Conference Presentations and Articles

Presented at the 2007 NAGAP (National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals) conference in Orlando, FL.

Presenters:
Emily Tse, Director of Evaluations
Traci Wells, Manager of Evaluations
Kristen Cammarata, Regional Educational Advising Coordinator for North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe

This session provided a comparative analysis of the educational systems of Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, and Morocco, including influences from Arabic-speaking, Anglophone, and Francophone countries. The session concluded with perspectives on the experiences of students from this region who have sought admission into US programs. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2002 AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) conference in Minneapolis, MN.

Presenter: Richard van Huyssteen, recipient of an IERF Research Grant for 2001-2002

This paper is a supplement to the presentation Update on Education in South Africa: An Overview with Reference to Higher Education. It expands on the presentation in Minneapolis. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2009 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Los Angeles, CA.

Presenters:
Ujjaini Sahasrabudhe, Evaluator
Swetha Muthanna, Advisor at EducationUSA in India

This poster training provided an overview of Indian higher education with a focus on issues and concerns related to accreditation. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2005 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Seattle, WA.

Presenters:
I-Hsing Lin, Senior Evaluator
Emily Tse, Director of Evaluations

This session provided an in-depth look at the postsecondary opportunities available outside the traditional four-year bachelor’s degree in Japan. Emphasis is given to programs offered at tanki daigaku (junior colleges), senmon gakko (vocational colleges) and koto senmon gakko (technical colleges). Click here to view.

Presented at the 2007 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Minneapolis, MN.

Presenters:
Emily Tse, Director of Evaluations
I-Hsing Lin, Senior Evaluator
Vijaya Khandavilli, representative from the US Educational Foundation in India
Arefin Jahan, representative from the US Educational Foundation in Pakistan

This session focused on the differences and similarities of the secondary educational systems of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Trends in international students from these countries were also highlighted. Click here to view.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2010 issue of NAFSA's wRAP-Up newsletter. Copyright 2010, NAFSA: Association of international Educators. All rights reserved.

Authors:
Traci Wells, Manager of Evaluations
Marie-Catherine Glaser, Educational Affairs Programs Officer, French Embassy in Washington

In recent years, admissions offices and evaluation services have begun receiving more diplomas from business schools in France. Yet, when compared to university diplomas, which are fairly straightforward due to their national recognition, there are few English-language resources that aid in the understanding of professional qualifications earned at non-university institutions. This article aims to provide evaluation strategies and information on qualifications earned at business and management schools in France. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2010 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Kansas City, MO.

Presenters:
Traci Wells, Manager of Evaluations
Ujjaini Sahasrabudhe, Evaluator
Lauren Welch, Head of Advising, US-UK Fulbright Commission - EducationUSA

This session deconstructed professional and higher education in the England, Wales and Northern Ireland, focusing on recent developments as well as structural issues that often make this system difficult to navigate. Presenters provided guidelines and resources for researching and evaluating credentials from these countries. Issues and concerns arising for British students applying for higher education in the United States were also highlighted. Click here to view.

Reprinted from IERF's Index of Secondary Credentials.

Authors:
Emily Tse, Director of Evaluations
Ujjaini Sahasrabudhe, Evaluator

At the request of our colleagues, this article has been reproduced separately for greater access. It introduces readers to the O and A Level qualifications found not only in the UK, but also many Commonwealth countries and international schools around the world. Click here to view.

Author:
Emily Tse, Director of Evaluations

Little is known about approaches to credentials evaluation in other countries. While similar criteria form the basis of what we all do (e.g., minimum entrance requirement, length of program, etc.), their emphasis and interpretations do differ. This study explores the work done in four countries, the similarities and differences in approach, and the underlying factors for these patterns. The four regions of study are Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, all of which have databases that allow for comparison and which also rank among the top five places for mobility. Click here to view the study.

Presented at the 2011 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Vancouver, Canada.

Presenters:
Pat Parker, Assistant Director of Admissions, Iowa State University
Emily Tse, Director of Evaluations

This session discusses the theories and philosophies behind grading as well as how they are treated in different countries around the world. By reviewing the variations in grading practices and cultures, the presenters aim to help provide the context for the interpretation and conversion of grades. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2009 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Los Angeles, CA.

Presenters:
Irene Romo, Evaluator
Amy Santiago, Evaluator

This poster training provided an overview of the educational system of Argentina with an emphasis on the reforms which have taken place at the primary and secondary levels. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2003 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Salt Lake City, UT.

Presenter: Carole Khoury, Senior Evaluator

This poster training provided a snapshot of the educational system of Peru, indicating the key credentials and educational terms at each level. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2008 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Washington, D.C.

Presenters:
Emily Tse, Director of Evaluations
Traci Wells, Manager of Evaluations
Herman de Leeuw, the Expert on Authenticity and Falsifications at the Informatie Beheer Groep
Kristen Cammarata, Regional Educational Advising Coordinator for North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe

This session presented an overview of the displacement of students from Iraq and the Palestinian Authority and how education has been affected in these areas as well as the neighboring regions of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. The session also discussed related problems of fraud and limited documentation and how US universities can partner with EducationUSA Centers in providing educational opportunities for these students. Click here to view.

Prepared by:
Herman de Leeuw, Senior Recognition Officer at the Informatie Beheer Groep (Netherlands)

This article deals with educational credentials from the war-torn Kurdish autonomous zone in Northern Iraq. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2006 Region XII NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Las Vegas, NV.

Presenters:
Emily Tse, Director of Evaluations
Dr. Rolando Castillo, Director of The Consortium of Physicians from Latin America (formerly the Program Director of the Welcome Back Center in San Diego, CA)

This session offered an overview of the shortage of nurses as well as nursing education around the world. It also provided a look at the Welcome Back International Health Worker Assistance Centers as an example of how assistance can be provided for internationally-trained nurses and other healthcare professionals re-entering the workforce as bilingual-bicultural providers in the US. This state-wide initiative in California includes counseling services, curricula development, and the identification of accelerated and advanced standing programs. Click here to view.

Presented at the 2008 CCAC (Credential Counselors & Analysts of California) conference in Sacramento, CA.

Presenters:
Tara Wessel, Evaluator
Steven Desist, Director of Human Resources at the Silver Valley Unified School District

This session shared the experiences of the Silver Valley Unified School District, including best practices in the recruitment, hiring and orientation process with regards to the recruitment of teachers from abroad. The presentation also provided an overview of what takes place in the evaluation of foreign teaching credentials, with examples from a range of countries. Click here to view.