In order for the VUSSC’s collaborative approach to education and commitment to Open Education Resources to flourish, member states recognized that being able to compare curricula developed by different VUSSC countries was vital.
To enable this comparison and ensure credibility, member states have done a significant amount of work drafting and testing the TQF (Transnational Qualifications Framework) as a mechanism for assessing or comparing qualifications offered.
One of the fundamental principles of the TQF is to share programmes of study, based on the use of creative commons copyright licenses. Officially launched in 2010, the current TQF allows millions of potential learners to access internationally recognized programmes through a simple process, helping learners and workers that move between countries or change jobs.
The TQF-approved VUSSC programmes currently available include:
Bachelor in Business and Entrepreneurship
Botswana Open University, Botswana
BSc (Hons) Business Entrepreneurship
Open University of Mauritius, Mauritius
Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture in Small States
National University of Samoa, Samoa
Certificate in Tour Guiding
Mauritius Institute of Training and Development, Sir Gaetan Duval Hotel School, Mauritius
Master in Educational Leadership
Botswana Open University, Botswana
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
University of Seychelles, Seychelles
Postgraduate Certificate in Rapid e-Learning Methodologies LC509
University of Mauritius, Mauritius
MSc Educational Technologies and Knowledge Society LC508
University of Mauritius, Mauritius
BSc (Hons) Educational Technologies (Top-Up) LC303
University of Mauritius, Mauritius
Levels of development help learners and institutions gauge learning complexity
With 10 levels – seven undergraduate and three post-graduate – the TQF lists descriptions that indicate the complexity of the post-secondary learning being completed. The VUSSC TQF Levels and Level Descriptors Table illustrates how both learners and curriculum specialists can contrast the complexity levels of different post-secondary programmes using an objective tool.
TQF updates ensure the ongoing applicability of certification
The TQF was revised in 2016, with a number of small member states taking the lead in revamping the framework to enable national or regional qualification to be used. These updates enable qualifications from member states to be recognized throughout the Commonwealth, provided they have met the quality assurance criteria of the national, regional and transnational organizations.
Educational institutions reap benefits of TQF registration
There are a number of benefits available to post-secondary institutions that register their courses under the TQF. These benefits include advantages such as:
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- Ability of students and workers to be mobile during and after completing training which allows student qualifications to be portable
- International validity and mutual recognition of qualifications by other institutions enables programme quality to be compared across international agencies