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[DISCUSSION] Revisiting the topic of higher education
Topic Started: Jun 18 2015, 08:25:23 AM (66 Views)
Gnejs
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*Permanent Representative Nicho Thistle from the Prosaic Union takes the floor, marking their first addressal*

Ärade representanter, esteemed ambassadors

We call upon the CIDUS to revisit the topic of higher education.

We have been made aware of this council's earlier debate regarding this, as introduced by the honorable Festive Old Folkian ambassador here.

We now bring forth a series of related suggestions, which we would like to be discussed amongst our members before the eventual commencement of proposal writing.

Provisionally, we would like to see a proposal like this institute the establishment of a CIDUS student exchange program. We propose that participation within this program is binding for all CIDUS-members, meaning they all must allow for, and facilitate, the possibilities for domestic universities to enter into exchange cooperation agreements with other universities within the signatory states. The establishment of a CIDUS-grant for students taking part in the exchange program should also be a part of this. Funded by the CIDUS-member states, of course. The size of grants needs to be discussed. There will likely be differences between universities and states, some might provide free higher education, some might not, or perhaps there is a mixture. Eventual fees will most likely also vary.

As the previous debate in this chamber already has made clear, such a program would also necessitate a mechanism for establishing standards for university accreditation and domestic recognition of credits gained abroad. We would, however, like to bring to the floor a somewhat more radical proposal: the parallel establishment of an intra-regional grading and credit system, effectively bringing all the CIDUS-universities together under one common system. We believe the benefits of this would be substantial in lowering thresholds for both institutional cooperation, but also, more importantly, for students contemplating studies abroad. Although demanding to conceptualize, construct and eventually institute, we believe that in the end this would represent a lower bureaucratic burden on both institutions and students alike, allowing the exchange program to focus on its core aims, as opposed to administration. Although administration will always be a part of it, we harbor no illusions regarding this.

A secretariat of sorts for the program should also be established. Its tasks up for discussion.

In closing, such an exchange program will eventually need a name. As a first suggestion, we propose naming it the "Miervatia Student Exchange Program" in honor of Miervatia University in Mikitivity, a fellow IDU-member respected and beloved by all.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter.

*Thistle steps down*
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