This paper addresses the place of the use of international "experts" in assuring the quality of Teacher Education programmes within Higher Education, in relation to the global agenda of improving standards. The experiences of one such "expert" are discussed and recommendations made as to the type of person suited to the role. Some issues relating to Teacher Education in the Baltic States of Lithuania and Latvia are addressed, in particular the need for a change in the culture from a focus on teaching to one on learning, the need to embrace, not resist change and the need to respond quickly to an ever changing education agenda. The paper attempts to address some of the difficulties faced by higher education institutions in the Baltic States and also raises the concerns of the international experts, with particular reference to the lack of good data on which to base their conclusions and recommendations. Despite years of membership of the EU change in Eastern European teacher education is not occurring as fast as it needs to and this is where the advice of the "expert" can be of use.