Event: Talk on Transnational Education and Professional Recognition

Venue: Wisma IEM
Date & Time: 17 Mar 2012 (9:30 AM - 11:30 AM)
CPD/PDP: 2
Closing Date: 14-Mar-2012

SYNOPSIS
“Universities have a long and proud history of attracting students from beyond their national boundaries. In recent times they have become involved in Transnational Education programmes. Transnational education is in-country delivery of higher education by universities that are situated out-with that country. It can be delivered in campuses owned by universities in the country or affiliated to the university, but is more commonly delivered in partnership with existing universities in the country, by distance learning, and by e-learning. In the UK sector this often involves delivering professionally orientated undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes using distance and distributed learning methods. These courses are in many cases subject to accreditation by professional institutions in the UK.  The requirement for professional body accreditation imposes constraints on the internationalisation of course content due to a need to maintain approval by the UK accrediting bodies. At the same time relevant accrediting organisations, both professional bodies and government agencies, outside of the UK have articulated their wish to have control over the educational formation of professionals within their countries. In this paper the authors explore the issues associated with the tension between internationalisation of degree programmes and perceived national needs.”

BIODATA OF SPEAKER
Professor Brian Robertson, Associate Director of International Development, Heriot-Watt University, UK
•    Brian works with the Director of International Development of the University developing partnerships and international collaborations on behalf of the University and as Director of Transnational Education for the School of the Built Environment (SBE) he is responsible for the fostering of international relationships on behalf of SBE.
•    A professional electrical and architectural engineer he worked in Zambia and Bahrain and the UK before joining Heriot- Watt University in 1992. Appointed Professor in 2005 his general research interests are in disability access issues related to the built environment with an emphasis on way finding and visual impairment.
•    As Director for Transnational Education for SBE and Associate Director International Development for the University Professor Robertson has an interest in international student issues and Transnational Education in particular. He is involved in the development and maintenance of a network of approved learning partners delivering Heriot-Watt University programmes as well as developing co-operation agreements with institutions around the world. HWU has a long tradition of recruiting international students and over the last 30 years it has developed a large number of programmes suitable for delivery by distance learning and now has over 14,000 students studying outside of Edinburgh.
•    A former member of the University Court and the Senate he is a member of a number of University committees and working groups.
•    Brian is currently located in Putrajaya to assist in the planning of the new campus for Heriot-Watt University Malaysia which is due to open in 2014 subject to granting of a license to operate by the Ministry of Higher Education