Panel Session 5：Building a Trust Network in International Education through Overseas Credentials Evaluation

The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education is the only national-level specialized institution in China engaged in the overseas credentials evaluation service. As an important public service, this overseas credential evaluation service has gained broad trust from returning students and various sectors of society, thanks to its expertise and authority. It also serves as a key reference for talent recruitment, graduate admissions, and settlement procedures for those returning from overseas. Over the past 30 years, the overseas credentials evaluation service has continuously refined its service approach, optimized processes, and improved service quality and efficiency. In doing so, it has played a vital role in supporting the employment and entrepreneurship of returnees, advancing the nation’s study-abroad initiatives, and promoting educational openness. It has also become an essential link in fostering international talent and facilitating educational exchange and mutual learning between China and other countries.

In recent years, due to technological advancements and other particular factors, including the pandemic, the international education landscape has changed significantly. Educational models are becoming increasingly diverse, and international students’ preferences for destination countries and institutions now show marked differences. To further enhance the quality of overseas credentials evaluation services and increase participation in global higher education governance, CSCSE plans to build on its existing credentials evaluation services by further developing and utilizing data resources. The goal is to establish a cross-border trust system for academic degrees, formulate trust indicators for universities in various countries, and, after evaluation, publish a trust index for these institutions – providing additional references for students, relevant organizations, and society. This sub-forum will introduce recent developments in the overseas credentials evaluation service and will explore both the construction of a cross-border trust system and its significance.