The president of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), Dr. Joseph Isaac says higher education must be prioritized as a way of allowing graduates to contribute positively to the socio-economic, technological and developmental advancement of Liberia.
Speaking when he attended the week-long Intergovernmental Meeting on Global Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, Dr. Isaac underscored the significance of Liberia to make use of the opportunities that avail themselves internationally on higher education.
Dr. Isaac says the higher education section of Liberia must include professional and academic experts into the system as a way of harnessing the skills, talents and professionalism of Liberian students through an exchange of knowledge between Liberians and foreign professors.
He states that higher education qualification reviews are essential to setting the standards as to how certain qualifications can be accessed and reviewed, and at the same time making sure that they meet the basic requirements acceptable globally.
Since its creation in 1945, UNESCO has served as a global platform for discussion on the recognition of higher education qualifications and the promotion of academic mobility.UNESCO has therefore established a number of regional conventions in higher education.
Globally academic mobility is said to be sharply on the increase with the overall population of mobile students doubling since to more than four million students studying outside their home country and it is estimated that by 2020 around eight million students will be studying abroad.
This significant growth in mobile tertiary students calls for a global regulatory framework for the recognition of higher education qualifications.This framework will reduce the obstacles faced by students, teachers, researchers and job-seekers outside their countries of origin.
In March 2016, following a General Conference decision, UNESCO established a Drafting Committee in consultation with its Member States.This committee will elaborate a draft text of a Global Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications.
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Dr. Isaac holds an Associate’s Degree in architecture from the University of the District of Columbia, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Engineering.He also obtained his graduate education from Morgan State University, with Masters in City and Regional Planning, and Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership.
