National Approaches to Assesing Quality The Central American Experience

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National Approaches to Assesing Quality The
Central American Experience
Central American Institute of Public
Administration -ICAP-
Rethelny Figueroa de Jain coord.tecnica_at_icap.ac.cr
www.icap.ac.cr
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What is ICAP?

• The Central American Institute for Public
  Administration, ICAP, is an intergovernmental
  international organization and is located in
  Costa Rica. It was created as a apart of Central
  American Integration System in 1954.
• Its mission is set to
• a) Develop human resources in the public
  sector.
• b) Help reform modernize public
  administrations.
• c) Support the process of Central American
  integration.
• It offers Masters Degree Program in
• 1) Health Management.
• 2) Social Management.
• 3) Development Projects Management.
• It provides Training, Consulting, Research.
• It maintains a network for Information
  dissemination.

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ICAPs Area of Operation
ICAP's members are Guatemala, El Salvador,
Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and
Dominican Republic (currently as observer).
Universities by Country Guatemala 10
El Salvador 26 Honduras 10
Nicaragua 42 Costa Rica 52
Panamá 15 Total 155
Privadas 140 Públicas 15
Surface Area 489,890 Km² Population 40
millones Dominate Language Spanish
University of San Carlos Master in Public
Administration
University National Autonoma de
Honduras Bachelor in Public Administration
University of El Salvador Master in Public
Administration
University of Costa Rica Bachelor, Masters
PhD in Public Administración
University of Panama Bachelor Masters in
Public Administración
Predominant Enrollment is in State Universities
Enrollment in Higher Education 675,000 Public
Universities 385,000 57 Private
Univesities 290,000 43
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QUALITY ASSESMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA

• In Central America the system of quality
  assessment and accreditation of higher education
  programs was introduced in 1995.
• The Public Affairs Education programs in Central
  America are not been accredited.
• The Public Affairs Education programs are
  offered only by ICAP and state universities.
• ICAP has been instrumental in creating
  developing Public Affairs Education programs in
  Central America.

• MECHANISMS FOR QUALITY CONTROL AT ICAP
• Curriculum Contents These are developed to
  address the need of public sector in Central
  America. The need is determined the competency
  requirements as indicated by the public sector
  authorities..
• Assessing Need Faculty at ICAP also
  independently assesses the need of the public
  sector and demand of society and adjusts its
  programs.
• Faculty Development Faculty at ICAP adapts to
  the new tendencies in public management through
  attending training, conferences, seminars.
• Size and Funding The size of the program is
  limited and every incoming student is offered
  financial aid.
• Student Feedback The feedback from the students
  after completion of the degree on returning to
  their public sector job is later sought.

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Agencies of Evaluation and Accreditation of
Higher Education in Central America
Regional Level

• SICAR. (System for Regional Careers and
  Postgraduate)
• SICEVAES. (Central American System for Evaluation
  and Accreditation of Higher Education)
• ACAP. (Central American Agency for Postgraduate
  Accreditation)
• ACESAR. (Central American Agency for
  Accreditation of Education in Agricultural
  products and Natural Resources)
• ACAAI. (Central American Agency for Accreditation
  of the Architecture and Engineering studies)
• RECAEN. (Central American Network for
  Accreditation of the Medical Education)
• CdeA /AUPRICA. ( Accreditation Comission of
  Private Universities in Central American)

National Level

• All the Central American countries have created
  their national system for accreditation of Higher
  Education.

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Costa Rican Accreditation System of Higher
Education Undergraduate Level
SINAES Higher National Education Accreditation
System CONESUP National Board of Higher
Education (Public Private Universities)

• CONARE
• National Board of Rectors

SUPRICORE Private Higher Accreditation Education
System
Costa Rican Private Universities Association
State Universities
UNIRE Board of the Private Universities Rectors
Evaluation Mechanisms

• SINAE is an Autonomous Body for managing quality
  assessment. It has set standards and criteria for
  the evaluation and accreditation.
• The Universities first conduct their own
  evaluation using the standards and criteria set
  by SINAE. Peer of external experts audits the
  evaluation.
• The SINAE uses the evaluation by the University
  and the external evaluation to accredit the
  university programs and make suggestions for
  continuous improvement. The accreditation is
  valid for 5-years. In case university fails to
  meet the accreditation standards, SINAE make
  recommendations for improvement.

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