Global credit transfer

A WORLDWIDE network of major research universities is to draw up plans for its own credit-transfer scheme within the next six months.

The Universitas 21 group decided at its second annual conference in Glasgow and Edinburgh universities to investigate how such a scheme would operate among members in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States and United Kingdom. Experts from Glasgow and Nottingham universities will lead the investigation, in recognition of the knowledge gained through Scotland's pioneering SCOTCAT credit accumulation and transfer scheme and European exchanges.

Sir Graeme Davies, principal of Glasgow University, said: "One scheme will be to look at the way in which we can generate a portability of qualifications, particularly professional qualifications which have a true international currency."

The group may also set up technology transfer units to help commercialise research from members in other countries. Alan Gilbert, vice-chancellor of Melbourne University, where Universitas 21 was born, denied that this would hit home-grown research.