Program Schedule - 2018 TAICEP Conference

Instructions to print in chrome - To generate PDF, print the page and save it as PDF. To display images and colours properly enable `Background Graphics` option while printing. To remove URL and Page title from print page uncheck checkbox for headers & footers while printing.

Instructions to print in safari - To display images and colours properly enable Background images

Instructions to print in firefox - To display images and colours properly enable `Print Background (colors & images)`. To remove url from print page, Go to Page Setup item on the menu, and then select the Margins & Header/Footer tab in the dialog and change the drop-down to set the Title and URL to –blank–.

Monday, October 01, October 01, 2018
07:15AM - 05:00PM 3rd Floor Lobby	Conference Registration
08:00AM - 12:00 Noon Concerto A	Understanding Secondary School Examinations Format : Morning Pre-Conference Workshop Speakers Aleksandar Popovski, President, Ucredo LLC Charlotte Fletcher, Global Connect Manager, UK NARIC Internal and external examinations are an integral part of assessing a student's academic achievement at the secondary school level in many countries. This workshop will provide an introduction to these examinations, assessment systems, and verification of results. This workshop is mandatory for anyone pursuing the TAICEP Secondary School Certificate. Please note that each preconference workshop is a separate ticketed event that can be purchased along with your conference registration.
08:00AM - 05:00PM Aria A	Developing Skills in Credential Evaluation: A Practical Introduction to the Criteria and Procedures Format : Full Day Pre-Conference Workshop Speakers Bernard Ramos, Director Of Evaluations, Educational Perspectives, Nfp Jessica Stannard, Policy Advisor, Nuffic This workshop will introduce the basics of comparative education and common guidelines found in evaluating credentials. Comparative education, documentation, characteristics of fraudulent documents, grade and credit conversions and recognition and accreditation will also be discussed. There will be ample time for group work and discussions. Please note that each preconference workshop is a separate ticketed event that can be purchased along with your conference registration.
08:00AM - 05:00PM Aria B	Toolkit for Recognition of Education for Refugees and Displaced Persons Format : Full Day Pre-Conference Workshop Speakers Gayane Harutyunyan, Director, National Information Center For Academic Recognition And Mobility Marina Malgina, Head Of Section, NOKUT Silvia Bianco, Senior Adviser, CIMEA - NARIC Italia
10:15AM - 10:30AM Assembly Foyer	Refreshment Break
12:00 Noon - 01:00PM	Lunch on your own
01:00PM - 05:00PM Concerto A	Non-Academic and Non-Traditional Secondary School Credentials Format : Afternoon Pre-Conference Workshop Speakers Ildiko Bors, Senior Credentials Analyst, SpanTran: The Evaluation Company Shamsh Chowdhury, Director Of Operations, SpanTran: The Evaluation Company Not all secondary school programs are academic. This workshop will focus on non-academic and non-traditional secondary school credentials, including vocational, para-professional, adult education, home school, and apprenticeships. This workshop is mandatory for anyone pursuing the TAICEP Secondary School Certificate. Please note that each preconference workshop is a separate ticketed event that can be purchased along with your conference registration.
03:15PM - 03:30PM	Refreshment Break

Tuesday, October 02, October 02, 2018
07:15AM - 08:15AM Symphony Ballroom	Breakfast
07:15AM - 05:00PM 3rd Floor Lobby	Conference Registration
08:00AM - 05:00PM Next to registration area	Exhibitors
08:30AM - 09:45AM Symphony Ballroom	Conference Welcome and Opening Plenary 2018 Plenary Speaker Rajika Bhandari is the Senior Advisor, Research and Strategy and Director, IIE Center for Academic Mobility Research, where she provides strategic oversight of research, evaluation and thought leadership activities, and leads the Open Doors and Project Atlas projects on international high education mobility. Dr. Bhandari is a frequent speaker and widely published author on global student mobility with six books on the subject, including one on educational exchanges between the U.S. and India. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Psychology from Indraprastha College, University of Delhi, India.
09:45AM - 10:15AM Overture	Refreshment Break
10:15AM - 11:30AM Concerto A	Is This Really a Chinese Credential? Format : Breakout Session Speakers Annetta Stroud, Associate Director For Training And Program Development, AACRAO Julia Funaki, Associate Director, AACRAO Taught in China, transcripted in China, but is it a Chinese credential? In this session, the presenters will take a hands-on approach to reviewing several credentials from China that “look Chinese”, but are they really? Learn what questions to ask and where to find answers, as you hone your research, analysis and information-sharing skills to determine what these credentials are and are not.
10:15AM - 11:30AM Concerto B	AACRAO Cuba Project Presents: Secondary Education in Cuba Format : Breakout Session Speakers Chris Adams, Assistant Director Of Operations, International Admissions, Indiana University Garrett Seelinger, Team Lead/Senior Evaluator, NAIA/InCred Janine Pacheco, Program Manager, International Admissions, University Of New Mexico Martha Van Devender, Senior Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Melanie Gottlieb, Deputy Director, AACRAO Join participants from the AACRAO Cuba research group to learn more about the educational system of Cuba. Our goal is to share our knowledge. This session will focus on secondary education. Learn about our February 2018 trip to Cuba, along with an overview of various secondary credentials, including technical programs. We will also discuss reforms that impact this tier of education and curricula. ¡Todos son bienvenidos!
10:15AM - 11:30AM Aria A	The Educational System of Scotland Format : Breakout Session Speakers Alistair Wylie, Head Of Qualifications, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Kate Freeman, Senior Credentials Analyst, SpanTran: The Evaluation Company The educational system of Scotland is not the same as the rest of the United Kingdom, and has undergone significant changes in the past 20 years, especially at the secondary school level. This session will review all levels of education in Scotland, from primary through graduate study.
11:30AM - 11:45AM	Networking Break
11:45AM - 01:00PM Symphony Ballroom	Lunch
01:00PM - 02:15PM Aria A	AACRAO Cuba Project Presents: Post-Secondary Education in Cuba Format : Breakout Session Speakers Aleksander Morawski, Director Of Evaluation Services, Foreign Credits Inc. Martha Van Devender, Senior Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Melanie Gottlieb, Deputy Director, AACRAO Patrick Leahy, International Credential Analyst, Michigan State University Tanya Delgado, Admissions Team Administrator/Evaluator, University Of South Florida Join participants from the AACRAO Cuba research group to learn more about the educational system of Cuba. Our goal is to share our knowledge. This session will focus on post-secondary education. Learn about our February 2018 trip to Cuba, along with an overview of various university credentials, with special emphasis on the health sciences. We will also discuss educational reforms and curricula. ¡Todos son bienvenidos!
01:00PM - 02:15PM Aria B	Update on Bologna in Africa Format : Breakout Session Speakers Cecilia George, Senior Credential Evaluator, Swedish Council For Higher Education Margaret Wenger, Senior Director Of Evaluation, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Michel Bédard, Analyste En éducation International, Ministère De L'Immigration, De La Diversité Et De L'Inclusion Du Québec In this session the presenters will describe the adoption of the Bologna process in Africa with area overviews, and specific countries as examples. The presenters will give an overview of the Bologna characteristics (three cycles, ECTS credits, quality assurance, national qualification frameworks, and the Lisbon Recognition Convention and how they have been adapted in Africa.
01:00PM - 02:15PM Concerto A	Building a Resource Library Format : Breakout Session Speakers Peggy Hendrickson, Director, Transcript Research This session corresponds to the multi-part series on "Building a Resource Library" that has appeared over 2017 and 2018 in the TAICEP Talk Newsletter. This session hits the highlights on building a resource library, including the importance of it, strategies for building it, and some of the best resources. This complements "Resources from the Resource for Members Committee" session, but focuses more on building, organizing, and stocking the resource library with sample credentials, glossaries, and more. If you want to organize your information so it's readily at your fingertips, this is the session for you!
01:00PM - 02:15PM Concerto B	Vulnerable and At-risk Populations: Who is Doing What and How Format : Breakout Session Speakers Amy Ullrich, Senior Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Annetta Stroud, Associate Director For Training And Program Development, AACRAO With the world’s population currently on the move, those of us interpreting its education can certainly run into some roadblocks. This engaging and interactive session will include an overview of challenges encountered by credential evaluators and admissions representatives when working with vulnerable and at-risk populations. Potential problems and hurdles will be discussed, along with how various organizations are working to provide solutions for these students. A round-table breakout discussion will follow the overview and include specific case studies to be discussed and analyzed.
02:15PM - 02:30PM	Networking Break
02:30PM - 03:30PM Aria A	Round Pegs, Square Holes, and Understanding Different Credential Evaluation Philosophies Format : Breakout Session Speakers Jasmin Saidi-Kuehnert, President & CEO, Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI) Melanie Gottlieb, Deputy Director, AACRAO Credential evaluation philosophies are challenged when a credential from a foreign educational system does not fit into the educational structure in the home country. Take three-year first-cycle degrees, for example, and their evaluation in the United States, land of the four-year bachelor’s degree and the autonomy of higher education institutions in making admissions decisions. This session will examine the credential evaluation philosophies of year-counting and benchmarking, and will explore the nuances of understanding, purpose of evaluation and fine-tuned judgment that come into play when they diverge and intersect.
02:30PM - 03:30PM Aria B	Jeopardy! Credential Evaluator Edition Format : Breakout Session Speakers Ally Brinzea, Credentials Analyst, Sr. , Indiana University Bloomington Sarah Hulen, Credentials Analyst, Indiana University Bloomington Here’s your chance to test and expand your professional knowledge base! Alex Trebek won’t be on hand, but Indiana University’s team of credential analysts will give you the clues in the form of answers. Take what you do on an everyday basis in the office and compete against other teams as we jump from country to country with facts and credentials information. The pressure is on now - who will win honor and glory? Can your team come up with the correct questions?
02:30PM - 03:30PM Concerto B	Careers in International Credential Evaluation Format : Breakout Session Speakers Bernard Ramos, Director Of Evaluations, Educational Perspectives, Nfp Jeanie Bell, Sr. Asst. Director Of International Admissions , University Of Colorado Boulder Patrick Leahy, International Credential Analyst, Michigan State University What does a career in international credential evaluation look like? What steps should one take to start or develop a career? This session will feature panelists who are at the early, middle, and late stages of the profession and who work at a non-profit organization as well as higher education institutions. Each will reflect on their work experiences, particularly how they became involved in the field, the opportunities which have supported their professional growth, and their current job-related activities. Panelists will also offer advice for those seeking a career in international credential evaluation
03:30PM - 04:00PM Overture	Refreshment Break
04:00PM - 05:00PM Aria A	Developing Tailored and Nuanced Information to Meet Different User Needs: a UK Case Study Format : Breakout Session Speakers Charlotte Fletcher, Global Connect Manager, UK NARIC In UK NARIC’s role supporting the UK Home Office on immigration applications, trade and professional bodies on identifying appropriate competences for work, and advising UK universities and colleges on the suitability of international qualifications for admission, it receives over 125,000 enquiries from all countries annually. To manage this and provide recognition of all types of qualifications, UK NARIC has had to develop a number of appropriate tailored processes and resources to support its work. This session highlights the different ways in which the LRC can be applied to evaluate different types of qualifications depending on sector requirements.
04:00PM - 05:00PM Aria B	Vocational Tracks for International Student-Athletes Format : Breakout Session Speakers Garrett Seelinger, Team Lead/Senior Evaluator, NAIA/InCred Vocational programs are common among international freshman and transfer student applicants for athletic eligibility in the U.S. This session will explore a sampling of vocational education tracks that have been pursued by prospective international student-athletes. It will focus on evaluating vocational high school graduation, advanced standing credit, and transfer credit for two-year post-secondary vocational programs. Particular attention will be paid to difficult distinctions between advanced secondary programs and post-secondary education.
04:00PM - 05:00PM Concerto A	Whose Reality Counts? Evaluation of Qualifications from Unrecognized and Disputed Territories Format : Breakout Session Speakers Marina Malgina, Head Of Section, NOKUT Tatiana McKenna, Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Unrecognized states such as Transnistria, North Ossetia, Abkhasia, Eastern Ukraine, and Crimea have been a consistent feature of the political landscape for years. While international law points both to the rights of peoples and states, the argument for territorial integrity usually wins. What kind of approaches and solutions can be applied for evaluation of qualifications coming from such territories? This session provides practical examples and discussion on possible solutions for applicants with qualifications from unrecognized and disputed states.
04:00PM - 05:00PM Concerto B	Would You Recognize a MOOC If You Saw One? Format : Breakout Session Speakers Jessica Stannard, Policy Advisor, Nuffic Professionals in the field of higher education have been hearing about Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) for several years now, but have you ever been called upon to evaluate them for transfer credit? If the answer is “yes”, have you come up with an evaluation methodology or do you dismiss them as non-formal learning? During this session we will look at what is being offered, in what form, and by whom. An important goal of the session is to see if we can come up with guidelines on if and under what conditions credit can be granted for this type of learning.
06:00PM - 08:00PM Balcony Restaurant	Conference Reception Join your fellow conference attendees for hot and cold hors d’ouerves and drinks. The cost of this reception is included in your registration fees. There will be a cash bar for beer, wine and mixed drinks. In case of inclement weather, this event will be in the Balcony Restaurant on the mezzanine level of the hotel.

Wednesday, October 03, October 03, 2018
07:15AM - 08:15AM Symphony Ballroom	Breakfast
08:00AM - 12:00 Noon 3rd Floor Lobby	Conference Registration
08:00AM - 05:00PM Next to registration area	Exhibitors
08:30AM - 09:45AM Aria A	Admission to Higher Education: Determining the Suitability and Ability of Students from Nigeria and the UK Format : Breakout Session Speakers Charlotte Fletcher, Global Connect Manager, UK NARIC How do we determine if a student is suitable for admission, in the broadest sense of suitability and ability? With an ever-increasing number of international students, and an ever-widening market for them to choose from, it is imperative that we fully understand the characteristics of the education system in which they studied. This session focuses on looking at the education systems, main qualifications, and issues of institutional recognition. Cultural, regulatory, and subject-specific issues that may arise when considering students from these countries are addressed.
08:30AM - 09:45AM Aria B	Data Privacy Regulations in the United States, Canada, and for EU Citizens Format : Breakout Session Speakers Julia Funaki, Associate Director, AACRAO LesLee Clauson Eicher, Associate Director, AACRAO Saran Ragunathan, Policy Analyst, Ontario College Of Teachers Collecting personal data from forms and documents obligates our organizations to follow applicable personal data privacy protection laws. This session will provide general updates on regulations that govern the protection of personal information, including FERPA (US federal educational record law), the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canadian federal privacy law), and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Ontario privacy law).
08:30AM - 09:45AM Concerto B	Títulos, Técnicos, and Estudios Totales: Education in México Format : Breakout Session Speakers Karen Krug, Research & Knowledge Management Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a carta de pasante and a título? What an RVOE is and how to find out if a program has it or whether a técnico program is secondary or post-secondary? This session offers an overview of the Mexican educational system and its documents. We'll review common Mexican terminology, including terms that can easily be misinterpreted in English and how some terms may differ from other Latin American countries. We'll also examine secondary, vocational, and post-secondary documents, credits and grades, and check out resources for recognition and verification.
08:30AM - 09:45AM Concerto A	Diversity in Africa: A Multitude of Secondary Credentials Format : Breakout Session Speakers Martha Van Devender, Senior Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) With the sheer number of countries in Africa, learning about the educational systems of each one can be a daunting task. However, common colonial histories have created patterns and similarities among their educational systems, particularly at the secondary level. In this session, we will compare sample academic documents from across the region to explore these typologies. Attendees will learn how manageable these credentials can be, even if they are brand new to you.
09:45AM - 10:15AM Overture	Refreshment Break
10:15AM - 11:30AM Aria B	Is this University Recognized? An Introduction to Best Practices in Determining Institutional Recognition Status Format : Breakout Session Speakers LesLee Clauson Eicher, Associate Director, AACRAO In this session, you will be introduced to best practices in confirming whether a higher education institution (HEI) is “recognized”, whether it has a status in its location that is comparable to the status of HEIs in your location that are legally authorized to provide higher education and award degrees. We will first define “recognition” and learn about statutes, regulations, laws and quality assurance bodies that determine and regulate the recognition status of institutions. Then we will explore resources for determining institutional status in countries around the world.
10:15AM - 11:30AM Concerto A	Perspectives, Policies, and Post-Secondary Degrees: Evaluating How U.S. Universities Review Post-Secondary Credentials Format : Breakout Session Speakers Amanda Holder, Assistant Director Of International Graduate Admissions, IUPUI Chris Adams, Assistant Director Of Operations, International Admissions, Indiana University Institutions in the U.S. generally review graduate applicants for U.S. bachelor degree equivalency before admitting them to a program of study. This term can have different meanings based on which institution, department, or office is reviewing files, so what does it actually mean? We will be discussing general ideas regarding this topic, as well as presenting more detailed ways to address the question of whether, or not, a student should be considered U.S. bachelor’s equivalent. Due to a lack of consensus
10:15AM - 11:30AM Concerto B	Remote Work Roundtable Format : Breakout Session Speakers Karen Krug, Research & Knowledge Management Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Margaret Donaldson, Senior Evaluator, VP Of Marketing, Global Credential Evaluators, Inc. Marshall Houserman, Director Of Admissions, UIC Global Martha Van Devender, Senior Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Olivea Dodson, Senior Evaluator, Transcript Research Working remotely is seen as an important employee benefit, as it can greatly improve the life-work balance. However, it can be challenging with a research-intensive job like credential evaluation. How do you view the educational documents? What resources do you need? How do you stay in touch with your co-workers? How do you convince your family that you are actually working? Join our panel of evaluation professionals with remote work experience to learn what works, what doesn't, and how to incorporate remote work into your job.
11:30AM - 11:45AM	Networking Break
11:45AM - 01:00PM Symphony Ballroom	Lunch
01:00PM - 02:00PM Aria A	The New European Education Area: What's In a Name? Format : Breakout Session Speakers Bas Wegewijs, Team Leader, Nuffic TAICEP members have heard of the European Higher Education Area that was established in 1998, but did you know that in 2018 the European Commission is launching new plans for a European Education Area (EEA)? The EEA has ambitious goals for the automatic recognition of qualifications within the EU region. This session will provide an update of the main goals of the EEA agenda, illustrated with practical examples. After a presentation on the new developments, the audience will be invited to discuss the advantages of this new initiative for credential evaluation in Europe and other regions in the world.
01:00PM - 02:00PM Aria B	Evaluation Resources: Before the Internet, There Were….. Books! Format : Breakout Session Speakers Emily Tse, Director Of Evaluations, International Education Research Foundation (IERF) Michel Bédard, Analyste En éducation International, Ministère De L'Immigration, De La Diversité Et De L'Inclusion Du Québec Nancy Katz, Director, Evaluation Service, Inc. Nobody wants to kill trees and dedicate space to storing paper any more, but if your work involves evaluating older credentials, sometimes the only information you will find is in printed resources and correspondence that predate the electronic era. This interactive session will be an opportunity to share notes about the “must have” print resources of years past, reasons to keep/acquire them, where to find them, and how to manage them in an electronic environment. Bring a printout of your top 10 favorite paper-based resources and we’ll party like it’s 1999 (1989, 1979, 1969...)!
01:00PM - 02:00PM Concerto A	Recognition of Vocational Education and Training (VET) Qualifications: New and Innovative Ways of Approaching Credential Evaluation in Norway Format : Breakout Session Speakers Sigurd Thorsen, Adviser, NOKUT Silje Molander, Head Of Section, NOKUT This presentation will go in-depth into the methodology of NOKUTs recognition of VET qualifications as seen from the case handler's perspective. The method involves an evaluation of the scope, level and vocational content of qualifications. What a case handler does in each of the assessment stages and how the precedent database is being developed and used, will be presented. A challenge in this evaluation process is to find reliable sources from different historical periods. The presentation will elaborate on the office processes and information management systems, and suggests potential ways of handling and sharing this digital information.
01:00PM - 02:00PM Concerto B	Introduction and Update on TAICEP’s Certification Program Format : Breakout Session Speakers Aleksandar Popovski, President, Ucredo LLC Kate Freeman, Senior Credentials Analyst, SpanTran: The Evaluation Company Marianne Tompkins-Carter, Manager, Evaluation Services, Ontario College Of Teachers Members of TAICEP’s Certification Committee will provide an update on TAICEP’s Certification Program, including the Foundation Certificate that is in its second year and the Secondary School Certificate that was introduced earlier in 2018.
02:00PM - 02:15PM	Networking Break
02:15PM - 03:15PM Aria B	Resources from the RMC: A Useful Guide for Creating and Organizing a Reference Library in the Digital Age Format : Breakout Session Speakers Anu Soin, Research / Assessment Officer, ICAS International Credential Assessment Service Of Canada Chris Adams, Assistant Director Of Operations, International Admissions, Indiana University Peggy Hendrickson, Director, Transcript Research The Resources for Members Committee (RMC) has dedicated itself to providing quality resources for TAICEP members, including extensive lists of reference materials, a verification database that is regularly updated, a companion webinar, the TAICEP Talk Newsletter, and more. Now we want to explore some of these available resources such as online databases, country profiles, publications, and others that we've compiled for you. We will discuss different uses of resources based on user (admissions vs assessment agency). We’ll also summarize some of our suggestions for tracking and storing information which will allow members to keep their library current and relevant.
02:15PM - 03:15PM Concerto A	Insights Into Managing a Credentialing Team Successfully Format : Breakout Session Speakers Emily Tse, Director Of Evaluations, International Education Research Foundation (IERF) George Kacenga, Executive Director Of Global Engagement, Purdue Univer Managerial roles can be both challenging and rewarding, no matter what area one supervises. This may be an admissions or evaluation office within a larger institution or a stand-alone agency. Frequently, lack of resources, whether in terms of budget or personnel, can make it difficult for managers. Often, such teams tend to be structured linearly, providing limited opportunities within the organization, which can lead to high turnover rates, posing further challenges. The presenters will discuss some of the successful strategies they have used to hire staff, motivate and challenge them, and provide them with professional development opportunities in the field.
02:15PM - 03:15PM Concerto B	Authentication and Official Documents in the Digital Age Format : Breakout Session Speakers Ildiko Bors, Senior Credentials Analyst, SpanTran: The Evaluation Company Sulaf Al-Shaikhly, Advanced Evaluation Specialist, World Education Services Authentication of academic documents is a very important aspect of credential evaluation. In the digital age, it is ever more challenging to detect fraud, and there is more of a push to utilize electronic means of delivery. It is also challenging to establish guidelines and best practices as to when electronic document submission can be accepted and what types of online resources can be used for authentication/verification. In this session, different authentication methods will be introduced, including verification, official documents from institutions (, apostille procedure, legalization, and third-party verification services.
03:15PM - 03:45PM Overture	Refreshment Break
03:45PM - 04:30PM Symphony Ballroom	TAICEP Open Meeting This is your time to give feedback to TAICEP leadership about the conference and the organization.
04:30PM - 05:00PM Symphony Ballroom	TAICEP Business Meeting TAICEP leadership will report on the state of the organization, including organization finances, strategic plan, and proposed changes to the by-laws While all conference attendees are encouraged to attend the business meeting, only eligible TAICEP members may participate in any voting that may occur.

Thursday, October 04, October 04, 2018
07:15AM - 08:15AM Symphony Ballroom	Breakfast
08:30AM - 09:45AM Aria A	Más Allá de lo Inicial: Una Mirada Avanzada a la Educación Mexicana Format : Breakout Session Speakers Barbara Glave, Researcher, Evaluator, Translator, SDR Educational Consultants And Credential Consultants Translations Beyond timelines, system structures, and verifying cédulas online, this session is designed for those who are very familiar with Mexican education, yet might benefit from understanding CCT or CURP; confirming program accreditation and loss thereof; verifying CCT, CURP, RVOE and apostilles online; discussing the plethora of online programs, whether secondary or tertiary; sharing institutional decisions regarding CENEVAL; reviewing post-técnico completion degrees; and acknowledging that undergraduate degrees are based on credits, not years of study. Other topics may be suggested by session participants and/or may arise due to innovations in Mexican utilization of distance education.
08:30AM - 09:45AM Aria B	Translating and Transliterating Format : Breakout Session Speakers Peggy Hendrickson, Director, Transcript Research One of the challenges of credentials evaluation is working with documents in different languages. The more you rely on a translation, the more opportunities there are for you to be misled, through faulty or interpretive translations, or inadvertently. Credentials evaluators need to read native language documents and identify common characteristics, words or characters, and more. This is harder when the alphabet used is different than your own, and you cannot easily type things into an online translator. In this session, we will explore some of the strategies for transliterating from a different alphabet such as the Latin alphabet to Cyrillic.
08:30AM - 09:45AM Concerto A	Facilitating Admission of Refugee Students to Higher Education - Examples from USA, Turkey and Norway Format : Breakout Session Speakers Jeanie Bell, Sr. Asst. Director Of International Admissions , University Of Colorado Boulder Marina Malgina, Head Of Section, NOKUT Marybeth Gruenewald, Director Of Global Initiatives, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) Refugees and vulnerable migrants, especially those without proper documentation of their qualifications, are at a disadvantage within both the labor and higher education markets. This panel session directly refers to the specific topic of improving the situation of refugee students concerning their integration into the higher education institutions, and will present best practices that have been tested in the U.S., Turkey and Norway in the evaluation of educational background and admission of refugee students to higher education institutions.
08:30AM - 09:45AM Concerto B	The Experience of the Swedish ENIC-NARIC in Dealing with Fraudulent Credentials: The Case of the Middle East with a Focus on Syria Format : Breakout Session Speakers Adnan Dautbegovic, Credential Evaluator, Swedish Council For Higher Education Samir Gabro, Credential Evaluator, Swedish Council For Higher Education This session will provide you with tools for establishing an efficient anti-fraudulent unit within your agency including instructions, guidelines and computer software. In addition, tips and tricks for spotting fraud in foreign credentials with a focus on credentials awarded in the Middle East will be addressed, with a special attention on credentials awarded in Syria.
09:45AM - 10:15AM Overture	Refreshment Break
10:15AM - 11:30AM Aria B	Nǐ Hǎo from Norway and Sweden: Best Practices for Evaluating Chinese Credentials Format : Breakout Session Speakers Åse Rislund, Credential Evaluator, Swedish Council For Higher Education Dongdong Meng, Adviser, NOKUT Marybeth Gruenewald, Director Of Global Initiatives, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) The ENIC-NARIC offices of Norway (NOKUT) and Sweden (UHR) have a wide experience with evaluation of Chinese documents and have different approaches on how to recognize Chinese credentials. This session will share their unique best for the assessment and recognition of Chinese credentials. NOKUT and UHR’s distinct recognition procedures, including institutional and programmatic accreditation, document requirements, verification procedures, and online databases, will be explored. Attendees will be able to compare and contrast these two different approaches to the evaluation of Chinese academic documents to their own processes and procedures.
10:15AM - 11:30AM Concerto A	Climbing the Ladder: How 3 Professionals Are Navigating Careers in Higher Education Format : Breakout Session Speakers Ally Brinzea, Credentials Analyst, Sr. , Indiana University Bloomington Chris Adams, Assistant Director Of Operations, International Admissions, Indiana University Rachel Salinas, Associate Director, International Admissions, Indiana University Bloomington Many individuals happen upon the field of international credential evaluation and enjoy what they do day-to-day, but where do they go from there? Three representatives from a US institution - all involved with international credential evaluation at differing levels, from data entry to higher administration - will discuss their career paths and mobility within the field of international education. What opportunities are there for evaluators to develop and grow into different positions? What skills are required for those who would like to explore other areas of the same general career path?
10:15AM - 11:30AM Concerto B	Game of Ministries Format : Breakout Session Speakers Kurt Baumbach, Director Of Evaluation And Translation Services, Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. Laura Dirvonskyte, Credential Evaluator, CIMEA - NARIC Italia Olivea Dodson, Senior Evaluator, Transcript Research Tatiana McKenna, Evaluator, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) After the collapse of the USSR, the countries of the former Soviet Union established their own Ministries of Education. Despite their common history, each country now has a unique system of education in terms of educational structure, language of instruction, institutional recognition, and other factors. When searching for specific educational information, we are overwhelmed by the wealth of information stored in the ministerial websites. How do we search for lists of accredited recognized institutions, quality assurance bodies and online verification databases in various languages? These questions are always on the agenda of evaluators working with former Soviet countries.
10:15AM - 11:30AM Aria A	The Recognition of Foreign Vocational Education and Training (VET) Qualifications and Their Relevance to the Labor Market Format : Breakout Session Speakers Sigurd Thorsen, Adviser, NOKUT Silje Molander, Head Of Section, NOKUT Marie-Claire Von Radetzky, Researcher, German Economic Institute Germany and Norway have established recognition schemes for foreign vocational education and training (VET) qualifications. The presentation will show how the countries developed their methodology and evaluation practices in this area. Furthermore the speakers will give practical insights in the different practices of evaluating the content of VET qualifications. A key element in the recognition process of VET qualifications is the close link to the labour market. Tripartite cooperation structures and the involvement of professional chambers play a major role in this context. The session will also focus on the “end users” (companies, applicants, refuges) and their great benefits.
11:30AM - 12:00 Noon Symphony Ballroom	Conference Closing
12:00 Noon - 12:30PM 3rd Floor Lobby	Conference Attendance Certificate Pick Up