Beginning the assessment institute and building global networks

The globalization of science and scholarship and the worldwide massification of post-secondary/tertiary education is creating an atmosphere that is at once competitive between and collaborative among colleges and universities. Because of the importance of these institutions to the shared economic futures of individuals and countries, there are increasing concerns on the part of many stakeholders related to quality, particularly as institutions create collaborative relationships that span international boarders. This focus has led to an amplified emphasis on accountability, most notably through standards and testing. While no one system of quality assurance and accountability is perfect, global universities have much to learn from each other. The purpose of this article is to present a rationale and description for a transatlantic institute for assessment in higher education, offering participants the opportunity to discuss these issues and to begin the development of an international network of assessment and evaluation specialists that integrate with the global academic system.