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TEMPUS IV 1st Training seminar,14-15 April 2008, Parallel session

ECTS, Diploma Supplement and Recognition

Monica Nylund, Åbo Akademi University

- European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System- Diploma Supplement

European tools for curriculum reform and recognition of

learning outcomes

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System-Introduced 1989- Credit transfer- Accumulation system - key elements:

- student workload - learning outcomes

- Substance of curricula- Recognition of periods of study abroad

ECTS

Systematic way of describing an educational programme- Credits attached to components

Definition of credits varies- Student workload (ECTS)- Learning outcomes (ECTS)- Contact hours

Credit system

- Helps universities organise and revise study programmes - Easily understandable and comparable degrees - Facilitates recognition - Makes the education more attractive for students from abroad – mobility of students- 66% of institutions in Europe use as an accumulation system - 75% of institutions in Europe use ECTS as a transfer system

Why ECTS?

- Main language of instruction is Swedish: necessary to offer courses taught in English- Student exchange agreements with foreign universities: today between 400 - 500 agreements- Incoming students: approx. 170, outgoing: 125- 2007-2008 approx. 160 courses lectured in English

Åbo Akademi University: Information package/course

catalogue

- Contacts with academic staff- Earmarked funds for teaching in English (for 30 courses annually)- Specific academic fields of interest, levels- Information letters, reminders- Updating information, filling gaps- Course catalogue versus Welcome Guide

Process of assembling information

General information: about institution, courses, research, history, geographical informationAcademic information: - The system of higher education in Finland- Studying- Examination- Credits - Grading system- Academic freedom and academic responsibility- Academic year

Contents of course catalogue

Student services: - Orientation course- Academic Advising sessions- Student tutors- Fees- Budgeting- Scholarships- Housing- Libraries and Student Facilities- The Career services

Contents of course catalogue

How to apply? - Prerequisites- Application deadline- Welcome Package- Language course in Swedish- Contact information

Contents of course catalogue

Each field of study in the catalogue is briefly presented Help notes for academic departments, 2003:- Please describe the field of study - Do you offer courses lectured in English?- Could some courses be offered in English if there are enough interested students?- Which levels are used, please explain what they refer to- How many years of previous study in the field is required in order to attend courses- Do you provide guidance in English (e.g. for thesis work)?- Can international students participate in projects, laboratory work or seminars in English?

Course information

Course title - Course code - Credits (ECTS)- Lecturer- Period: Autumn/Spring semester- Level: basic/intermediate/advanced- Target audience: Year 2 for example- Aim (learning outcome)- Entry requirements/Prerequisites- Contents- Form of assessment: Paper/Presentation/Examination/ Course Diary - Contact hours (how many hours of lectures)- Course literature

Course information

Internet publication of catalogue early March- Updated continuously- Primary source of information for students who make a study plan

Printed Catalogue Mid-March- sent to all partner universities

Detailed course schedules in August - contact with departments- academic advising sessions: filling gaps, finalising study plans

E-mail list with information to students about courses continuously

Course information

- Updated continuously- easy to navigate/ sorting information- links to partner universities- overview and general info as well as course information- Your “business card”/image!

Website of international office

- Every student graduating since 2005 should receive automatically and free of charge- Improve international ‘transparency’ - Academic recognition of course units- Describes the nature, context, content, and status of the studies successfully completed- Understanding of different educational systems- Free from any value-judgments, equivalence statements or suggestions about recognition

DS - Diploma Supplement

- Free movement of students in the European Higher Education Area - Employability

- Åbo Akademi University issues Diploma Supplements in English with each examination certificate- Slightly less than 50% of Higher Education Institutions in Europe issue a Diploma Supplement to graduating students

Diploma Supplement

Recognition of student learning- principle of “mutual trust and confidence”- learning agreements- 47% of institutions report that some students have problems with the recognition of their credits gained abroad (Trends V, 2007)

Is ECTS being used correctly?

Institutional recognition procedures- Example: Procedures at Åbo Akademi University

Challenges for recognition

Staffing and adequate resourcing - Updates, counselling, advising

Differences of structure of curricula, degrees and institutions-Diversity of systems and disciplines

Challenges for recognition

Organise and promote the Bologna Process

Clear definitions and clear terminology

Effective use of existing recognition tools and networks

Methods

Thank you!

Resources used for this presentation:- Trends V: Universities shaping the European Higher Education Area, EUA publications 2007-http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/rec_qual/recognition/in_en.html-http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/rec_qual/recognition/diploma_en.html-http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/ects/index_en.html