Foreign Credentials Service: Frequently Asked Questions

The Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE)

The Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE) is an American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO) project. AACRAO is a nonprofit, voluntary, professional association of more than 9,000 higher education admissions and registration professionals who represent approximately 2,300 institutions in more than 35 countries. The goal of the EDGE project is to develop profiles of 120 of the world's educational systems that will enable credential evaluators to assess all but the most difficult foreign credentials they encounter. Furthermore, working in an electronic environment, evaluators will be able to readily access specific information concerning the credentials offered within each system and editors will be able, on an ongoing basis, to incorporate new information on educational systems as that information becomes available. The primary areas incorporated into the profiles will include:

An overview of the country's educational system;

An educational ladder;

Credentials offered by country;

The degrees or credentials required for access to each level;

What each credential leads to;

The grading scales associated with a country and tips on how to evaluate coursework from that country for transfer credit to U.S. institutions;

A listing of the resources utilized for the profile;

An advice to admissions officers section for each credential based on either the Council Placement recommendation (if applicable), or the Office of International Education Services (IES) of AACRAO's standing recommendation as approved by that office and three experts;

A sample image of the credential;

A listing of the accredited institutions in country or a link that lists them;

A glossary containing terms unique to a country's educational system.

We believe this is a comprehensive list of what needs to be included in order to evaluate credentials from other countries for placement in the United States but other sections may be added over time. One of the strengths of the system is that it allows for regular updates as information becomes available or as educational systems are modified. We are currently at version 1.0 and Korea, Malaysia and several other countries are ready for viewing.

Information on how to obtain author guidelines is included in this e-mail along with the next steps you need to take. It is our belief that over 90% of foreign credential evaluation related concerns and questions can be addressed when this system is fully built out. We are hoping that EDGE will be a very useful tool for anyone evaluating foreign credentials but should be particularly of help to those who are unfamiliar with credential evaluation or those who evaluate only occasionally. The clear and expository inclusion of standards should be of considerable utility to universities and should help make their international admissions systems function efficiently and consistently

Click here to view the beta version of EDGE.

William J. Paver, Ph.D
Project Director
billpaver@fcsa.biz

FCSA
1910 Justin Lane
Austin, Tx 78757-2411
512.459.8428
FAX 512.459.4565
info@fcsa.biz

FCSA West
798 Lighthouse Avenue #140
Monterery, CA 93940-1010
831.372.1466
FAX 831.372.1441

The Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE)

Copyright 2002 FCSA