Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...

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AHELO is pioneer international study of its nature at higher education level. OECD has already
assessed the knowledge and skills 15 year old students through the Program for International
Student Assessment (PISA) testing the knowledge and of the adults through the Program for
International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC).
According to OECD, this project will focus the generic skills of the undergraduate students by
assessing critical thinking, analytical reasoning, problem-solving and written communication
(OECD, 2011). AHELO aims also to collect contextual information that will help to link the data
with the outcomes by relating student performance with their socio-economic backgrounds and
learning environments. OECD has planned a conference at the end of 2012 to discuss the results
of AHELO feasibility study and to see whether this project is scientifically and practically
achievable. The final results of AHELO are expected in 2013.
This assessment is of great importance for all stakeholders in higher education: students, parents,
teachers, universities, policy-makers and employers because AHELO will give information on
the relevance and quality of education and competencies that are being provided in the HEIs. The
AHELO feasibility study includes only two disciplines: economics and engineering. AHELO is
more than student assessment as it aims to weigh up both inputs and outputs also that may
include family background, social environment, teachers and available resources.
5.2.6.5 e) Quality Teaching in Higher Education
This project is has been designed to underline effective quality initiatives and mechanisms that
may help other institutions to improve the quality teaching in their respective institutions at all
levels. This project has two phases:
Phase 1: an overview of 29 HEIs in 20 countries to study initiatives to enhance the quality of
teaching. This was completed during December 2007 to June 2009