Internationalization is a common objective of LA HEIs. Two of the most common strategies for the internationalization of postgraduate education are:1) International academic association for the development of joint programmes;2) International postgraduate mobility with academic recognition.Shortage of agreed indicators that allow the characterization and measurement in a comparable way of the principal variables involved in the mentioned two strategies has certainly contributed to hinder their implementation. Particularly important is the lack of a broad consensus on two essential components of postgraduate education that are worldwide recognized:a) Student centered learning (SCL), mainly in relation to three elements that are useful in the operationalization of said SCL: learning outcomes, competences and credits;b) Quality assurance.In this context, this project aims at creating, developing and sustaining a Latin American network of Ministries of Education and Universities, both public and private ones, in order to contribute to the internationalization of postgraduate education, by means of the consensus on standards related to substantial variables linked to student-centered learning (learning outcomes, competences and credits) and quality assurance. Consensus not only to be applied in the postgraduate programmes provided by the universities that take part in the project but to be also used as a common platform, which will be continuously updated, for all those countries and universities who wish to internationalize their postgraduate programs. Such space will be constantly open to the incorporation of Ministries of Education and Universities from other LA countries who wish to contribute to the accomplishment of the objectives of the network.The expected impact of the project is to favor the deployment of the two main strategies that have the HEIs for the internationalization of postgraduates: joint programmes and mobility with academic recognition.
To create, develop and sustain a Latin American network (CONSENS network) of Ministries of Education and Universities, with the aim of contributing to the internationalization of postgraduate education.To agree upon and develop, for master’s and doctorate degrees of at least one area to be determined, standards for learning outcomes, competences, credits and quality assurance.To apply CONSENS standards in at least one postgraduate degree to be provided by each of the six partner universities.
The internationalization of HEIs is widely recognized as a cross-cutting process in their four areas, aimed at strengthening and projecting the institution, improving the quality of teaching, increasing and transferring scientific and technological knowledge, and at contributing to cooperation to the development of the community. Two strategies for the internationalization of postgraduate training are the development of joint programmes and the international mobility with academic recognition.
<< Background >> The internationalization of HEIs is widely recognized as a cross-cutting process in their four areas, aimed at strengthening and projecting the institution, improving the quality of teaching, increasing and transferring scientific and technological knowledge, and at contributing to cooperation to the development of the community. Two strategies for the internationalization of postgraduate training are the development of joint programmes and the international mobility with academic recognition. << Objectives >> To create, develop and sustain a Latin American network (CONSENS network) of Ministries of Education and Universities, with the aim of contributing to the internationalization of postgraduate education.To agree upon and develop, for master’s and doctorate degrees of at least one area to be determined, standards for learning outcomes, competences, credits and quality assurance.To apply CONSENS standards in at least one postgraduate degree to be provided by each of the six partner universities. << Implementation >> Despite the pandemic that took place during the entire second half of the project, which hit our countries in general and educational institutions particularly hard, we have been able to carry out all activities according to plan. Even though the consortium has reacted quickly to adapt itself to the COVID crisis, the pandemic has had consequences on certain activities, which have been delayed. Consequently, an extension of three-and-a-half-month was needed to complete all the planned activities. << Results >> All the objectives were reached. The Latin American network (CONSENS -SABERES network) of Ministries of Education and Universities is fully active. The Ministries of Education of six countries, three accreditation agencies and 28 HEIs joined the network, and a CB Structural project was developed and applied in the 2021 EACEA call.Ten postgraduate degrees from the six partner universities have modified their curriculum, applying standards for learning outcomes, competences, credits and quality