The document outlines a policy by the International Association of Universities to promote equitable access, success, and quality in higher education globally. The policy's main goals are to help countries with low participation rates expand access to higher education and help countries with high participation broaden access. Key principles promoted in the policy include equal access for all, increasing quality, focusing on students' full potential, and developing policies to remove barriers to higher education. The policy recommends student-centered learning, pedagogical training, and governments investing holistically in their entire education systems.

1. Equitable Access, Success and
Quality in Higher Education:
A Policy Statement by the International
Association of Universities

2. General Goals
• Goal 1: Aid and educate countries with low rates of participation in higher
education to expand access.
• Goal 2: Aid countries with significant levels of participation in higher
education to broaden access to higher education.

3. Basic Principles and Recommendations
• Equal access for all to higher education
• Increased quality in higher education
• Centering students’ full potential in
admission criteria, education strategies and
policies
• Developing national and institutional policies
to remove barriers to higher education
• Improving linkages between all educational
institutions within and between nations
• Promoting flexible academic programs
• Developing a new assessment in which
institutions are evaluated according to their
specific mission and goals
• Encouraging student mobility
• Creating policies that are sensitive to
local conditions and not borrowed from
other countries

4. Specific Recommendations
Higher Education: Student Centered
Learning and Pedagogical Training
Governments: Invest in entire education
system holistically

5. Key Influences
• IAU’s Organizational
Beliefs
• linking and offering its
members quality services,
and representing their
interests
• equitable access and
successful participation in
higher education
• UNESCO World
Conference in
Higher Education
in 2009
• World Bank funded
IAU pilot project
on new assessment
tools
• OECD’s AHELO
Assessment Tool

6. Positives
• The policy fits the goals of IAU and its HEI partners and is
compatible with the Millennium Development Goals and the missions
of UNESCO and the World Bank.
• The main IAU policy research contributors are represented by all
but one region of IAU’s member countries.
• It has been signed and endorsed by many universities and the
IAU has moved on to a new Work Plan for 2013-2016.
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7. Negatives
• The policy’s broadness hinders its goal of “urgent
implementation.”
• The policy is largely preaching to the choir.
• Affiliate members will not be able to implement the
recommendations without outside funding.

8. Strengths
• Non-political language
• Indicates a relevant need (access and quality in Higher
Education)
• Sets overall principles as well as recommendations for
HEIs and Governments
• Encourages adoption and implementation of principles
and recommendations
Weaknesses
• No specific goals are outlined
• No data is given to support recommendations
• When there is a more concrete goal, no examples for
implementation are given or discussed
• No references are given for previous programs that
could support this policy from other organizations
Opportunities
• Allows flexibility for HEIs and governments to develop
policies specific to their institution and country
• Access and Success in Higher Education are addressable
needs
• Presents new possibilities for improving the quality of
Higher Education
• Provides a forum for HEIs and Governments to
collaborate
Threats
• Lack of specificity makes principles and
recommendations easy to ignore
• While the need for funding is stressed to governments,
no concrete amounts or goals are given
• Emphasis on linkages and information sharing removes
the burden of implementation from any one stakeholder
– No one is held accountable
• Because not many low income institutions are IAU full
members, they will not be able to implement the
recommendations to due lack of funding

9. Any Questions?