Minutes recorded by:
Iordanka Melnikliyska, Admissions officer, American University in
Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, danche@sa.aubg.bg
The session was opened by Chair Dimitris Doutis, US Educational Advisor, US Educational Foundation, Greece. He announced that Eva-Angela Adan would be speaking instead of Stamenka Uvalic-Trumbic, Program Specialist, CEPES- UNESCO, European H.E. Center, Ro
mania.
Speaker 1: Dr. Eva-Angela Adan, Dean of International Admissions, Georgia State University, 16 years in international education, Involved in a PIER report on Poland.
Speaker 2: Ms Mariam Assefa, World Education Services, New York
Ms Assefa voiced her opinion on issues concerning European students in the US educational system:
US higher education is not controlled by the government - instead there are independent regional accreditation agencies. Each university or school has its own policy, which applies only to this particular school, not to others. Each US educational institu
tion has its own mission of purpose. When institutions are accredited, they are compared to their own missions.
The difference between the US and the European higher education systems is that US institutions offer a variety of fields, unlike those in Europe, where each institution is narrowly specialized.
If a European student is denied admission by a US university, this does not mean that the door is shut to him/her. He/she may also apply to many other schools, and choose an appropriate school. It is possible, for example, to start at a community college,
then transfer to a bachelors program, and then to masters and Ph.D. programs.
American admissions officers must decide whether the international student has achieved the level and quality of education that will guarantee his/her success at the university level.
This can be demonstrated only by a "document" giving access to the university level. For example, for students coming from Germany - a German "Abitur" is required for undergraduate admission. Some institutions might award credits for this level of achieve
ment, while some might not.
Admissions officers need the "bench-mark credential", recognized by the country's Ministry of Education, in order to consider the student for admission.
For graduate admission, they need a document certifying that the student has earned a bachelors degree or its equivalent. Admission officers also consider the student's own educational objectives.
US students graduate with a broader educational background - 2 years of general education course work followed by 2 years of specialization. European students graduate with a narrow specialization - for example in mathematics or physics.
On the US side, admissions officers lack information on educational credentials. The names for credentials can change and university names can change, especially in the countries in transition. US admissions staffs require descriptive documents - syllabi,
course descriptions, transcripts etc.
Advisers can help by supplying information on changed names of institutions, programs and degrees. They can also tell the students what they can realistically expect in the USA, that the changes will be significant for them.
Mariam Assefa's comments on CEPES UNESCO-European Center book: "Europe-USA: Mutual Recognition of Qualifications" by Stamenka Uvalic-Trumbic:
1. The book recommends 12 years of study for eligibility for first year admission.
2. Although US higher education has 3 levels of degrees, universities actually admit to 2 levels: undergraduate and graduate. The book's statement that students are admitted to Ph.D. programs is incorrect.
Students are not admitted to Ph.D. programs. They are admitted to graduate level study and then they take either masters program coursework or do research in Ph.D. programs.
3. International diplomas and degrees are not a mandatory equivalent to a US bachelors degree. However, diplomas are required and must be submitted. Students sometimes misunderstand this process.
4. What happens to students when they come back with degrees earned in the US? Sometimes their home country has very strict rules for recognizing degrees earned abroad. The students should be advised to expect this. However, now with the new mobility prog
rams within the EC, GATT etc., countries with strict rules are beginning to revise their policies in order to establish equivalency with the other member countries. This influence will be felt in the next few years.
Speaker 3: Ms. Ioli Paraliki-Kythreotou, Cyprus Fulbright Commission, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Ioli described the importance of education all over the world today. Then she described the concerns of students in Cyprus:
- Accreditation is their main concern. The most common question they ask in the advising center is whether the Cyprus government recognizes the school. Are degrees through correspondence accredited? Are degrees recognized by the professional employers?
The Cyprus government requires accreditation for purposes of employment. The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with consulting companies, evaluates transcripts and diplomas and decides whether the degrees may be recognized or not.
A law has been passed for accreditation purposes, which recognizes as accredited degrees earned :
1. From accredited US institutions;
2. From Cyprus schools working in cooperation with US- accredited schools;
3. After a transfer from an unaccredited to an accredited institution.
A 1989 law requires all private educational institutions to register with the Ministry of Education. Private colleges are still not accredited by the government. The CORPA book on accreditation was recommended.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
1. How are 3-year degrees from professional schools evaluated?
- The degree-granting institution should be recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country. If it is not, the degree will not recognized.
- It depends on the program - in some cases the degree might be recognized, in others,
not.
2. Comments on the CEPEC UNESCO-Europe book:
- In some European countries a student gets a diploma after 5 years of study, then does
research for the Ph.D.
- most of the US universities have a minimum requirement for transfer into a graduate
program.
3. What books do admissions officers use in the evaluation process?
- General placement recommendation books by AACRAO, World Education Services, NAFSA PIER Reports. However they are not always updated.
- An e-mail message to OSEAS advisers could help a great deal.
- On recruitment tours, admissions officers learn 'much about the specific country's educational system.
- Admissions officers also require an official translation of all educational credentials.
The advisers should be aware of this and help the applicants.
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