General Information on GATS - Links to basic information on the GATS and GATS commitments by country.

GATS and Higher Education - Links to higher education associations discussions on key controversies surrounding the inclusion of higher education in the GATS negotiations.

GATS and Education - Links to discussions on the inclusion of education in the GATS negotiations.

Please note that these links aim to provide an overview of the key existing materials on this subject, and are not exhaustive.

World Trade Organization (WTO)
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. The GATS is being negotiated under the auspices of the WTO. The WTO website provides links to basic documents concerning the GATS It also provides some background to discussions on GATS.

The European Union 'GATS Info-Point'
The GATS Info - Point' is developed by the European Commission Directorate General for Trade. This site has clear basic information on GATS and an user-friendly Market Access Database on GATS commitments.

GATS and Higher Education

Joint Declaration on Higher Education and the General Agreement on Trade in Services
This Joint Declaration, signed in September 2001, calls for the respective countries of the associations not make commitments in Higher Education Services or in the related categories of adult education and other education services in the context of the GATS The Joint Declaration was signed by AUCC, CHEA and EUA, IAU has also endorsed the Joint Declaration.

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
AUCC represents 93 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university colleges. AUCC is one of the signatories of the Joint Declaration on Higher Education and the GATS.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a private, non-profit national organization that coordinates accreditation activity in the United States. CHEA represents more than 3000 colleges and universities and 60 national, regional and specialized accreditors. CHEA is one of the signatories of the Joint Declaration on Higher Education and the GATS.

European University Association (EUA)
The EUA, as the representative organization of the European universities and the national rectors' conferences, is a main voice of the higher education community in Europe. EUA was one of the signatories of the Joint Declaration on Higher Education and the GATS.

International Association of Universities (IAU)
IAU brings together institutions and organizations from some 150 countries for reflection and action on common concerns and collaborates with various international, regional and national bodies active in higher education. IAU's Administrative Board endorsed the Joint Declaration on Higher Education and the GATS in November 2001, at its 64th Meeting.

The Observatory on Borderless Education
The Observatory was established by the member institutions of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and Universities UK to keep abreast on developments in borderless education. Borderless education refers to developments outside the traditional borders of higher education (e.g. elearning, and developing markets). The Observatory provides reports on major issues such as GATS and Higher Education. From July 2002, Observatory services will be subject to subscription charges.

Columbus
COLUMBUS was created in 1987 as a co-operation programme between European and Latin American higher education institutions. Its main goals are to promote institutional development and multilateral co-operation in order to help universities to better respond to the challenges posed by scarce resources, demands for diversification, and internationalisation.

The National Union of students in Europe (ESIB)
ESIB is the umbrella organization of 47 national unions of students from 35 countries and through these members represent over 10 million students. The aim of ESIB is to represent and promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of students at a European level towards all relevant bodies and in particular the European Union, Council of Europe and UNESCO

European Student Convention
The European Student Convention (Brussels 16-18 November 2001) brought together 150 European student representatives from 37 countries. The Convention discussed the social dimension of the European Higher Education Area. A workshop on the Commodification of Education was held during this Convention.

NUFFIC Conference on the Global Education Market
This website provides links to the proceedings of the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) 50th anniversary conference on 'Global Education Market: Shifting Roles, Changing Rules' held in March 2002.

GATS and Education

Education International
Education International is a world-wide trade union organization of education personnel, whose 25 million members represent all sectors of education from pre-school to university. It is made up of 311 national trade unions and associations in 159 countries and territories.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The OECD groups 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. It also has an active relationships with some 70 other countries, NGOs and civil society. Best known for its publications and its statistics, its work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development and science and innovation.

The National Committee for International Trade in Education (NCITE)
NCITE advises the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on the upcoming round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations related to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), as mandated by the Uruguay Round.

World Bank (WB)
The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of development assistance. In Fiscal Year 2001, the institution provided more than US$17 billion in loans to its client countries. It works in more than 100 developing economies with the primary focus of helping the poorest people and the poorest countries.

The International Labour Organization (ILO)
The ILO is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment, and other standards regulating conditions across the entire spectrum of work related issues.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. Begun as an informal dialogue group, APEC has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. Its goal is to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community.

Canadian Education Research Information System(CERIS)
CERIS provides information about Canadian education and Canadian research on education.

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