Values in Universities of Applied Sciences

23

Nov 2024

Tokyo, Japan

11:30 – 13:00

This session is organised as part of the International Association of Universities 2024 Annual Conference, held at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan from 22-24 November 2024.

Access the full programme for more information and registrations.

Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) focus on two important values in higher education. One is accountability to society and especially the cities and regions where they are located. Rapid technological change and economic transition require new types of jobs, and UAS provide the skills and competences that emerging industries need. This may involve work based learning and different approaches for adult learners, all within specific local contexts. Another value is inclusion, since UAS increase participation in higher education, widening access to disadvantaged groups.

This session will discuss how UAS add value to the higher education sector and what needs to change in terms of existing approaches to quality assurance and assessment so that the specific mission and pedagogies of applied HEIs can flourish. This includes a description of the AppliedEdX assessment framework that is being developed as part of a UNESCO Chair Program on strategic foresight in higher education.

Speakers

Chair/Moderator: John Edwards

EURASHE Secretary General

John Edwards PhD is Secretary General of EURASHE, the European Association for the Applied Sciences in Higher Education. In this role he acts as an interface between European policy makers and EURASHE members in the fields of higher education, employment, research, enterprise, and regional policy. John previously worked for the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre between 2011 and 2020, managing projects on the role of higher education and vocational excellence in Smart Specialisation. John holds degrees from the University of St Andrews, the College of Europe in Bruges, and Newcastle University, where he completed his PhD in economic geography. He is a dual Portuguese/UK national.

Speaker: Janet Welch

Vice President Acedemic, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada

Janet Welch has served as VP Academic and SAIT since August 2022 and before that in a similar role at Yukon University. For nearly 30 years, Janet has focused her career on student success in a post-secondary system environment that aligns with industry’s current and emerging needs. Janet holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Technology from the University of Phoenix in Arizona.

Speaker: Ulla Preeden 

Rector, Rector Tartu Health Care College, Estonia

Prof. Ulla Preeden is the rector of Tartu Health Care College, a specialised university of applied sciences in Southern Estonia. She has been a Board member of EURASHE since 2022 and represents the Estonian Rectors Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences). Ulla also serves on the Board of the Estonian Quality Assurance Agency. In addition to higher education Ulla has worked in local government, including as the Governor of Põlva county.

Speaker: Christine Qi 

Head of Academic Accreditation and Assessment, Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, Hong Kong

Christine Qi is the Head of Academic Accreditation and Assessment at the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ). Her work focuses on providing quality assurance and accreditation services to education and training institutions in Hong Kong. With around 20 years of experience in education and training sectors, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Christine holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the College of Business at the City University of Hong Kong.