In this article we follow the journey of Vimi Lockmun Bissessur, a DAAD alumni, whose participation in the Training in Internal Quality Assurance (TrainIQA) programme unlocked exciting opportunities for her future.
To say the least – it was an unexpected journey that took unanticipated turns. And I have not looked back since.
At the beginning of the third quarter of 2020, I submitted my application for the Training in Internal Quality Assurance – TrainIQA program that was being offered in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The program was also known as SADC-QA.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA), and the University of Potsdam (UP) were partnering to offer the DIES TrainIQA as a component of the DIES program (Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies), which aims to enhance higher education in developing countries. DIES is a collaborative effort between DAAD and HRK, funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) (SADC-QA, 2023).
TrainIQA is very relevant in SADC, where dynamic changes are taking place, marked by a rising demand for education and a rise in student enrollments. SADC is committed to providing inclusive, high-quality education, lowering educational inequities, stimulating innovation, and equipping students to tackle future challenges (SADC, 2022).
There is currently a drive towards the alignment of Southern African higher education systems with continental and regional frameworks, promoting harmonization, academic comparability, student and academic mobility, and cross-border educational collaboration (SADC-QA, 2023). The aim is to enhance international competitiveness in the region’s higher education. To achieve this, robust internal and external quality assurance systems are essential for building trust and transparency.
TrainIQA is an example of North-South collaboration that strengthens national QA capabilities and boosts networking and dialogue among higher education institutions, stakeholders, and partners regionally and beyond (SADC-QA, 2023).
It is also an initiative that is aligned with the Incheon Declaration Framework and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). They both highlight the critical part that inclusive, equitable quality education and life-long learning opportunities play in achieving sustainable development and advocate for strong global and regional collaborations, cooperation, and coordination for the successful implementation of Agenda 2030 (UNESCO, 2016).
Such a program looked interesting and relevant to my job, as Head of Quality Assurance at Université des Mascareignes, a fast-emerging young public University in Mauritius, a small island state within SADC.
I did not have too much time to think about the outcome – until the positive letter came that I had been selected for TrainIQA 2020. I was happy, of course! But little did I know then of how immensely rewarding this opportunity would be…
The TrainIQA program I was enrolled in started in 2020. And 2020 was definitely not one of those years one thinks one would see in a lifetime. Because COVID hit. Full swing. The three sessions that were supposed to happen in person in two SADC countries and in Germany had to be shifted online. The organizers and the participants were disheartened that all three 1-week sessions had to take place virtually. In retrospect, I think that, at the time, no one was quite sure how the online sessions would work out. Whether it would actually work and succeed in maintaining the interest and commitment of participants. Whether keeping it online for three successive workshops of five full intense days each would be able to create enduring bonds between the trainers and the participants.
To the organizers’ and the participants’ pleasant surprise, all three sessions, which took place in November 2020, May 2021, and November 2021 turned out to be a resounding success! Though, admittedly, it was not easy to stay in front of a screen for five consecutive full days for every workshop, the engagement of the participants and trainers made it all worthwhile. But it has to be said – the whole TrainIQA program was skillfully executed by the exceptionally dedicated team at the University of Potsdam, with whom it was an absolute joy to work with! Their guidance and unwavering commitment simplified the process significantly and made it look seamless.
Looking back, TrainIQA 2020-2021 feels like a hazy memory. But a happy hazy one. In fact, it was like a window to the outside world which opened during COVID. This has impacted my life in ways I would not have imagined at the time of application.
I graduated as a TrainIQA member in November 2021 and was grateful for multiple reasons. Despite my upbringing in Mauritius, my tertiary education in the United Kingdom, and over a decade of working abroad with different nationalities and different industries, I felt profoundly enriched by the vibrant, global, pluricultural, and multidisciplinary exchange of knowledge that took place. Precious international connections were forged with the organizers, mentors, trainers, and participants. Multiple didactical techniques were imparted through practical application. Institutional projects were successfully implemented with the guidance of our mentors and peers. Adding to my experience as Head of Quality at my institution, I grew even more proficient through the knowledge exchange that took place.
I am now a mentor for the SADC-QA 2023-2024 cohort. Working with partners who share similar values and collaborating to exchange the knowledge and experience we have accumulated over the years, is truly a wonderful and rewarding experience.
In a profound manner, the DIES program has empowered me to unlock a potential that I might not have otherwise realized. And I am sure that this holds true for quite a few of my peers.
Furthermore, the international connections made during the program have enabled collaborations at different levels, whether it be through joint mentoring, publications or research.
Additionally, together with another DIES alumnus from Middlesex University in Mauritius, we have secured a grant for National Multiplication Trainings (NMT) to be held in Mauritius in 2024. The NMT is a fundamental component of the DIES program. Its primary objective is to empower DIES alumni to serve as multipliers in higher education management, thereby fostering the long-term sustainability of DIES training initiatives. This program is overseen by the Center for Quality Development at the University of Potsdam in Germany (“Centre for Quality Development,” 2020). In that context, I, together with my DIES alumnus partner in Mauritius, attended an NMT Train the Trainer session in Berlin, Germany. We have teamed up with another colleague who was a senior member of the regulatory authority in Mauritius, along with a German partner as a mentor (who we met during the TrainIQA online training sessions). We will thus be carrying out capacity building workshops for the effective implementation of Quality Management Systems in HEIs with a focus on accreditation, audits, and internationalization as of early 2024. We do look forward to it with excitement and anticipation!
I need to add that I am also a researcher in Sustainability in Education. The DIES program has enabled me to meet seasoned researchers in this field with whom I have forged priceless collaborative partnerships.
It has now been almost three years since I enrolled in the DIES programme. Paradoxically though, it feels both like a long and a short time since it happened. For it has been such a transformative journey that has happened in this relatively short span. I have forged enduring connections and made priceless friendships that transcend international borders. My travels and interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds have gifted me with a treasure trove of unforgettable experiences. This journey has allowed me to both acquire and share my expertise with my SADC peers.
I cannot but be forever grateful for the visionaries who designed and implemented the DIES program. It truly comes from the heart…
Vimi Neeroo Lockmun-Bissessu
Head of Quality Assurance, Université des Mascareignes, MAURITIUS
References
“Centre for Quality Development.” (2020). DIES NMT Flyer 2020. https://static.daad.de/media/daad_de/pdfs_nicht_barrierefrei/infos-services-fuer-hochschulen/projektsteckbriefe/dies-nmt_poster.pdf
SADC-QA. (2023). TrainIQA. https://sadc-qa.org/article/about-the-project/About-the-project.html
SADC. (2022). SADC (Southern African Development Community) Towards a common future. https://www.sadc.int/
UNESCO. (2016). Education 2030 – Incheon Declaration Framework for Action for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4. 83. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002456/245656E.pdf
Wonderful