CALOHEA Regional Subject-Specific Reference Frameworks: Tools for Promoting Recognition and Internationalization

With other universities in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) received an Erasmus+ grant for Capacity Building in Higher Education for 2020-2024, focusing on teacher education and civil engineering. This project aims to contribute to the internationalization of higher education institutions in Southeast Asia by developing a series of interrelated measures in three fundamental recognition mechanisms. The team members for teacher education include Prof. Dinn Wahyudin (Faculty of Educational Sciences), Prof. Ahmad Bukhori Muslim and Dr. Yanty Wirza (Faculty of Languages and Literature Education), Prof. Vanessa Gaffar and Dr. Heny Mulyani (Faculty of Economics and Business Education). Meanwhile, the civil engineering team members are Dr. Juang Akbardin, Dr. Nanang Dalil Herman, Dr. Rakhmat Yusuf, Dr. Dadang M. Ma’soem, Mrs. Mardiyani, Mrs. Istiqomah, Mrs. Siti Nur Asyiah and Mr. Odih Supratman (Faculty of Vocational and Technology Education). 

The CALOHEA Erasmus+ project has developed Regional Subject-Specific Reference Frameworks to facilitate the recognition of degrees and study periods within the ASEAN region and between ASEAN and other world regions.

A Qualifications Framework is a structure that classifies different qualifications within a geographical area and establishes broad equivalence of qualifications (e.g., undergraduate levels) across the region. This framework describes the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competences a learner will have developed upon completing a particular level of studies.

Regional Qualifications Reference Frameworks aim to establish broad equivalence among qualifications offered in multiple countries. These frameworks are intended to be used as reference documents to facilitate recognition without overruling national regulations or national qualifications frameworks. Examples include the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

The CALOHEA Subject-Specific Qualifications Reference Frameworks facilitate recognition by:

1. Identifying key dimensions each program in a subject area must address.
2. Establishing equivalence between qualifications offered in different countries, regardless of local terminology.
3. Expressing the specialization of particular programs regarding the sub-dimensions addressed.
4. Comparing the level of achievement for each sub-dimension, in terms of knowledge, skills, or responsibilities.
5. Comparing shorter study periods where only specific types of knowledge, skills, or responsibilities are developed.

The CALOHEA Regional Subject-Specific Qualifications Reference Frameworks detail the expected knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies of graduates from ARQF Level 6 degrees in Civil Engineering, Medicine, and Teacher Education. These frameworks allow for recognition across all participating countries.

The CALOHEA Erasmus+ project is coordinated by the Tuning Academy of the University of Groningen (the Netherlands) and the ASEAN University Network and is co-funded by the European Commission.

For more information, visit CALOHEA Reference Frameworks at https://calohea.org/