Background
	The mission of the Global Forum is to provide a platform for dialogue by linking existing frameworks dealing with international issues of quality accreditation and the recognition of qualifications, and develop an international policy framework for dealing with the impact of globalization and cross-border higher education providers, reconciling the interests of national governments, the traditional public higher education sector, for-profit providers and the needs of students and the general public interest. The Global Forum was officially launched at its First Meeting at UNESCO, Paris (17-18 October 2003). The initiative to establish a UNESCO Global Forum on International Quality Assurance, Accreditation and the Recognition of Qualifications sprang from an Expert Meeting organized in Paris (10 - 11 September 2001). The Global Forum was established as part of UNESCO's mission "to respond to emerging ethical challenges and dilemmas as a result of globalization". It also reflected growing demands by the international community that UNESCO take a more proactive role in issues concerning the impact of globalization on higher education. The prospective liberalization of trade in educational services through the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) established under the WTO was highlighted in this regard.

 

Contacts