medicine

The Saudi Kingdom is witnessing major progress in health services. The situation calls for increasing the number of specialized Saudi technologists to cover the needs of labor market. Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges (SRC) thus satisfies the needs of the Saudi market and contributes to the performance of existing diagnostic medical units in the region.

20 IAO Insight

For advertising opportunities, please contact: advertising@iaoaccreditor.com

Hot Topic

Multi-Media Solutions for

Managing School Activities Applications Supporting

your Project Creation & Development

A

s the Internet and multimedia continue to offer incredible ease and convenience in various aspects of life, IAO has identified some popularly used and free IT tools—Google Calendar, Freemind, Picnik, etc.— for sorting out the daily tasks of teachers. Read on to know more about our recommended web services.

Teachers can benefit from using the following web services:

22 IAO Insight

1

Check out Google Docs for online workspace application that gives you free web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation and form application. As teachers, you can create and edit related documents online while communicating in real-time with other teachers. Teachers can also save these documents on your own computer in a variety of formats and can be accessed by anyone who you grant access to.

Find more on the Google Docs’ application updates at http://googledocs.blogspot.com/ To choose from various templates, visit http://docs.google.com/templates

Hot Topic A desktop application called Freemind enables you to create or edit your ideas hierarchically around focal concept.

This approach allows you to brainstorm your ideas in a non-linear way over new projects with ideas being added around the mind map. Since brainstorming is crucial in every learning environment, Freemind is great for use in the classroom as well as for sharing your new teaching ideas with your peers.

Looking to create mind maps? Turn to Mindmeister.com - another application, allowing you web-based brainstorming framework. Teachers use Mindmeister.com to engage in interactive brainstorming sessions with peers over the web, especially when some of these teachers are out-station or on holidays. When set in such a vibrant brainstorming mode, other users can respond more vigorously and help you develop concrete projects out of all those mind maps as well view changes made by each other, live! For more information, visit http://www.mindmeister.com/

Teachers can easily design quizzes and tests for their students with the dynamic web-application - Classmarker.com. This tool enables students to instantly know exam timings and their scores just as they get done attending them. So you get it? No more endless hours over weekends, checking students’ multiplequestion exams!

ClassMarker TM

Organizers, Schedulers

2

and To-do-List Management Google Calendar is popular for its simplicity and ease of use as it allows you to view, add and drag-n-drop events from one date to the other, without having to reload the page.

Google Calendar is a web-service that is linked to your Gmail, helping you to organize your time. As teachers you can freely organize your schedules, keeping track of important events in one calendar. Additionally you can invite other people online to the events within the calendar without the hassle of calling or emailing them.

Teachers can also manage their tasks and to-do lists online with the help of RememberTheMilk.com. They can view tasks located nearby, add and complete tasks on the go, organize upcoming tasks, and sync it all flawlessly. The last thing teachers can afford is misplacing their to-do-lists; this application ensures they never would as it’s always available online.

For more information, visit http://www.rememberthemilk.com/

The social bookmarking service Delicious.com is unique in two ways.

Firstly it allows teachers to manage their own education related bookmarks as well as share them with their academic staff. Secondly, they can always research on what other educational sites are being bookmarked.

Teachers can simply use this online platform as a focal repository for all the material that they research on for lessons & research projects. An added advantage of Delicious.com is its ability to share these links with students and parents when required.

Pageflakes.com is an online application, enabling you to customize your homepage for your browser. Teachers can personalize their homepage and simply pick the news and information feeds that they wish to learn about, especially in relevance to schools and students’ issues.

23 IAO Insight

Hot Topic Online

Communication Networks

3

Gmail is a free webmail that teachers can use for many unique attributes. It tracks ‘conversations’. Each conversation consists of a string of emails sent using the same subject header – it thus reduces the amount of clutter in your inbox. Teachers can maintain a log of assignments via gmail. For more Gmail updates, visit http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/

Meebo.com is a web based instant messaging service, enabling you to communicate with your contacts without the need of downloading any software. With Meebo.com, teachers can communicate with any of their contacts on MSN, Yahoo, MySpace, AIM and their Meebo account easily.

Ning.com is an application that allows teachers to create and join new social networks according to their interests and passions. The teachers are able to discuss or organize activities with their social networks here. They can also keep updated with the ongoing activities nearby and involve in those great activities. The blog http://blog.ning.com/ has a lot of information regarding this application.

File

Conversion

4 24 IAO Insight

As teachers you may require file conversion tools more than often.

Zamzar.com is a free online tool offering file conversion without you having to download any software. Simply upload the file that requires conversion, select the format you need it in and then submit it. The converted file is then emailed to you. Another alternative for file conversion is ScreenToaster.com.

Hot Topic Video and

Pictures Sharing

5

The two applications allowing teachers to share photos of events and class activities over the internet are Flickr.com and Picnik.com. Share your albums with faculty, students and parents.

Youtube.com is the mega videosharing platform today. Besides class videos and performances, teachers can also share other relevant education videos related to the subjects they teach with peers and students alike.

Mediafire.com is the easiest, free file hosting service, allowing teachers to upload and share files and images with their peers.

The usage of multimedia technology in the classrooms can

benefit teachers, parents and students alike.

Benefits for

Teachers Facilitates educators to turn instructor-centered lessons into student-centered learning

Places onus of responsibility back on the student Enables teachers to deal with photocopying limitations Provides a discussion for teacher feedback and suggestion

Benefits for

Parents Facilitates educators to turn instructor-centered lessons into student-centered learning

Provides educators with more facilities to deliver education

Provides educators with more facilities to deliver education

Quickly and effortlessly adaptable to all education levels

Quickly and effortlessly adaptable to all education levels

Minimizes classroom management concerns

Minimizes classroom management concerns

Provides prospects for students to have a 'real' audience

Provides prospects for students to have a 'real' audience

25 IAO Insight

Hot Topic Benefits for

Students

Maximizes project-based learning opportunities

Interactive and encouraging

Provides classroom user-friendliness outside the classroom

Provides a platform to learn new things

Facilitates audio/visual learners

Provides a discussion for teacher feedback and suggestion

Engaging and convenient to students with special needs

Integrates supplementary valuable skills into the syllabus and courses outline

Allows for presentation of student assignments

Transforming Education through

Social Media Social media has become a vital component of our lives in today’s world where large franchises and other groups maintain their own Facebook accounts. A few years ago when the education fraternity was presented with the concept of using Twitter, Facebook, or blogging as a platform for education delivery, the educationists seemed a bit wary. However, having observed the immense significance of the social media in the education industry, these very cynics adopted them and used them to the best of their advantage.

Below listed are some of the impacts that social media is having on education at present:

No Additional Cost Even though one still has got to pay for the internet, the software cost however substantially goes down. As teachers incessantly have to deal with budget cuts, it is vital that they use tools that do not cost them additionally. This sounds music to any teachers’ (particularly those dealing with budget issues) ears.

26 IAO Insight

It Can Intensify Enthusiasm Social Media Minimizes Isolation Other educational institutions that are abroad are no more NOT in your reach and neither are you are ever limited to the ideas and camaraderie of those physically present around you. You can always connect with educationists around the world. It no more feels isolated as the opportunity to connect is there for those who are willing to take it.

Social Media Promotes Tolerance and Cultural Diversity There are so many diverse cultures world over and earlier on, we just read about them in books. Social media offers us the opportunity to not only read content from diverse people and hear their viewpoints, but social media gives us the prospect to in fact talk to people. Having the chance to connect with people from around the world breaks down a lot of barriers and gives way to developing understanding.

Enthusiasm is a term that has been used to quite a lot of extent in education. One has to build learning upon the interests and enthusiasms of their students. We now have the opportunity to not only connect with people of diverse backgrounds, but to people of similar interests. Worldwide, people connect with similar interests and create novelty in new areas. The use of video has evolved so rapidly due to the ease of sharing. Students who do not have similar interests in the classroom, are not limited anymore. We can help to facilitate these connections in schools so the students’ enthusiasm thrives.

The World of Education is (and needs to be) More Open Educationists need to constantly converse and connect with not only stakeholders, but the world of education. Parents no longer need to speculate what teachers are on about as they extensively share it openly on a constant basis. One can do everything from sharing their calendar for the week to their community, to things they maybe reading. This breaks down walls and helps to put together relationships with families and communities.

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Main Story

AIMING FOR A

HIGHER ASSESSMENT

SCORE AT IAO

Accreditation is the primary means by which institutions of higher education worldwide assure and improve quality.

It has been in place for more than 100 years and so the role of accreditation is extensive. Accreditation is a private form of self regulation that serves not only higher education itself, but also students, government, and the public.

Over time, accreditation has come to

28 IAO Insight

play a pivotal role in terms of sustenance & enhancement of the quality of higher education, maintenance of the higher education’s academic values, depoliticizing of higher education, and serving public interest & need.

The IAO accreditation standards precisely are both qualitative and quantitative in nature and thus have

been developed after extensive research on the finest practices for educational institutions offering programs especially for the benefit of students worldwide.

The backbone of an accreditation body, in order to regulate quality education standards within the education fraternity is its evaluation standards. IAO grants

Main Story international accreditation through a unique and patented Points Profile System that is developed by organizing the best global practices in education at one place in collaboration with regional accreditation bodies.

IAO's Point Profile System works as general basis of evaluation for any education provider, regardless of its regional location to supplement their regional accreditation and provide an additional international accreditation.

The Points Profile System is a dynamic and evolving system that is continually updated in order to cater new developments in the academic world.

The Points Profile System is divided into three diverse sections to ensure exhaustive assessment of the educational institutions having applied for IAO’s accreditation.

The Organizational Management

The section involves all aspects of the organization with a focus on improving effectiveness and enhancing the organization’s sustainability.

The various checkpoints, in absolute and foremost detail are laid down under eighteen organizational management metrics bench-mark standards in global, educational best practices.

The Metrics within the Organizational Management 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Operational Status Vision Governing Board Senior Management Mission Institution Structuring Management Team Institutional Integrity Policies & Public Information Research & Scholarship Acquisition, Discovery & Application of Knowledge Campus/Online Area/Medium Financial Resources & Management Administrative Resources Management HR Management Marketing Organizational Planning Campus/Partner Institutions

The Organizational Management section entails various checkpoints in order to determine an institution’s philosophical and operational nature of governance that moves it toward its intended goal. Under Organizational Management rests the components that keep it cohesive and on track with its mission such as planning, organizing, leading and controlling.

12 13

Organizational Hierarchy and Sustainability Covered under Organizational Management

The Purpose

The section discusses an educational institute’s organizational hierarchy - in terms of improving the skills and performance of the institution’s staff and the set up.

It pertains to the process of developing the internal capacity for a board and staff to manage the institution most effectively and efficiently while pursuing its mission.

14 15 16 17 18

The purpose served by the benchmarks listed above is to assess as to whether the institution is equipped with all the necessary elements compulsively required to function on a regular basis and fulfill all its core functions and responsibilities towards the students’ education.

The Organizational Management section is fundamental to evaluating the factors – proving the institution’s environment supports continuous

improvement of all individuals associated to it and their administrative system to provide better education.

The Academic Management The Academic Management extensively discusses an institution’s ultimate product – the curriculum that is put together collectively by the Organizational Management. It comprises various staff members from administration to faculty as mentioned in detail above and their role in curriculum and academic program development and the best practices for the delivery of the educational programs to students.

Institution’s Academic Programs & Courses Covered under Academic Management The section aims to ensure that the Institution’s academic programs are efficiently and effectively delivered, the needs of students are adequately met and that research is facilitated.

These standards complement content area standards, which designate what students are expected to learn in various curriculum areas.

The institution, in order to be accredited, needs to provide quality courses for its students.

The Metrics within the Academic Management In order to assess how efficient and substantial an institution’s academic management, policies and processes are in actuality, culminating into identified student competencies, leading to degrees or certificates in recognized fields of study, everything is clearly laid down under the six academic management metrics bench-mark standards in global, educational best practices namely:

29 IAO Insight

Main Story 1 2 3 4 5 6

Academic Programs Schools / Fields of Study Curriculum Admissions Flexibility Faculty

The Purpose The purpose of this section is to provide a structure within the institution to ensure that the quality of the existing courses is maintained and improved, and that, in addition, new courses satisfy quality standards.

One of the key elements of the Academic Management section is to assess the institution’s continuous self-critical review of teaching and learning.

The Institutional Performance

The Metrics within the Institutional Performance There are three Institutional Performance metrics bench-mark standards in global education’s best practices.

The metrics that assess as to how the institutions fare in terms of alumni performance, employment and any third party assessments and certifications they may have acquired, are: 1 Alumni Performance 2 Graduation Rate 3 Standards Certifications

Purpose Institutional Performance is the ultimate verification of the two previously discussed sections – Organizational Management and Academic Management.

Points Profile

The Institutional Performance section focuses on the outcomes and results of an educational institution in regard to the achievement of its graduates in a given period of time.

Institution’s Effectiveness in Terms of Internal & External Equity Covered under Institutional Performance

Teachers and education providers benefit by joining IAO certified institutions because they are guaranteed a professional environment with qualified individuals, who act and plan according to established principles, benchmarks and standards.

Gauging whether the organization is delivering as per its commitment of educating students.

Gauging whether the institution is significantly contributing to the advancement in the world economy by preparing/training individuals to take up jobs relevant to their field of study or interest.

For the Institution: As the IAO standard of accreditation becomes better recognized and respected across the globe, it augurs well for the benefit of its members and all those involved in its workings.

The formation of the IAO has been hailed as one of the foremost steps taken in the global education spectrum in recent years. The IAO meets the need of accreditation for education providers (adhering to quality international education standards) across the globe.

The Benefits of Accreditation by IAO are Threefold:

This section extensively explores vital queries, such as the performance of your institution successfully matching its goals and mission, the right opportunities for educational experience and career development being provided to students, faculty, and administrators.

For the Students:

The Institutional Performance metrics keenly assess the institutional effectiveness in regards to not merely the present internal student body but also how the previous years’ graduates have performed in the job market.

The IAO certification is widely being recognized and accepted as a worldwide mark for quality education.

Students entering any of the IAO accredited institutions are thus guaranteed a standard of quality instruction.

30 IAO Insight

For the Faculty:

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ETC

HOW

QUALITY EDUCATIONAL

FACILITIES MAKE YOU STAND OUT

E

ducational institutions

aim to impart quality education and to support this cause proper infrastructure needs to be set in place. Campus facilities greatly influence the educational standards of the institution therefore the management, maintenance

32 IAO Insight

and operation of the instructional facilities need to be adequate.

Quality infrastructure helps universities get accreditation from global accrediting bodies like

Students seek out universities which can help them grow academically, professionally and personally. They want their stay at the institution to be worth their money and pick universities which are accredited and equipped with proper educational facilities.

IAO – which in turn helps them attract bright and ambitious students.

ETC Campus facilities encompass the work environment, number and quality of campuses and their accessibility as well as the internet facility. Other learning facilities include handouts, CDs, broadcasts and conferencing. An institution should comply with the policies of the IAO in this regard.

Instructional facilities should be sufficient to achieve institution’s mission and goals.

Facilities assigned to an instructional function should be adequate for effective operation of the function.

An institution’s facilities should be furnished adequately for work, study and research by students, faculty and staff.

Management, maintenance and operation of instructional facilities should be adequate to ensure their consistent quality and safety necessary to support the educational programs and services. Facilities need to be constructed and maintained with due regard to health and safety and accessibility for the physically challenged.

Physical facilities for programs offered off primary campuses need to be appropriate.

Facilities used by an institution owned and operated by other organizations also need to meet the aforementioned standards. Suitable equipment and computing and laboratory equipment should be readily accessible at on and

off site campuses to meet educational and administrative requirements.

Equipment needs to be properly maintained, inventoried, controlled, replaced and upgraded as per need.

Usage, storage and disposal of hazardous material should be in accordance with institution’s prescribed procedures and policy.

The existence of a wellstocked library within schools colleges and universities is crucial as the kind of practical & feasible learning environment a library provides is far above traditional classroom learning.

Any institution that attaches foremost importance to the continuous review and evaluation of its education system must understand that the library is integral to the educational process. The following are essential to the development of literacy, information literacy, teaching, learning and culture and are core school library services. An ideal library that fosters adequate learning & development opportunities for students

is comfortable, collaborative, open, social, connective, modern, clean, up-to-the-minute, and with not very strict rules in terms of maintaining silence.

An ideal library must aim to provide ample study material for students, teachers and staff alike. The facilities, material, equipment and staff of the school library as well as its operations should be organized in such a way that they support learning within the academic goals of the school.

The books and resources in an institution’s library should enable all members of the school community to become critical thinkers and effective users. A school’s library staff must support the use of books and other information sources, ranging from the fictional to the documentary, from print to electronic, both on-site and remote.

The study material made available should complement and enrich textbooks, teaching materials and methodologies.

Schools colleges and universities must operate their library systems based on sound policies. School libraries must always maintain a sufficient amount of budget & funding for competitive library staff, latest study materials, technologies and facilities.

An institution’s library services must be devised to define goals, priorities and services in relevance to the school's curriculum and be accessible to all members of the school community.

Establishing quality standards for infrastructure and facilities help institutions build up their name and meet international accreditation standards. Also, institutions with quality infrastructure become better equipped to impart quality education to their students, which enhances their academic and career growth.

33 IAO Insight

Hot Topic

Universities Offering

Sound Student Services Earn an Edge over Others

s

tudent services at universities are responsible for developing programs, advising student organizations and student leaders and conducting research to enhance student growth and development. Student services staff is comprised of advisors or full-time faculty with part-time advising responsibilities.

Sound student affairs practices must be considered within the context of issues that influence higher education and its missions. Societal concerns and needs, economic conditions, and external political agendas shape the parameters for student affairs work.

Educational providers must ensure that the faculty is enabling students to engage in active learning and developing coherent values and ethical standards. Colleges & universities must aim to communicate high expectations for student learning, using systematic inquiry to improve student, institutional performance and resources effectively to achieve institutional missions and goals.

34 IAO Insight

Here we proceed to explore the four most vital dimensions today, through which sound student services can be provided educational portals, teaching techniques and career guidance and how to improve career opportunities for students.

Hot Topic How Educational Portals Facilitate Students Learning?

Learning resources are an important component of educational process; they are designed to enhance work and learning processes at university by making workflows simpler and information more readily available in a form in which it can be processed. Educational portals provide access to data and information which facilitates students, faculty and other staff members in learning and interaction.

Each of these user groups has different information needs.

The information contained on these portals need to be relevant, accurate and current.

Typically, educational portals offer services like Online course catalogues, online education courses, Electronic library or online learning resources repositories, News services and Content search facilities.

These portals serve as digital libraries that help users better explore, evaluate and share the knowledge in different disciplines. To maintain the massive amounts of valuable information on these portals proper technical and professional support is required. Fundamental portal capabilities include content aggregation, application integration, user authentication, personalization, search, collaboration, web content management, workflow and analysis, and reporting.

Portals assist students in the following ways: Increased and easier communication with faculty members Online access to courses Access to communities of interest within university, such as clubs, sports, and community service opportunities Access to latest university news Increased lifelong learning opportunities

IAO accredited educational institutions are required to maintain educational portals which manage and facilitate student learning. Portals help teachers and students to discover new learning content and express ideas in innovative ways, streamline workflow and automate manual tasks.

35 IAO Insight

Hot Topic Employing Teaching Techniques to Impart Quality Education to Students Effective teaching forms the cornerstone of university education and is associated with the achievement of different cognitive and academic goals. Imparting knowledge and skills to students is the major objective of university instruction for the faculty. Major goals of university teaching include objectives like changing students factual knowledge and competence in the course material, strengthening various cognitive capacities (e.g. study skills, reasoning, writing and speaking skills) and fostering intellectual appreciation of the subject matter.

Effective teaching techniques encompasses components like knowledge of the subject matter, organization of individual lessons, clarity of explanations, quality of presentation, stimulation of interest and participation and openness to ideas The basic goal of university teaching is to stimulate student interest, it increases student attention to lectures and class discussions, little learning occurs without such attention and interest motivates students to think about the course material and to work harder. Faculty needs to develop clear and articulate teaching lessons which help the students understand their subject matter.

Teachers should try to foster active involvement, participation, interaction of students in classes and communicate their openness and respect for alternative and challenging points of view. Faculty is supposed to promote agreeable and friendly interpersonal relations between themselves and students conveying their concern and respect for individual students.

All the educational intuitions accredited with IAO are required to employ academic experts with appropriate qualifications who provide standardized education to students. IAO accredited institutes require their faculty to keep updated on latest teaching techniques and methods. The aim of this practice is to impart quality education to students employing the most effective and latest teaching techniques.

36 IAO Insight

Need for Career Guidance & Counseling Career counseling services provide career development and counseling, including individual needs assessments. Career services help students foster professional growth and career focus. Their goal is to provide students with a career road map and career strategies which lead to career satisfaction and career success.

Career coaches help students with their career direction. It is the vehicle that helps students get a jumpstart on their career or job change. A career coach facilitates students develop their very own personalized career guide which helps them move forward at a much faster pace. They help students in the following areas: Helping students develop a clear vision of what they want to accomplish professionally Guiding steps students need to take to move in the right career direction What mistakes should students avoid during job search How to negotiating with potential employers How to switch jobs for career progression The need for career guidance and counseling in academic institutions has grown significantly during the last few years for college and university students. Internationally accredited institutes especially focus on their career counseling services as they are required to follow international standards of quality education and services. As a result, students of internationally accredited educational institutions receive better career counseling services which enable them to fare better academically and professionally.

How to Improve Career Opportunities for Your Students?

Accreditation can influence a prospective student’s decision to join an educational institution as they are understandably concerned about the authenticity and acceptability of the degrees it offers. They are also concerned about choosing a rewarding career and finding a good job. Therefore, the institution needs to offer career services that will greatly enhance the students’ experience, which will in turn enhance their institution’s reputation and credibility.

IAO’s accreditation standards also require that an educational institution maintains student support activities into two groups: career counseling and recruiter relations. The school’s career counseling staff should assist students with career searches, as well as provide individual counseling and training. The recruiter relations function should coordinate on-campus

Hot Topic interviews with external organizations. The students and recruiters should have access to videos, blogs, networking opportunities, individual career coaching, alumni job banks, and research support—a complete set of resources to help students enter the workplace.

The institutions should implement campaigns related to the communication of their students’ talent to potential employers. Such communication channels should be developed that promote your student’s skills and knowledge and push their quality. The promotion can be done through online social media or any other means of communication targeting specific audiences with specific messages.

Students are concerned about their career choices. To cater to their professional needs, an institution should have a specific career services office, where students can learn about careers in different disciplines. This career center should involve students as well as faculty and staff, forming a group of business professionals with whom students can freely interact and benefit from their learning and experiences.

The institutions should hold periodic career fairs by bringing recruiters and corporations to their institutions. It provides students an opportunity to properly dress for an interview, prepare and distribute resumes, and speak with corporate representatives. This helps them develop their presentation skills, even if they do not get a job during the fair.

The students should be given an opportunity to experience the workplace firsthand through internships. This method provides students with additional income and opportunities to expand their communication network. The institutions can also develop consulting projects to provide students with numerous opportunities to acquire knowledge and focus on a proper career path.

Institutions should organize guest speaker sessions to provide students an opportunity to listen to professionals from different walks of life so as to enable them to understand typical work day activities. Providing a variety of speakers from different fields also helps students narrow down their interests. Guest lecturers also enable institutions to build enduring relationships with external organizations that may donate funds, volunteer time, or offer employment opportunities in the future.

Institutions should have a students’ database where recruiters can navigate through the profiles of students and alumni. It is a cost-effective and time-consuming mechanism by which the employers and recruiters can meet students, view resumes, and recruit individuals with profiles that fit their organization.

Career service workshops are ideal for institutions that have limited faculty/staff resources for individual guidance. For instance, workshops on resume writing, dressing for business, job searching, and networking are all useful topics to cover.

These student development events can greatly improve a student’s ability to develop impressive job materials.

Institutions should provide students with opportunities to improve their interview skills and give feedback to help them prepare for the real interviews. The institutions can also videotape students during mock interviews to allow for self evaluation.

In case the institution does not have the resources to provide scheduled mock interviews, simply helping students in any manner to prepare for a big interview is invaluable.

Today’s context for higher education presents student services with many challenges. Among these are new technologies, changing student demographics, demands for greater accountability, concern about the increasing cost of higher education, and criticism of the moral and ethical climate on campuses.

Other factors that influence campus student services are social and political issues, including multiculturalism, personal responsibility and equal opportunity.

Educational institutions especially accredited institutes recognize these challenges and respond by focusing on student learning. Internationally accredited institutes practice standardized educational standards. These standards also include the provision of quality student services for students.

Students pursuing degrees from internationally accredited institutions enjoy better student services because of the quality standards followed. These student services range from academic advising, career development, counseling services etc. In addition, they help to form a foundation for building relationships with students. These services enable students to derive more out of their educational experience and eventually do better in the corporate world.

37 IAO Insight

ETC How International Accreditation Benefits Students Worldwide?

International accreditation enables students to relocate anywhere in the world and pursue their career. Universities too enjoy a set of students coming from diverse cultural backgrounds, marking it as an international center.

It can operate online or otherwise practically anywhere on the globe. Cost minimization is another major advantage of international accreditation. With a well defined fee structure, the resulting low cost of accreditation eases financial burden on university students, who in turn benefit from lower tuition fees.

Universities can channelize their savings into improving curriculum and faculty development programs, and other measures to ensure that the students get the most out of their academic endeavor.

It is Absolutely Necessary that Any Academic Institution Offers Education which is Comprehensive, Contemporary and Recognized All Over the World

The Role of an

International Accreditation Body on the Education Front Worldwide The initiation of international accreditation to regulate standards of education on a global scale has resulted into foreign universities welcoming more students from the entire world today. On the other hand, student’s issues like credit transfer, uniform curriculum and faculty standards across countries, etc have been addressed to a greater extent than ever before with the advent of international accreditation.

Modern universities at present, actively apply for international accreditation in order

38 IAO Insight

to improve their perception world over among students and within the education fraternity and enjoy wide scale of goodwill and repute. This way they become more capable of enrolling a more diverse set of students year after year. Students today particularly choose universities that are internationally accredited as that renders international recognition to the students’ qualification, regardless of their geographic boundaries, a factor also considered important by university placement departments across the globe.

If accreditation takes as long as a decade, what is a university to do while their accreditation application is in process? Common sense dictates that accreditation should be awarded much quicker than this. To review a university’s standard of education and management, substantial amounts of time may be required but certainly not a decade. Unlike regional accreditation, international accreditation bodies offer a specified time frame that allows universities to make their choices wisely.

Regular Monitoring Of Quality Standards and Ensuring the Education Imparted Meets Certain Standards Is Yet another Important Factor to Be Taken Into Account International accreditation bodies constantly review universities according to a pre defined time table. This gives students the assurance that the university is monitored and the accreditation status is recent.

ETC

The Challenge To accomplish the challenge of standardizing quality education worldwide, IAO started providing international accreditation to the educational institutions to serve as secondary accreditation, enhance the institution's regional accreditation and assure students that the educational program, policies and procedures of that institution are up to the international standards of education. IAO's international accreditation represents an institution's commitment to delivering quality education which is on a par with the global standards. It assures the institute's students that their degrees and credits will have increased acceptability around the world, should they decide to study or work abroad.

The IAO Has Revolutionized Higher Education For Students By Catering To The Promotion Of The Establishment Of Quality Culture Among Educational Institutions IAO serves as a gate-keeper for assuring a threshold level of quality when identifying institutions and programs that do not yet have sound academic and fiscal practices leading to quality operation. It remedies deficiencies in the institution’s operations prior to being awarded IAO accreditation and further improves quality through periodic review of institutions and programs. A strong focus is laid on the institution achieving quality through constructive criticism and consultation rather than compliance.

What Sets IAO Apart From the Other Accreditation Agencies?

IAO wholly solely work towards the betterment in the standards of world-class education. The accreditation standards that IAO has set are devised and construed after extensive research based on the current scenario in totality, in-keeping with all the possible situations faced and experienced by all kinds of educational organizations. They require a more flexible, self-paced, advanced education to be pursued along with their jobs and so the traditional standards seem obsolete in such cases where for instance there are no predefined timelines for class attendance in an online study program.

The Nature of IAO Accreditation Standards Is both Qualitative and Quantitative IAO’s accreditation standards play a pivotal role in developing a comprehensive improvement and development method within an educational institute defining obligatory attributes of an organization. Recently, a number of accreditation organizations have addressed this particular need and IAO firmly believed and supported the idea of developing a whole new set of accreditation standards.

The comprehensive standards for educational accreditation as finalized by the IAO describe the fundamental elements that must exist in all educational institutions, while encouraging flexibility in the ways in which programs promote excellence for students.

They permit the IAO accreditation system to assess a broad range of educational institutions, from traditional, to on-line, professional to vocational and even secondary schools.

Accreditation and Educational Quality Assurance are Essential Factors that Complete the Educational Ecosystem Regional accreditation bodies have dutifully evaluated education providers on a regional scale and granted them Primary Accreditation. However in the wake of globalization, an increasing number of students are opting to study at educational institutions or work for companies outside their home country. For institutions to compete with their international counterparts, a body to recognize and accredit education providers on an international scale was needed to grant them Secondary Accreditation for their establishments. It was imperative to create standards that are both regionally and internationally recognized and accepted.

IAO’s Mission Our mission is to establish, preserve and promote the finest education standard for students worldwide by working to be a catalyst for information, training and networking to secondary and higher education institutes.

39 IAO Insight

Alliance

The Recent Emergence of International Co-branding in the

World of Education

In the wake of globalization, various regional accreditation bodies have started forming alliances with internationally acclaimed agencies. Regional accreditation is predominantly invented

by America that has proven to be an efficient apparatus of responsibility, a driving force for educational sector’s development, and a incentive for institutional advancement.

Aims & Objectives of Regional Accreditation Agencies for Establishing Collaboration with International Authorities 40 IAO Insight

Regional accreditation agencies are seeking affiliation with an authority that is widely known and accepted as a monitoring force to standardize education parameters on a global scale.

Through such an affiliation these agencies will enable themselves to successfully maintain and uphold a suitable balance between regional independence and shared global standards.

Such collaboration will not only strengthen regional accreditation but also facilitate improvements to standards and protocols to support the marketing of regional accreditation and bring clarity to the issues affecting regional accreditation.

Alliances among authorities provide a round-table for devising more proficient, of use and better synchronized services from both the parties.

IAO has formed alliances with renowned regional accreditation bodies for the promotion and accreditation of traditional, non-traditional and vocational education in their respective regions. IAO's international accreditation supplements the regional accreditation with its expertise of Points Profile System, supported by latest technology to establish, preserve and promote the finest educational standards worldwide.

Alliance Through such collaborations, IAO aims to ensure the highest global educational standards. IAO's accreditation also serves for a professional development opportunity of the alliances’ staff members by allowing them to participate in IAO's conferences and seminars. It also encourages sharing of information, technology and resources on quality assurance standards and good practices on an international level. Through the collaboration, IAO grants international accreditation to regionally accredited and unaccredited educational establishments to accomplish its mission of improving the quality of education in the region. This enhances the recognition and acceptability of the education providers in the alliances’ regions to an international level. It also enriches the establishment's profile on a regional level, resulting in increased student enrolments.

IAO's alliance with regional accreditation agencies worldwide benefits the education providers to be evaluated against IAO's Points Profile System.

This evaluation module is used globally to benchmark better educational standards worldwide.

This helps the institute to discover its comparative standing among regional and international educational institutions, giving a competitive edge over all other regional and international educational institutions.

Since a large number of institutes and universities are being evaluated by IAO in almost all regions of the world, students graduating from them find increased acceptability and recognition, should they decide to study in another part of the world.

Additionally, the institutes and universities benefit from international students who are increasingly choosing education providers on their point profile score.

Collaboration with the IAO helps regional accreditation agencies improve their students’ professional profiles and in turn enable the students to achieve their career aspirations.

IAO's accreditation serves as a platform for international promotion of the education providers of a specific region by IAO's participation in educational events and online educational portals. IAO periodically sends its publications to its affiliates and education providers to keep them updated on the latest developments pertaining to the accreditation standards around the world to help maintain and enhance educational practices and standards.

Regional Accreditation Agencies the World over Immensely Benefit from Collaboration with IAO 41 IAO Insight

Alliance

IAO's Alliances IAO and its alliances work together to improve the education standards in the respective regions by evaluating and accrediting traditional, nontraditional and vocational education providers. Currently more than 10 associations are partners with IAO of which a few are as follows:

E.L.L.F.

The Excellence in Learning & Leadership Foundation has also entered into partnership with IAO with the aim of increasing educational standards in Lebanon.

The Excellence in Learning & Leadership Foundation is a Lebanese agency working to enable aspiring Arab human capital and institutions to meet the requirements of the international standards so they can compete globally and face the world’s challenges of permanent intricacy, change, renewal, innovation and creativity.

Being IAO’s partner, ELLF will get an opportunity to share its information and enhance the experience of its members by participating in IAO’s various corporate events, conferences, and workshops and develop quality standards and long-term relations in the education field globally.

42 IAO Insight

IAQMA

The International Association of Quality Managers and Auditors and IAO are working together with a mission to ensure quality, continuous development, and efficient performance of quality management institutions.

International Association for Quality Managers and Auditors (IAQMA) is involved in promotion of quality management systems based on ISO international standards in Central Asia.

IAQMA membership includes quality managers and experts dealing with QMS, OHSAS, EMS, HACCP and other management systems. They represent different countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia.

The agency’s association with IAO will enhance its regional infrastructure to contribute to development of organizations and companies of the region as well as increase their competitiveness in both local and international markets.

APAAL

APAAL formed partnership with IAO with the aim of evaluating and accrediting traditional and non-traditional education institutes in the region, to

ensure quality education is being delivered to the students.

APAAL formed partnership with IAO with the aim of evaluating and accrediting online universities and colleges in the region, to ensure quality online education is being delivered to the working adults and other students. IAO will evaluate APAAL's prospects through their patented and unique Profile Point System upon request.

Both the agencies will also work together to bring improvements in the online education institutions of the region through seminars and workshops.

QAAC

The Quality Assurance & Accreditation Council of Sri Lanka is working with a mission to ensure quality, continuous development, and efficient performance of Sri Lankan higher education institutions, and to gain the confidence of the community in accordance with internationally recognized evaluation mechanisms. The agency has accredited many renowned institutions in Sri Lanka and adds tremendous value to IAO's list of strategic partners in South Asia.

Learning Trends

From how professors lecture to specialized programs and most importantly, students’ preferred learning mediums & styles, here’s a look at the education trends IAO is forecasting for the year 2012.

Learning is getting more and more personalized, both in terms of e-portfolio content creation as well as learnerspecific and contextually relevant assessment. Hence, departments of education are including plans to stimulate students’ achievement along with the certainty that such data would allow applications to convey customized learning opportunities.

One can see how the traditional style of imparting education is losing hold on a constant basis as one witnesses locationaware applications push just-in-time kind of learning environment and Instructional design benefit from the speedily evolving push technology. Time alone can give a clearer picture as to what students demand more in terms of quality education

Technology

Further Revamps the Education Stratum in 2012 amidst the distraction of being overtly informed and entertained and less armored when it comes to critical & analytical thinking and in–depth learning & development.

We are social creatures and the only things we learn well in isolation are survival. The Internet’s social layer is solidly in place so expect to see education delivered more broadly on the social grid in 2012.

43 IAO Insight

Learning Trends “Sure, it would very well add-on to the classroom instruction dynamically. We're not quite at the point of every student using a laptop in class, but we're definitely getting there," said Dr. William Brown – Evaluation Commission member at IAO. He further added as to how “marketers in higher education know that they need to keep up with the latest technologies because their target audience- high school, college & university students- tend to be very early adopters of social media advancements in particular.”

Teachers Engaging with their Students via Multimedia & Social Media Undoubtedly, students have become more mobile in terms of the technology they are using, and colleges seem determined to keep up with that trend. Colleges and universities have embraced the notion of laptops and mobile devices in class to the point where they have implemented interactive portfolio assessment technology.

Mobile trend is expected to take an even stronger hold on higher education in 2012. The social media monopolistsFacebook and Twitter are getting stronger by the day for social networking & marketing purposes, but 2012 will witness these online giants to have a much larger presence in the classrooms also.

Many faculty members today use social networking to engage with students, for example, lecturer might ask students a question on Twitter, making a connection outside the classroom.

44 IAO Insight

This way, the educators continue to reach out to students and it's going to be an integral part of classroom instruction even more. However, many professors are still figuring out the best way to use social media to their advantage, the increased interaction between students and teachers will be very useful and effective. More technology in colleges & universities is inevitable, provided the students and faculty figure out as to how technology best suits their learning and teaching needs.

The cloud computing technology would remain a top

priority IT investment even in 2012 and has already been adapted by the education industry, effectively. Hence, investing in purchase-and-install software is no more a lucrative idea as numerous colleges & universities are catching onto “cloud" applications used in-house and accessed online quite affordably. The cloud applications are easily compatible and implementable, with vast storage capacity that can be used; for example - portfolio assessments.

The Ethernet connection or being tethered to an outlet is so “last season” for both the parties – students and faculty alike.

With more and more of these individuals using mobile devices to connect to the Internet, the wireless wave is sure to grow in 2012. So, there’s no room for debate over the value of Facebook, Twitter and other technology innovations being used in higher education.

Learning Trends "Cloud computing enables colleges & universities to create large collections of otherwise unsorted information such as an institution’s records, written documents and related videos. A constant migration towards tablets and other mobile computers are witnessed broadly, beyond the iPad that is. As more technology manufacturers come up with relatively more affordable and economically feasible technologies, more WiFi would be introduced to support their use"; Bob Spielvogel, Chief Technology Officer at Education Development Center Inc., a Newton, MA-based nonprofit organization said recently.

Why Students Prefer Online Education?

The most recent Sloan-C Conference on online learning, concluded that 2011/2012 will find more colleges and universities integrating online learning into their curriculums as core offerings, and not just adjuncts to classroom learning. Adult students do not have enough patience or time to listen to long lectures in classrooms; instead they want to be academically active by studying at home, through laptops and tablets.

Universities today are less focused on "seat time" and more on validating learning regardless of where it takes place be it overseas, in the community, or in a traditional classroom.

On the other hand, universities are facing severe financial constraints and faculty cut down in which case the technology-hesitant professors are embracing the idea of online courses, moving away from that lecture style and having more student-centered style teaching in order to hold on to their jobs. Online classes as of now have the potential to altogether phase out mass lecture-style classes, only gradually though.

A large number of students ,especially working adults, are taking advantage of online programs, necessitating even more innovations and strategies, as online they find just about all kinds of courses in an affordable budget as opposed to traditional high schools, colleges and universities that are out of the students’ financial reach. For instance, high school students can even enroll for courses in subjects like English literature and European history, astronomy, anthropology, creative writing and engineering.

Many school districts are going to the extent of making online education compulsory for students to graduate. Presently, the states of Alabama, Florida and Michigan make it mandatory for students to enroll in one or more online classes. Other states, like Idaho and Indiana, would soon follow suit.

Administrators believe that getting students to take online courses will better prepare them to work with the technologies they would face in college and the workforce.

While some students have struggled in the required courses, the programs have been largely successful. An increasing number of American high schools embrace online education for students who want or need to take summer classes. The online programs also largely help juniors and seniors who need additional credits to graduate on time.

Educators and students alike, praise these programs, stating that they allow more independent work and enough flexibility so participants can still hold down part-time jobs, travel or engage in other activities.

Most of the high school, college & university students taking online courses vastly work independently but do seek assistance from their faculty online. As students and faculty members commonly meet up online, the teachers address students’ questions and concerns regarding their coursework and academic performance via chat. Online education mediums enable easily the teachers and students to connect, through chats, discussion boards, forums and online messaging. Since a number of high schools, colleges & universities worldwide today offer online programs, participants can expect more and more of their interactions to take place in a digital setting. When a class takes place in a multimedia environment, it’s hard for homework to not follow suit.

Teachers are often more than willing to modify assignments, letting students create videos, presentations and even websites instead of traditional essays. These modifications are great preparation for the working world, allowing creativity while mastering some technologies central to the modern workplace. Students who need help with homework have more and more options available through online programs every semester.

45 IAO Insight

Learning Trends Accelerated Programs Gain More Stream Accelerated degree programs hit the education stage somewhere around 1997, and have ever since gained noteworthy grip in the recent years, being still on the rise. These programs cater to the non-traditional students who tend to be older and have more responsibilities (full-time job, kids) as opposed to the average college student. High rate of unemployment has forced many older adults to “return to school”, increasing the demand for accelerated programs for students who want to “get in and out quickly” to bag a job. “Universities set up accelerated programs so that students can complete their degree by studying over weekends or now online within 2.5 to 3 years. In 2012, there would be more pressure in graduating students in greater numbers, in a more timely way,” says Professor Lyndon - Evaluation Commission Member at IAO.

Faculty Adapting to Technologies (As the Time Demands) for Imparting Education more Effectively Faculty worldwide is generally frustrated with the students they see in their classrooms today. Unfamiliar with many of the new characteristics, they see contemporary students as hopelessly underprepared or less bright or motivated than previous generations. Clearly, the ways contemporary students view knowledge and derive meaning are vastly different from those of their instructors. These differences may be one of the causes of the low morale, sense of discouragement, and tendencies toward despair that are recounted when faculty gathers to discuss their roles as teachers.

The faculty has been accustomed to a traditional learning process where one who knows (the teacher) presents ideas to one who does not (the student). This approach may work for the traditionalists (teachers) but it may not work for the majority of today's students. Students are changing dramatically, and we need to respond to those changes in 2012.

In a Nutshell The Internet has brought us a host of online education choices including everything from unscrupulous diploma mills to a myriad of so-called learning games as well as applications for nearly every subject, platform, and device. This trend will continue in 2012. The challenge to identify quality amidst the quantity will grow. The mobile generation will expect mobile access to all matters beyond mere communication and game-playing. Whether we agree or not, future literacy will demand our reading of symbols that go beyond mere letters on a page. The digital landscape requires a broader skill set than previous generations learned.

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Web 1.0 was platform and software specific. Web 2.0 has been rather device centric. However, technology has a way of becoming invisible with wide-scale adoption. Expect the same in the education arena laid in the year 2012.

The education industry will adapt even smarter technologies 2012 has to offer, in order to deliver education in a more seamless manner for a more engaging to-and-fro between the students and teachers.

The GPS chips would enable technologies to deliver education in a more contextual manner, relevant to high school, college & university students. Upcoming technological innovations would further add possibilities for adult students, allowing them to interact with subject matter, not possible earlier. Virtual field trips would enable students & even teachers to transcend time and space out identity barriers via avatars.

The social layer would further solidify in the global network in parallel to a game layer, being constructed just while you read this, watch for an education layer to be integrated where Like and Comment buttons may be accompanied by a Learn This button.

Fast Tips

DEVELOPING

RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS FOR INCREASED

ENROLMENTS AND ADMISSIONS

The seismic shifts in the ways that students use information, share ideas, and communicate with the world around them put traditional recruiting and admission approaches at risk. To meet institutional goals by effectively targeting, recruiting, and admitting students, particularly amid the clutter of proliferating media, colleges and universities must engage in a far more strategic and calculated approach to enrolment.

While new technologies make some things easier, new challenges have arisen. Today, the response rates are falling as students resist efforts of enrolment.

Increasingly, familiar approaches are less effective and often do not take into account longterm, and possibly negative, effects.

Evidence is increasingly clear that the influence of enrolment marketing initiatives is diminishing and mistrust of marketing is on the rise. At the same time, the internet helps students develop their ideas about your institution well before their first formal contact with it. Consequently, awareness building through mass communi-

ment and admission activities with a student’s decision cycle. More often than not, today’s enrolment process is a path with alternate entry and exit points, a complex network of information, influencers, and decisions.

cation provides little value to students who have already advanced further down the decision path, worse it misses them entirely.

To be successful today, recruiting and admissions teams must consider new factors. Connecting with the students requires an approach informed by a deep understanding of each student as well as alignment of relevant recruit-

What does this mean for enrolment managers? It means there is great opportunity. Enrolment managers can thrive in this challenging environment.

How? By treating relationship building as an institutional value and area of competence that must be developed, by engaging in evidence-based recruiting and admissions planning and strategy, and by employing technology that is capable of powering and supporting key activities.

IAO’s fast tips for institutions is a guide on using the communication and marketing’s best practices for building relationships. It is not a definitive list, but contains a range of ideas to help you get started. It is developed after careful consideration of the communication and marketing techniques that vary from country to country and institution to institution.

47 IAO Insight

Fast Tips CHALLENGES TO HIGHER EDUCATION MARKET “Build it and they will come” is no longer a viable approach to enrolment strategy as opportunities for easy growth are diminishing.

In addition, geographical boundaries no longer serve as a competitive barrier with the rise of online and distance learning programs.

IMPLEMENTING STUDENT-CENTRIC ENROLMENT PHILOSOPHY Institutional leaders should take a holistic view of the student lifecycle and implement a student-centric enrolment philosophy. At its core, such an approach is about relationships.

College and university leaders who act today to identify, capture, understand, and nurture ongoing student and constituent relationships will acquire a lasting competitive advantage. This approach, which treats management of student relationships as an essential skill, is increasingly critical for institutions as they seek a competitive advantage in today’s media-saturated world.

By the time a student has identified an interest in an institution, he or she is likely to have already gathered a solid baseline of information about the institution. From perusing websites, to learning about institutions from peers, to social networks, to other technologies, students are making emotional attachments to institutions well before college and university staffs are aware of their interest.

Institutions are missing key opportunities to engage students at crucial points of influence in the decision cycle. Realistically, most students are likely to visit a campus virtually and conduct their research online some-

48 IAO Insight

what autonomously; they are much less likely to be influenced by broadcast communications. But this does not mean that colleges and universities should just focus on the website and hope for the best. In fact, driven by the emergence of popularized interactive media, innovators in colleges and universities should try numerous approaches from blogs to online video to podcasts.

The students seek information voraciously through multitasking across communication channels and have the expectation of immediate, customized responses. For institutions to be successful with this is in advancing and interweaving the relationship building process across both online and offline channels.

Despite market shifts, behavioral changes, and innovations in technology, one fundamental truth remains: relationships still matter. The mission of colleges and universities is to support student learning and foster student success. Enrolment results are ultimately driven by an institution’s ability to convey that mission in a personalized and compelling way, articulating the value of its offerings firmly within the context of a student’s desires and motivations.

Students are seeking authentic experiences, not information parceled out by professionals. In the absence of that experience, the decision to attend a particular college is, more often than not, reduced to deal-making in the financial aid process.

If the institutions are seeking enrolment management to “increase quality” or “expand diversity” only, then it is meaningless. The toolset that contributes to the institution’s relationship building with the students not only includes technology but that it takes more than technology to succeed. The additional factor that the institution should consider must

include aligning people and processes to established goals and objectives, and committing to staff involvement and training. Organizations that commit to these principles position themselves to achieve.

Building and maintaining student and constituent relationships should be an important institutional value for colleges and universities seeking an advantage in today’s competitive and increasingly complex environment.

Improved performance goes hand in hand with engaging in a studentcentric recruiting and admissions approach.

Today’s enrolment management environment presents significant potential accompanied by new challenges and potential risks. To ensure success, enrolment management professionals will need a clearly documented and measurable strategy that is supported by the institution’s people and processes. Once these components are in place, an institution is well positioned to take advantage of the powerful tools today’s enrolment management technology provides.

Upfront

RECENT

DEVELOPMENTS AT IAO

Accredited Faculty Program IAO's Accreditation for Faculty testifies to the highest pedagogical standards teachers practice worldwide. Being accredited by the prestigious accreditation body means that the faculty is fully capable of meeting the required teaching standards.

The Program is available for teachers across the world. IAO requires that all staff working in the education field and related areas can show that they meet the IAO accreditation standards.

All teachers can apply and enjoy the following benefits:

International Professional Recognition Job Referrals & Placements Opportunity for Faculty Exchange Program Dedicated Faculty Area Access to IAO's publications Participation in IAO's events

Exclusive Accreditation Consultancy The Recommendation Guidelines provided by the IAO to its accredited education providers are prepared with the goal to lead them with further improvement for their education systems.

The IAO was established for assuring quality in the education system by accrediting traditional and nontraditional education providers and their study programs. In a very short span of time, the IAO managed to set

up a unique and patented accreditation system, known as Points Profile System, with sufficient human, financial and expert resources.

The evaluation commission of IAO, as the main decision making body of the accreditation agency, takes strategic and accreditation decisions and oversees the quality of the institution’s study programs.

The panel endorses that IAO’s accredited education providers are compliant

with the IAO Standards and Guidelines; however by means of the Recommendation Guides, IAO proposes several recommendations in the light of further development of the institution. The panel stresses the need for improvement of such areas.

There are normally points in the system for further development and improvement which will contribute to higher quality of the education standards.

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Upfront

IAO’s Globally Accredited Education Providers

IAO has awarded accreditation to a large number of education providers around the world with its educational accreditation services. The agency grants accreditation to educational institutions after evaluating them through its points profile system.

Candidacy Status Recently, IAO has awarded candidacy status to the following educational institutions and universities.

Bangalore University Jodhpur National University Jaipur National University Vinayaka Missions University Karunya University Singhania University KIIT University Channabasavehwara Institute Of Technology Xavier Institute Of Management JIS College Of Engineering Institute Of Advanced Management & Research Jagran Institute Of Management TOC H Institute Of Science & Technology Nimra College Of Engineering And Technology N.C. College Of Engineering Swarna Bharathi Institute Of Science & Technology Institute Of Health Management Research Galaxy Global Group Of Institutions CMR Institute Of Technology KVG College Gyan Ganga Institute Of Technology & Sciences Gyan Ganga College Of Technology Gyan Ganga Institute Of Technology & Management Rourkela Institute Of Management Studies HKBK College Of Engineering International Institute Of Coffee And Barista Training KLR College Of Engineering & Technology KLR College Of Business Management Amrapali Institute Of Management & Computer Application

50 IAO Insight

Subhas Bose Institute Of Hotel Management (SBIHM) Aukoshimo Professional Training Program J.Z. Shah Arts & H.P Desai Commerce College Hyderabad School Of Business Gojan School Of Business And Technology Murari Lal Rasiwasia Ayurvedic College CMCE College Sarva Shiksha Parishad Nootan Pharmacy College Rungta College Of Engineering & Technology Shivalik Institute Of Management Education & Research Genius Business Consultancy FZ LLC Ideas Management Consultants AVS Presidency International College R.D. Engineering College Institute Of Science And Technology For Advanced Studies & Research Warah Global For Consultancy And Training Company Islami Bank Medical College, Rajshahi MIT Muzaffarpur Institute Of Technology M.K. Ponda College Of Management PES Institute Of Technology & Management Arabian Training & Safety Co.LLC Saudi Source Training And Consulting SAI LTI Sri Guru Ram Das Institute Of Dental Sciences & Research, Amritsar Sri Guru Ram Das Nursing Sri Guru Ram Das Sciences & Research College Chendhuran College Of Engineering & Technology Sree Narayana Gurukulam College Global Consultants Company WLL Dr. Ambedker Law College Malla Reddy Group Of Institutions (Engineering Colleges) Jamshedpur Women's College Orissa Engineering College Waymade College Of Education Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College Of Social Work Swami Divyanand Polytechnic Of Engineering

Fully Accredited The institutes and universities that have been granted full accreditation include: Advent Institute Of Management Studies School Of Management Sciences Varanasi Future Innoversity

Upfront GL Bajaj Institute Of Management And Research Oxford Educational Institute Canadian Language Center Bhai Gurdas Institute Of Management & Technology Anglo American School Skopje Macedonia Daphne's International Teachers' Training Institute Adarsh Management Institute Of India AECS Maaruti College Of Nursing AECS Maaruti College Of Dental Sciences AECS Magnolia Maaruti Public School Shanti Business School VLCC Institute Of Beauty And Nutrition Institute Of Management Education North East Medical College Prestige Institute Of Management At Dewas (M.P.) Prestige Institute Of Management At Gwalior (M.P.) Prestige Institute Of Engineering And Science (M.P.) Prestige Institute Of Management And Research At Indore (M.P.) Hulwazi Secondary School The New Tulip International School Macedonia Theological Seminary, Inc. Alia For Early Intervention Global Institute For Management Science Russels Educare Sri Lakshmi Ammal Engineering College

Candidate Vocational & Training Centres The following vocational & training centres have successfully met the IAO’s accreditation requirements and have been accredited as Candidate Institutes RAK International International Business Consult New Vision Training Center International Centre For Training And Development Impala Nature Guide Training National Institute For Vocational Education & Training Steps Training Center Infocenter Training Consulting MICA Qatar Consulting Services Jitawi Center Royal Secretarial & Management College Ltd

Oxford Development Institute United Trainers Academy Of Vocational And Professional Training Ltd Ginani Fashion Training Gems Of Yoga / Teachers Training International Centre For Entrepreneurship And Career Development Oasis Institute Extreme Team For Training & Consultancy Susquehanna Academy Egypt Advance Institute Of Management & Science (AIMS-ME) Qudratt Training Center Rakah Management Consultancy Zemen Professional Training Center Susquehanna Academy Egypt Pioneered Experts Besst Means For Success Al Aamal Training Institute Dallah Human Skills Development (DHSD) Excellence Institute For Languages Gemini Training Center Computer Specialist Institute

Fully Accredited Vocational & Training Centres The following vocational & training centres have been granted full accreditation: Global Consultants Company WLL People Pro Trainers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd. ARAA Consultancy and Studies Kayan Academy Stay Up Aviation International Experts & Consultants Association (INTEC)

IAO awards international accreditation to education providers all over the world, in recognition of their outstanding services and comprehensive study programs.

51 IAO Insight

ETC

A Day in the Life of

IAO’s Evaluation

Commission Member

8:30 Arrive in the office, go through emails. Have received applications of educational institutions for accreditation that need to be saved in the appropriate folder, added to the agenda, and recorded in the inspections spread sheet. With IAO accrediting over 100 institutions and further new applications still coming in, we are conducting a record number of inspections, which means a whole lot of reports to review.

10:30 Phone call from college with queries about accreditation process. They have downloaded and read the Accreditation Handbook from the website, and have some specific questions about several points. I talk them through the issues.

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9:00 Meeting about the allocation of work within the department.

9:30 Start editing applications for accreditation, taking these in order of when they were sent in.

Applications need to be checked carefully for the institute’s structure, functions and the offered programs and to what extent they fulfill IAO’s accreditation requirements.

11:00 Return to applications review.

2:20 That reminds me: there is a student complaint sitting in my bottom drawer, waiting for me to have time to get to it. It’s been there for about a week now. I think I can spare a moment: I review the letter and documentation that’s been sent.

Sadly, it doesn’t have what we need in order to allow us to pursue a complaint. I send a letter to the student requesting further documentation to be provided.

1:00 Lunch

12:30 These are a lot of applications, and they all need to get done, but there are so many other things that also need to get done!

4:30 Home time! There are a million things I need to do which I didn’t manage to get to. Tomorrow – I’ll do them tomorrow…

3:00 Back to applications.

1:30 Back from lunch. A letter’s come in from a college with regard to a student complaint I raised with them. The college is stating that its terms and conditions do not require it to refund this student.

I go through the complaints file, checking the terms and conditions. The college’s interpretation of these seems somewhat uncertain, at best.

I write a return letter politely asking for further clarification.

Q&A

I am the vice principal of a reputable university in the Q: UAE. I would like to know how we can devise a

standards. The institution should also find ways to address the issues being faced by the students in the final semesters, resulting in an improvement in the overall graduation rate. Your institution should prepare a proper procedure for the calculation of this rate and its subsequent communication to relevant departments.

This can be done by ensuring good internet connectivity and by sharing the information at a common forum for faculty and students to check. I recommend you evaluate the graduation rate at least on an annual basis.

This would help the institution improve its overall enrolment rate in the future. Also, ensure that you compare your institution’s graduation rate with other institutions and make the moves accordingly to improve it. Your institution may be required to study the strategy of other institutions to design one for oneself.

procedure for course planning and development through a formal planning committee. Also kindly explain as to how curricular planning should be done and what must be the rationale behind assessing our study programs? appreciate your concern for course planning and A: Idevelopment through a formal planning procedure. The procedure is important to bring changes, whenever required, in the courses to incorporate new subjects in the course outline. Your university must firstly form a planning committee that must be held responsible for formulating plans for introducing new courses, certifications, majors and any important structural changes if required.

I suggest that your university plan the curriculum at least once a year. This planning may help incorporate any new subjects or topics into the course outline when required.

You should set up a session where all department heads evaluate the rationale of having a particular course or topic in the course outline. The same needs to be done for the new majors or fields of study introduced.

Q:

Being the senior enrolment officer of a college, I am eager to find out how we can construct our students’ enrolment rate gauging system through certain procedures and should this rate be calculated across departments?

In order to increase students’ enrolment, you should A: work towards improving your average graduation rate.

This can be done by increasing the number of students who study at your institution and the amount of facilitation they demand to improve their learning

Q:

What are your suggestions for our business school in terms of its development and expansion? As a member of the marketing major’s faculty, I feel obliged to contribute towards our school’s improvement.

recommend your institution expand its outreach and A: Imake education available in as many regions of the world as possible. I would also add that if yours is an online setup, you must strive to create regional domains as that would allow your school to cater to a vast number of students.

In case where your institution is a physical campus, then I would suggest that your institution improve the quality of campus or by introducing online courses and programs. A campus with good facilities plays a key role in motivating students to learn and develop themselves in a healthy and enabling learning environment. You should aim to set up a physical area for documentation and save soft copies of all documents that may help in case of any loss of information/documents.

Send us your questions at: qasession@iaoaccreditor.com 53 IAO Insight

Events Directory

EventsDirectory

IAO encourages sharing of information, technology and resources on quality assurance standards and best practices on an international level and therefore highlights a few eminent upcoming education fairs and seminars around the world in year 2012:

2012 Higher Education Creativity Conference Who Should Visit: Students willing to nurture skills and characteristics of highly creative individuals Students who wish to learn new theories about human cognition that inform creative practices Educators planning to develop innovative curricula to inculcate creativity in students New institutional models of organization to better meet the challenges of the future

54 IAO Insight

When and Where?

June 11, 12 2012 China 141 North Kehua Road Wuhou DistrictChengdu, Sichuan Province 610041 China

Events Directory

6th Azerbaijan International Education and Career Exhibition Who Should Visit Students willing to nurture skills and characteristics of highly creative individuals Students who wish to learn new theories about human cognition that inform creative practices Educators planning to develop innovative curricula to inculcate creativity in students New institutional models of organization to better meet the challenges of the future

When and Where?

September 20, 21, 22 2012 Azerbaijan Surakhani district, Yeni Surakhani settlement, Baku - Airport highway, 9 km., 1 Baku, Azerbaijan

Begin Grad Fair Who Should Visit Educators looking to meet potential students personally Institutions who wish to meet leading agents in the area Individuals who would like to receive first-hand market information Professionals looking to make contacts with local educational institutions

When and Where?

October 13, 14 2012 Russia Radisson Slavyanskaya (2, Europy Square) and Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel (57, Nevsky Prospekt)

55 IAO Insight

Facts & Figures

Some Interesting Worldwide Education Facts

2011

Undoubtedly, students have become more mobile in terms of the technology they are using, and colleges seem determined to keep up with that trend. Colleges and universities have embraced the notion of laptops and mobile devices in class to the point where they have implemented interactive portfolio assessment technology.

56 IAO Insight

Facts & Figures

“ We need a multiplicity of

visions, dreams and prophecies images of potential tomorrows.

“

Alvin Tofler

One of every five adults in the developing world – up to 862 million people cannot read or write In more than 20 developing nations, women’s illiteracy rate exceeds 70% Around 115 million children of primary school age do not attend any school More than 226 million children do not attend secondary school Many children, who are sent to schools, never graduate with even the most basic reading and math skills as their schools do not have enough teachers, books or facilities to provide quality education Many children miss out on their education across the world, since: They work to support their families They are recruited into armed forces and become child soldiers Their families do not have the means to pay for schooling Discrimination and racism weaken their chance to receive an education They are threatened with physical harm (e.g. acid attacks) for attending school, esp. in case of girls In many developing countries, public school is not free and mostly the students’ family bear the costs of books, uniforms, and teachers’ salaries

School fees and related costs are a common barrier to education. These charges are a greater burden for children from poor families, and disproportionately affect those who are racial and ethnic minorities, members of indigenous communities and migrants Girls are more likely to be exclude from school than boys when there isn’t enough money to go round. As many as two out of three out-ofschool children are girls

Educated girls and

women are less

vulnerable to HIV infection, human

trafficking and other forms of exploitation, are more likely to marry later, raise fewer children who are more likely to go to school, and make

important contributions to family income

Social traditions and deep-rooted religious and cultural beliefs are most often the barriers to expanding girls' educational opportunities in undeveloped countries around the world One of the fastest growing degrees is in the disciplines of recreation, leisure and fitness The education experienced the biggest drop in interest among undergraduates in a span of ten years period while the number of students earning an education degree declined 5 percent Twenty three percent of full-time undergrads, who are twenty-four years old or younger, work twenty hours or more a week Nineteen percent of college freshmen hope to earn a Ph.D., and 10.2 percent would like to become a medical doctor Between 1999 and 2009, undergrad enrollment at for-profit schools increased to 539 percent compared with 32 percent for public institutions 3 percent of all undergrads are veterans and 1 percent is on active military duty or in the reserves Twenty percent of all first-time undergraduates take at least one remedial course

57 IAO Insight

Book Review

4Books You Must Read this Season Focus: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning

By Mike Schmoker

Bestselling author Mike Schmoker describes a plan for radically improving student learning that is built on three core elements: a focused and coherent curriculum (what we teach); clear, prioritized lessons (how we teach); and purposeful reading and writing, or authentic literacy.

With this "less is more" philosophy, educators can help students learn content at a deeper level, develop greater critical thinking skills, and discover more clearly how content-area concepts affect their lives and the world around them. Both a call to action and a blueprint for creating more effective classrooms, Focus: Elevating the Essentials for Radically Improve Student Learning will challenge your assumptions about schooling and show how educators who have embraced this approach quickly achieved spectacular results.

The Three Dimensions of Improving Student Performance:

Finding the Right Solutions to the Right Problems Drawing on work from educational psychology as well as several other fields, Rueda identifies three primary reasons for the stubborn failure of most school reform efforts: 1) a fragmentation of approaches, 2) a misalignment of approaches and goals, and 3) a failure to match solutions to problems. This book provides an overview of each of these three dimensions, and discusses ways that they can affect performance. It then discusses a problem-solving framework that helps pinpoint where gaps exist in school efforts to improve performance, and then targets development of solutions and successful outcome loops that are customized to the specific areas that are problematic. The book concludes with a discussion of cultural and contextual considerations that must be taken into account when addressing school-based problems.

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Book Review

The Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide Jossey-Bass Teacher Survival Guide

This is a must-have resource for all K–12 teachers and administrators who want to make the best use of available technologies. In The Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide, Doug Johnson, educational technology expert and author of the popular Blue Skunk Blog, offers concrete advice on creating high-quality project assessments, handling the potential distractions technologies may cause, and managing issues of safe and appropriate use. He also answers basic questions about computers, software, and networking and outlines practical ways to use computers, the Internet, and digital cameras in the classroom environment.

"The Classroom Teacher's Technology Survival Guide will empower every classroom teacher to use technology in a meaningful way to support teaching and learning. Filled with practical overviews of the "big picture," as well as specifics on the use of technology for real-life classroom applications, Doug uses his years of experience to guide the classroom teacher to an understanding of how technology best fits in the classroom. “A must for every teacher's bookshelf!” —Kathy Schrock, Director of Technology, Nauset Public Schools.

How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching The Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education Series

Any conversation about effective teaching must begin with a consideration of how students learn. However, instructors may find a gap between resources that focus on the technical research on learning and those that provide practical classroom strategies. How Learning Works provides the bridge for such a gap. In this volume, the authors introduce seven general principles of learning, distilled from the research literature as well as from twenty-seven years of experience working one-on-one with college faculty. They have drawn on research from a breadth of perspectives (cognitive, developmental, and social psychology; educational research; anthropology; demographics; and organizational behavior) to identify a set of key principles underlying learning from how effective organization enhances retrieval and use of information to what impacts motivation. These principles provide instructors with an understanding of student learning that can help them see why certain teaching approaches are or are not supporting student learning, generate or refine teaching approaches and strategies that more effectively foster student learning in specific contexts, and transfer and apply these principles to new courses. For anyone who wants to improve his or her students' learning, it is crucial to understand how that learning works and how to best foster it. This vital resource is grounded in learning theory and based on research evidence, while being easy to understand and apply to college teaching.

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Quotes

11

UOTES

OF WISDOM TO GEAR UP YOUR MIND Albert Einstein

Thomas Huxley

“ The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

“ Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.”

Phillips Brooks “Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.”

Sam Ewing “It's not the hours you put in your work that count, it's work you put in the hours.”

Mark Twain “It is better to deserve honors and not have them han to have them and not deserve them.”

60 IAO Insight

Quotes

Kevin Costner “ When a defining moment comes along, you define the moment, or the moment defines you.”

Aristotle

Laozi

“ It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

“ Failure is the foundation of success; success is the lurking place of failure.”

Mark Twain

Zig Ziglar

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them."

“You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”

Bill Wulf “ There is only one nature - the division into science and engineering is a human imposition, not a natural one. Indeed, the division is a human failure; it reflects our limited capacity to comprehend the whole.”

61 IAO Insight

Ramgarhia Institute of Engineering & Technology The town boasts of a substantial number of NRI

cum Chairman of Ramgarhia Educational Council

families and it is a major industrial township of

took over in 2006 and till date, is running the

industries such as Oil Engine, Motor Parts, Lathe

Ramgarhia institutions in most effective and

Chucks, Textiles, Starch and Sugar Mills, etc.

efficient manner. This Management is proud of the

Ramgarhia Institute of Engineering & Technology

visits by the most distinguished personalities of

(RIET), Phagwara, a self-financed and privately

the country .The most memorable among them is

managed

Institute,

is

affiliated

to

of

Punjab

Late

Pt.

Jawahar

Lal

Nehru,

our

first

Honourable Prime Minister of India. It is pertinent

Technical University, approved by State Govt. and Ramgarhia

to mention here that Honourable President of

Institute of Engineering & Technology is an ample

India Late S.Giani Zail Singh had also been the

AICTE,

New

Delhi.

The

emerging

proof of the success of his efficient handling.

member

S. Bharpur Singh Bhogal, the present President

Phagwara.

of

Ramgarhia

Educational

Courses Offered at RIET ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MECHANICAL ENGINEERING CIVIL ENGINEERING MBA

MCA

M.TECH

For more details, contact: Call: +91 (0) 182 422 0780 Email: info@riet.ac.in

Fax : +91 (0) 182 426 8962 Website: www.riet.ac.in

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