Brief History

CANQATE had its genesis at an INQAAHE workshop held in Montego Bay in May 2002. At this workshop which was hosted by the UCJ, the Caribbean participants present decided to form a regional quality assurance sub-network in keeping with the policy of INQAAHE with regard to regional groupings. Similar sub-networks have been formed in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe and South America. A steering committee consisting of members from different Caribbean countries was established to bring CANQATE into operation.

Activities Since Inception

Three of the very significant activities of CANQATE are:

• INAUGURAL CANQATE Conference

• 2ND ANNUAL CANQATE Conference

• 3RD ANNUAL CANQATE Conference

Aims & Objectives

 The aims and objectives of the association are as follows:

• Promote and assist in the implementation of best practices in quality assurance (QA) in tertiary education;

• Provide up-to-date information on QA issues for Caribbean agencies/networks/tertiary institutions and organizations;

• Ensure mutual recognition among QA agencies in the Caribbean;

• Support regional QA agencies in identifying funding to assist in their activities;

• Advocate for national QA bodies in regional and international forums;

• Work with other professional bodies on matters of QA and accreditation in the region;

• Support and advise CARICOM and other Caribbean regional bodies on matters pertaining to a regional framework for QA;

• Develop a cadre of professionals in the field of QA in the region;

• Encourage and support research in the field of QA in the region;

• Network regionally and internationally with similar organizations.

The Way Forward

At the Inaugural CANQATE Conference held in Jamaica in November 2004 members of the Network agreed to:

• work with institutions, governments, CARICOM, student organizations, employers and others to sustain and enhance the standards and quality of tertiary education in the region.

• work together to increase the mutual recognition of qualifications to facilitate the movement of students and graduates within the region.

• through cooperation on such matters as staff development (including the staff of both agencies and tertiary institutions), exchange of academic reviewers and the sharing of information, seek to improve the capacity for quality assurance and accreditation in the region.

• through partnership with INQAAHE and other agencies, form effective working relationships with other regional groupings of quality assurance and accreditation agencies.

• seek to establish productive links with professional associations and other similar bodies in the region.

• help smaller countries in the region to sustain and enhance their capability to quality assure and accredit.

• make potential students aware of the need to inform themselves of the accreditation status as appropriate of the institution or programme in which they are interested.

• encourage public awareness of the role that quality plays in the education system particularly at the tertiary/higher education level.

 At the 2^nd Annual Conference held in Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Ethley London, President of CANQATE, indicated that some progress was being made on the action points for the way forward.  She reported that some work has been done on action point no. 1 but also emphasised that there is need to accelerate the pace of this work.  The President also noted that ‘research’ should be included in this action point. The President also expressed the view that action point no. 3 should be the focal one for CANQATE and that it should be followed slavishly.  Action point no. 8 was said to be ongoing but needs to increase.