A 30-country international online course development initiative like the VUSSC poses challenges of qualifications frameworks and qualifications recognition. Nothing like this has been done before. Courses developed under the aegis of the VUSSC are intended to be adapted and offered in many countries. But since the VUSSC is not an accrediting or awarding body, the institutions that offer the courses must accredit them locally.

The aim of a TQF should be to ensure that all the open educational resources that are being created collaboratively can be adapted into recognised courses that students can take for credit through the recognized institutions of the small states. If the TQF can act as a translation point for modules/units and qualifications between countries, the small states of the Commonwealth will have achieved much of what many larger countries dream of having.

An additional benefit of a TQF may be to discourage bogus providers, which are particularly active in trying to sell fake qualifications in the small states.

Documents:

To view the whole document, please click on the name of the document.

TQF for VUSSC: Procedures and Guidelines, April 2010

Concept document, May 2008

Implementation / Discussion Document, October 2008

Implementation Discussion Document, October 2008 - COMMUNIQUE

The Transnational Qualifications Framework Management Committee (TQFMC) comprising of Mr. Kaylash Allgoo, Dr. Richard Wah, Mr. Michael Bradshaw, Mr. Franz Gertze, Mr. Abdul Hannan Waheed and Dr. Yvonette Marshall held its first meeting in Singapore from 6th to 10th October 2008. The purpose of the meeting was to develop a consultative document for the implementation of the Transnational Qualifications Framework (TQF) for Virtual Universities for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC). This document explains the concept and suggested procedures and guidelines of the VUSSC TQF that would apply to any of the 32 members of the small states of the Commonwealth that wishes to use VUSSC.

The issues that were discussed and agreed at the meeting related to the
following:

1.0 Architecture and structure of TQF

2.0 Implementation strategy and processes

3.0 Forging the way forward

4.0 Funding and staffing

5.0 The evolving nature of the consultative document

6.0 The Role, Responsibilities and Reporting lines

7.0 Conclusion

The fate of this worthwhile initiative is in our hands.
Let’s mould it together and ensure it works.