高等教育教與學質量保證的發展與前瞻國際學術研討會

International Conference on The New Frontiers of Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance in Higher Education

2016/11/22-24

Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao, China

主題發言
Keynote Sessions


The role of higher education and training in a changing socio-economic environment: Tertiary education as the fundamental enabler of sustainable development
在不斷變化的社經環境下高等教育與培訓的角色:高等教育作為持續發展的重要支柱
Pauline Tang (CEO of THE-ICE and Vice President of INQAAHE Board)
Abstract

The debate over the role of tertiary education in a changing socio-economic environment has moved to a new level with trends of increased globalisation. With the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015), tertiary education and training providers, amongst others, are now called upon to share the vision of the United Nations (UN), in particular, its agenda related to education and employment - to contribute towards shaping ‘a world in which every country enjoys sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all’.

In line with Goal 4 of the new UN Agenda, which is to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’, higher education and training providers have the responsibility to nurture a generation of ethical, environmentally-conscious, culturally-sensitive graduates, equipped with necessary core and soft skills to seek and secure employments in the competitive labour market, nationally or internationally.

To facilitate the successful implementation of the UN’s noble vision, it is of utmost importance for tertiary education and training providers to join their efforts in establishing a Global Partnership, to work in close cooperation with the community, the industry and leading QA networks, such as INQAAHE, to address the challenges of the educational and social structures in which they operate in.

Author Profile(s)
Ms Pauline Tang is the Chief Executive Officer of THE-ICE and was the Founding Director of Business Development when it was seed-funded by the Australian federal government from 2004 to 2008. She has overseen the brand creation, development of THE-ICE internal quality assurance system, external accreditation standards and membership portfolio, and was the nominated rapporteur liaising with the Australian funding authority on the successfully implemented agreed milestones under the funding agreement.

In 2008 when THE-ICE became an independent, not-for-profit international accreditation agency for tourism, hospitality, events and culinary arts (TH&E) education programmes, Pauline became the Director of Accreditation & Benchmarking, responsible for the annual research projects on student satisfaction, the internationalisation and ongoing devolvement/evolvement of internal QA policy, THE-ICE accreditation standards and providing management support to THE-ICE Assessment Panel (team of external auditors), member institutions and prospective accreditation applicant institutions.

Pauline has undertaken many internal and external quality assurance activities and has provided advice and mentorship on internal quality assurance to THE-ICE global membership network of over 30 international TH&E institutions. She was an elected Director of INQAAHE Board from 2013-2015, during that term of office Pauline was invited to Chair the Membership/Membership Services Committee. In 2015 Pauline was re-elected to serve on the same Board for a second term, currently tasked to lead the Communication and Outreach Committee portfolio.

In addition to serving on the Board of INQAAHE Pauline was also closely involved with the UNESCAP-APETIT network (the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and the Pacific-Asia Pacific Education and Training Institutions in Tourism), being the elected Vice-Chair of their Executive Committee in 2007 and 2008. She is a member of the Australian Marketing Institute and a recipient of the Australian National Training Legends Platinum Award.