Digital Student Data Depositories Worldwide 2013 was held in Beijing
How to apply for universities easily? How to identify true or false qualifications? How to define the authenticity of overseas qualifications obtained by students? These headaches, for students, colleges and enterprises, are expected to be solved by cooperation and communication through global digital student data depositories. Digitized storage of student information has become a world trend.
Digital Student Data Depositories Worldwide 2013 was held in Beijing on April 9th . More than seventy Chinese and foreign representatives, from China, Netherland, the United States, Britain, France, India, Mexico and other 18 countries and regions, attended the meeting . Most of them are leaders or representatives from professional organizations engaged in qualification verification and student information management. There are also leaders from AACRAO, EAIE and other international organizations and experts in information technology. They introduced practices and experiences in student information management and the relevant services, and discussed the mechanism of cooperation and communication of international student information service, so as to better satisfy the needs of students under the background of education globalization and the needs of talent flow.
It is reported that in 2011, there were 4.1 million students studying abroad, and that figure will reach 7 million in 2015. China has become the main sources of international students. At the same time, more international students are studying in China. When students apply for another university, they need to provide a lot of certificates and documents. If traditional paper is used, cumbersomeness and inefficiency could pop up, which could lead to errors. On the contrary, digital storage system can provide a fast, standardized, accurate, reliable and real service, which can greatly save time and reduce the cost.
Zhang Fengyou, director of CHESICC (China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center) introduced that the process of China higher education student information began in the early 1990s, and that with the development of information technology, student information are managed by networks instead of a single computer. In 2001, the Ministry of Education launched the registration system for electronic certificates , and thanks to ten years of efforts, dynamic and network management of higher students are achieved. CHESICC is the only MOE-authorized institution for higher education degree authentication. CHSI, the website launched by CHESICC, is the only MOE-authorized website for inquiring certificates of higher education. At the 10th anniversary of CHSI, the official English version of online verification was launched, which greatly facilitated the digital verification by overseas users.
Xie Hanlin, director of Administrative Office of Students Record and qualifications of Department of Student Affairs, MOE, China, introduced the management of higher education student information in China. The total number of various kinds of higher education qualifications since 1991, in the data base of higher education, has reached 106 million. All kinds of student information volume amounted to 720 million. Student information has played an important role in the fight against fake diplomas to standardize the behavior of universities and to promote the construction of college student credit system. It also supports the decision-making and social services. Besides, Ning Xiaohua, vice director of CHESICC, introduced the consulting services and certification system for China higher education student information. Zong Wa, vice secretary general of Chinese Association for International Understanding gave a brief on the international exchange of China Higher Education. Ming Tingxi, director of Overseas Academic Credential Evaluation Office Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, presented the current situation of academic degree certificates of overseas universities.
Mr Dik van der Wal from Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, Education Executive Agency of the ministry of Education, Culture and Science (DUO), introduced Dutch experience in electronic storage of student information, and advocated more countries to sign the Declaration of Groningen. The manifesto, published in 2012, mainly advocates international cooperation in the digital service of student information , in order to make student flow more efficient, convenient, and the relevant services more specified, obeying standards, and in better order.
The conference was held by CHESICC and Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, Education Executive Agency of the ministry of Education, Culture and Science(DUO), sponsored by National Student Clearinghouse, United States(NSC) and American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers(AACRAO). Based on delegates' introductions, China and America take the lead in the field of higher education student information. Even though modes in different countries vary from each other, all countries attache great importance to students' information, in order to meet the needs of the internationalization of education.