The Experience of a HERE Team:Learning Outcomes & Initiatives in Lebanon

HERE MeetingMadrid 2013

C. Mokbel, P. Gedeon, M. El KhatibHEREs Lebanon

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Outline

• The HERE Action

• The HERE Action in Lebanon

• Learning Outcomes

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The HERE Action

• As defined by Tempus:(http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/tempus/programme/heres_en.php)

– Provide a pool of expertise, promoting and enhancing progress toward further modernization of the higher education sector

– Bologna process is a source of inspiration, in the light of national needs and aspiration

– HEREs benefit from training, technical assistance, briefing and networking from the EACEA and participate in the development of policies and reforms in their own country

- Accumulation of knowledge within the team

- Good understanding of national HE situation and perspectives

- Good understanding of the Bologna process

- Contextualization efforts- Convince locally that the

expertise acquired through the different training by EACEA is precious for the local development

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The HERE Action

• As defined by Tempus (cont.):– HEREs are invited to devise Bologna development

strategies with peers, as well as non-academic bodies such as industrial, cultural or social organizations, as long as they are in line with national strategies

– HEREs design and deliver training courses for other experts who are actively involved in the promotion of higher education reforms in their own countries. They are also involved in promotion and awareness-raising activities

- Define a good communication strategy and a collaborative process beyond the higher education strict boundaries

- Pedagogical approach- Collaborative exchange

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The HERE Action

• As defined by Tempus (cont.):– HEREs also provide guidance to higher

education institutions in the area of quality assurance, curricular reform, national and European Qualification Frameworks, tuning and international recognition (e.g. ECTS, Diploma Supplement)

- Communication shall also address the institutions (and not only the experts) with a good identification of priorities

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Outline

• The HERE Action

• The HERE Action in Lebanon

• Learning Outcomes

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The HERE Action in Lebanon

Training &AccumulationOf knowledge

Support toLocal HEAuthorities

Peer to PeerTraining &Dessimination

OtherActivities

Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3

2008 2009 2010

Q4

EQF, Recognition,ECTS at LU

seminar

National consultation

+ Recommendations

“Quality Through Modernization of

Univ” Zagreb

JEP preparation &Employability

NID 2009

Support to different Univ.

ECTS, DS, LO, QA

In cooperation with HERT team: definepriority projects to

Ministry

“Competences for the Future”

Warsow

Support to Ministry organizing Arab

Ministers conference in Beirut + studies

Bologna Process Flyer +

presentationNID 2010

“QA in HE” Antonine University

“Recognition in HE: How to make it work?” Tallinn

“Recognition in HE in Lebanon”

“Social Dimension of HE: Building Excellence and

Equity” Cyprus

Flyer on Internal QATraining in NID

Participate to the draftingof 2 laws: HE and QA

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The HERE Action in Lebanon

Training &AccumulationOf knowledge

Support toLocal HEAuthorities

Peer to PeerTraining &Dessimination

OtherActivities

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3

2011 2012 2013

Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3

“University Governance” Catania“Promoting Learning Mobility” Brussels

“Modernization of Curricula” Oslo“Enhancing Quality through Internationalisation” Lisbon

“Equivalence of HE degrees” Barcelaona

Revision of draft law on QA agency

Active in LQF team“Research Activity in Lebanon and QA” Conf by Associ. Of

Leb Univ and Tempus OfficeCoorganize “Towards the LQF – Degrees and competences in

Lebanon” National workshop“2020 EU HE Perspectives: inspiring model for LHE” NID

2012

New Web Site (NTO and HERE)Supervision of MSc on “Internationalization

in HE in Lebanon”Flyer on 10 years of Tempus in Lebanon

“Putting Bucharest conclusions on Track – the experts’ role” Vilnius

“Research-Based Education: Strategy and Implementation” Budapest

Study Visit ULB

Active in LQF teamPreparation of final

conference

“Writing Learning Outcomes” National Training“Credits Systems”National Training

Supervision of MSc project

“Enhancing the Student Experience” London

“Cross-Border education” Madrid

Decree on Organizing Doctoral Studies

“Internal Quality Assurance” National

Training

Co-organize the thematic workshop “Doctoral

Studies” Kaslik

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The HERE Action in Lebanon

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The HERE Action in Lebanon

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The HERE Action in Lebanon

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The HERE Action in Lebanon

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The HERE action in Lebanon– Provide a pool of expertise, promoting and enhancing

progress toward further modernization of the higher education sector• Lebanese HERE are being called to participate in all

modernization projects undertaken nationally

– Bologna process is a source of inspiration, in the light of national needs and aspiration• The major HE projects are currently being inspired from the

Bologna Process

– HEREs benefit from training, technical assistance, briefing and networking from the EACEA and participate in the development of policies and reforms in their own country

• 2 to 3 training conference per year in average• Results well disseminated in the LHE

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The HERE Action in Lebanon

– HEREs are invited to devise Bologna development strategies with peers, as well as non-academic bodies such as industrial, cultural or social organizations, as long as they are in line with national strategies • All actions are concerted throughout the LHE and with all

stakeholders

– HEREs design and deliver training courses for other experts who are actively involved in the promotion of higher education reforms in their own countries. They are also involved in promotion and awareness-raising activities • Several tools have been used for this purpose

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The HERE Action in Lebanon

– HEREs also provide guidance to higher education institutions in the area of quality assurance, curricular reform, national and European Qualification Frameworks, tuning and international recognition (e.g. ECTS, Diploma Supplement)• This has been conducted by national actions or on a

case by case basis• The number of participants to local training sessions

shows it clearly

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Outline

• The HERE Action

• The HERE Action in Lebanon

• Learning Outcomes

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Learning Outcomes

• Bologna Process as Inspiring Model– Provides the HEREs with a powerful tool and

facilitates their action– Considers inherently the diversity and fits therefore

with the modernization needs of the diverse Tempus partner countries

– Reflects high quality and is by that attractive to the different stakeholders of Tempus countries

– To make the best use:• Deep assimilation is needed • Confront Bologna tools and processes with local context

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Learning Outcomes

• Training the HEREs– Bologna conferences, workshops and study visits

offer an excellent learning environment and precious moments of exchange

– Active participation of HERE allows to take ownership and to better reflect on own national context

– To make the best use:• Take ownership• Exchange with colleagues• Reflect on own national context

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Learning Outcomes

• Technical Assistance and Local Events– Very high impact on the HERE action– Increases credibility and trust– Makes the Bologna Process closer– To make the best use:

• Well prepared• Joint effort and participation from local HEREs• Local community to take ownership

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Learning Outcomes

• Interaction with NTO and Tempus Projects– NTO offers support to the HEREs– Interaction with local Tempus projects is a must– Profit from the Tempus quality trademark created

throughout the years– To make the best use:

• Good coordination with the NTO• Exchange and trust building with Tempus projects• Independent space for the HERE action• Leverage on the Tempus achievements and recognize them

for mutual benefit and synergy

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Learning Outcomes

• Interaction with local authorities– Show to the local authorities the benefit they

could have from the HEREs accumulated expertise

– Be close enough and maintain a necessary distance

– Build the trust necessary to the action

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Learning Outcomes

• Resistance to Change and Different Challenges– Accept that this is normal– Make the change happens smoothly and do

not try to enforce it– Give the stakeholders the ownership and the

time to reflect on the modernization issues

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Learning Outcomes

• Some keywords– Trust– Ownership– Quality– Interest– Exchange– Appreciation of needed time and efforts

• Maintain and reinforce the HERE action seems to respond to local needs

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Thank You

http://www.tempus-lb.org