Staying Ahead of the Curve: Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape of Credential Evaluation
Keeping up-to-date with advancements in technology, pedagogical approaches, and emerging academic disciplines is crucial for credential evaluators. Regular updates, training, incorporating new research, methodologies, new verification methods, and best practices are essential for maintaining fairness, accuracy, efficiency, productivity, and overall quality in the assessment process.
Failure to stay up-to-date with evolving regulations may lead to improper evaluations, hindering individuals' educational and employment prospects. As an example, U.S. institutions often engage in collaborations and partnerships with educational institutions in other countries. Recent changes in U.S. accreditation regulations can impact the credibility and viability of such collaborations. Credential evaluators may need to reassess the value and recognition of credentials obtained through transnational education programs or partnerships with U.S. institutions to ensure they meet any accreditation requirements.
Progress in technology, particularly in online learning and virtual classrooms, has brought about a significant transformation in the education sector. With institutions increasingly offering online or blended learning options, it becomes important for credential evaluators to establish institutional policies that address the evaluation of studies completed at multiple schools within a single semester/year. On a different technological front, the growing prevalence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a fresh challenge for credential evaluators: the emergence of AI-driven fraud. As technology continues to evolve, it becomes crucial for evaluators to remain vigilant and adapt their methodologies to effectively identify and prevent this new form of fraudulent activity.
Staying informed about global events is also important for anticipating an influx of applicants from specific regions. In the past, conflicts and instability in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia have led to mass displacement of populations. Similarly, economic hardships in Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and Haiti have also driven people to seek better opportunities elsewhere. Being aware of these issues helps evaluators update their verification methods and adopt best practices.
Whilst there is no single approach to staying current, there are several options available for most credential evaluators. One approach is to attend conferences, workshops, and webinars relevant to the field. Another is to join industry-specific associations and network at events to connect with peers and experts. Engaging in online communities, forums, and discussion groups can provide valuable insights and foster idea exchange. Subscribing to publications, newsletters, blogs, and podcasts that offer updates on trends, innovations, and best practices is also beneficial. Additionally, utilizing the multitude of online resources, research papers, whitepapers, and industry reports helps individuals stay current on emerging trends and technologies.
It is of utmost importance for evaluators to adopt a proactive approach to continuously updating their skills and practices. By doing so, evaluators can more effectively navigate the ever-changing landscape of education and qualifications to ensure the integrity of the credential evaluation process. Staying updated and adaptable allows evaluators to stay ahead of emerging challenges, embrace new technologies, and provide accurate and equitable evaluations to individuals. By upholding high standards and remaining vigilant, evaluators play a vital role in supporting individuals' educational and professional aspirations, ultimately contributing to the advancement of global education systems.
Olivea is the Assistant Director at Transcript Research, a private foreign credential evaluation company in Dallas, Texas. She is a strong advocate for educational equality and is passionate about making positive changes in the international credential evaluation profession.
Olivea regularly contributes her knowledge and voice to the global education community and has been published in resources including the NAFSA Online Guide to Educational Systems and TAICEP Talk. She has presented at regional, national, and global conferences on country education system updates, credential verification best practices, global secondary education systems, resource collection and management, and training new international credential evaluators.