ICQI-Lahore, 2-3 May 2011 4/27/2011 Ali H. Fayadh Program Director, ELS-Oman, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman ahfayadh@omantel.net.om ahfayadh@yahoo.com � In HE , Protectionism is seen as a HEI's " m otivation to om it or conceal areas where im provem ents are required or, when they cannot be concealed, topresent themina formthat deliberately over exaggerates positive aspects and underplays problem s. It m ay even m otivate HEIs to ensure that certain people will be unavailable to m eet with the Audit Panel during the Audit Visit " � ������� ����� ������� ���� ������� � � 1
ICQI-Lahore, 2-3 May 2011 4/27/2011 In order to explore the situation in the HE sector, this work attem pts to answer the following questions: � W hat m easures do quality m onitoring organizations take to ensure transparencyinOm ani HigherEducation? � Arethesem easuresadequateornot? � W hat arethetypesof protectionaryactsexercisedbysom eHEIs? � Howtoavoidprotectionism ? (1) Route & Intensity � Protectionary acts are undertaken to protect the HEI against (an)otherstakeholder(s); stakeholdersareof different ranks: • Governing (regulatory authorities), • Governed (students, parents, and other beneficiaries), • Equal (other HEIs and com petitors). � Figure (1) shows the course and intensity of Protectionism 2
ICQI-Lahore, 2-3 May 2011 4/27/2011 Regualting Authorities Regualting Authorities (MoHE, OAC, etc.) (MoHE, OAC, etc.) Other Other Possible Possible HEI HEIs HEIs Competitors Competitors Students Students & & Parents Parents � Protectionism can occur in these form s: � Legal protectionism where a HEI can follow its own laws, i.e., it can drawitsownprotectionarym echanism , supportedbyall stakeholders (including the regulatory authority). This type m ay am ount to transparency . � Rationalized protectionism is observed when a num ber of stakeholders, not all, legislate (and m ake public) certain acts to protect their own entity . Such acts usually raise criticism and/or refusal by other stakeholders. These acts are of relative transparency . � Protectionismper se occurswhenaHEI concealsfactsfromsom eor all stakeholders.Thisisatotallyrejectednon-transparent action. 3
ICQI-Lahore, 2-3 May 2011 4/27/2011 Flexibility of Current Policies 1. Safe Investm ent 2. Foreign Affiliation Leniency 3. Insubstantial Statem ent of Intent 4. Unfulfilled prom ises � � They are noticed when the HEI makes hollow prom ises accompanied with propaganda coverage, e.g., newcam puses, m orefacilities, enrolm ent concessions, etc. Unsolicitedactions � � These are claim ed to be done to satisfy higher m onitoring authorities, e.g., requirem ents of perform ance indicators (staff numbers, Om anization rates, new posts, etc.), benchm arking, etc. Latent incom petence � � This is practiced in the absence of efficient staff and/or effective adm inistrative m echanism s andacadem ic policies, e.g., practicingplagiarism , unreal statistics, etc. V oracity � � This is exercised when the HEI m inim izes its statem ent of intent to generate m ore profits, e.g., indulgence in non-academ ic investm ents, creating false settings, m ism anagement of (financial) resources, etc. 4
ICQI-Lahore, 2-3 May 2011 4/27/2011 � During Norm al Tim es � Self-Prom otion or Bragging � Propaganda � Com m unity Service Exploitation � Im proper Labels � Ineffective Practices � Post-Norm al Tim es (during Quality Checks) � Before � During Portfolio W riting � Before Panel Visit � During Panel Visit � After Panel Visit � Before Panel Report � In Reply to Panel Report � After Panel Report 5
ICQI-Lahore, 2-3 May 2011 4/27/2011 Question Answer Action to A void Protectionism 1. T o accom plish transparency , a HEI m ust: a. Identify itself clearly by drawing a sound statem ent of Protectionismisan intent (vision, m ission, goals undesirableact aim ed to and objectives) and applies conceal facts from the them via realistic strategic HEI’s stakeholders, by planning. providing false/distorted b. Maintain a delicate Resource inform ation about the W hat is m anagem ent process. Protectionism ? institution in order to c. Com m unicate honestly with its stakeholders. distance itself from d. Act as a non-profit possibleharm ful organization. m easures. In other words, 2. T oservethe interests of ALL it is an unethical, unlawful stakeholders, and respect the action . requirem ents of the regulatory authorities through a legal (and even legalized) protectionary fram ework. 1. T o set clear roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder, and sustain them ineveryday transactions. 2. T o ensure that the people responsible for governance (BoDs & BoT s) and adm inistration (Chancellors, Deans, It is intentionally practiced by HoDs, etc.) act independently in term s the HEI’s owners and senior of their roles and responsibilities and m anagers who know the real in line with the HEI’s statem ent of irregularities of the W hopractices it? intent. organization, and 3. T o avoid all acts of coercing, inadvertently by other threatening, etc. practiced to stakeholders who are m isinform regulatory bodies or their unaware they are protecting representatives. anoffensive practice. 4. T o enroll professional cadre and sustain honest com m unity , adopt rigid criteria of selection, procedures of orientation, and appeal/com plaint m echanism to be checked by regulatoryauthoritiesperiodically . 6
ICQI-Lahore, 2-3 May 2011 4/27/2011 1. T o act rationally in line with a HEI’s own realistic statem ent of intent. 1. Unfulfilled prom ises 2. T o satisfy international 2. Unsolicited actions perform ance indicators and Howis it cooperate with other peer HEIs. 3. Latent incom petence practiced? 3. T o provide learners with reputed 4. Indifference hum an resources and reliable facilities. 5. V oracity 4. T o avoid all ungrounded allegations. 1. T o provide self-inform ative m anuals and guidelines concerning all types of reports required. 2. T o organize explanatory workshops, Protectionism is adhered m eetings and gatherings to sim plify the to in: tasks and exchange experience. 1. Self-reports to a 3. T o produce evaluative reports relying regulatory authority on accurate data, and relevant (during quality perform ance indicators and checks) W henis it m ost benchm arking tools. 2. Reports to a practiced? 4. T o endorsean obviousreward policy , governing body (in reflecting dedication on the part of the annual reports) governing and regulatory stakeholders. 3. Peaks of student enrolm ent (before 5. T o facilitate cooperation, not regular study com petition, between HEIs. This is the com m encem ent) role of the regulatory authorities who m ust m anage annual fairs, control program m elicensing policy , and assure existence of m anuals. 7
ICQI-Lahore, 2-3 May 2011 4/27/2011 � AHEI is quality-wise if it acts transparently , andit isnot if it resorts to protectionism ;inother words, If T ransparency=qualitylabel and Protectionism≠ qualitylabel then, T ransparency≠ Protectionism � Aprotectionary act m ay be accepted if it aim s to save the interests of ALL stakeholders, not som e of them only , particularly , investors and/or senior m anagers. Irrespective of the counter argum ents, protectionism m ay be hailed by a HEI’s society when it defends its interests, provided that the HEI itself acts within the fram ework of the effective regulations as well, that is, the regulations legislated by the country’s regulating authorities, the MoHE and OAC in the Sultanate of Om an. � 8
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