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Network for Qualifications North-West

A pilot project in the initiative AnKom(Recognition of vocational competences in Higher Education Study

Programmes)

Dr. Wolfgang Müskens

CvO University of Oldenburg

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Three types of „Recognition of prior learning“

Access Minimal Requirements for access to higher education regulated by law(e.g. Abitur (diploma from secondary school or Examination „Z“)

Access, Admission, Exemption

Admission Selection of applicants for a place at university by faculty or Central Agency for Univerity Admission(ZVS)

Creditation Exemption from modules of study because of prior learning or previous acquired competencies

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An initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

11 regional pilot projects

Regional pilot project „Network for Qualifications North-West“ with

participation of the University of Oldenburg

Project Duration: 9/2005 until 12/2007

Objectives:

1. To evaluate the transferability of learning outcomes from continuing

vocational education

2. Development of instruments for recognition of prior vocational

education

3. Consideration of informal competences with regard to certification

and validation at University

ANKOM

RECHNUNG BERUFLICHER

PETENZEN AUF

HOCHSCHULSTUDIENGÄNGE

AnKom (Anrechnung beruflicher Kompetenzen auf

Hochschulstudiengänge) Recognition of vocational competences

in Higher Education Study Programmes

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Qualifikationsverbund Nord-West

Network for Qualifications North-West

IHK Ostfriesland und Papenburg

IHK OL

HK Bremen

Uni Bremen

Uni OL

AN-kammer Bremen

Chambers of Industry and Commerce

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Recognition of Prior Learning

Objectives:

Offer more flexible transitions between vocational and university higher

education

Reduce redundancies at the interface between voactional and higher

education

Stimulate life long learning

Create new pathes of education

Validate previously acquired knowledge, skills, and competencies

juster than now

Shorten the length of study

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Structure of vocational education (at Chambers of commerce) in Germany

Initial vocational training max. 3.5 years„Ausbildung“

1 – 5 years on the job experience

Certified senior clerk /senior commercial clerk

(2 years part-time)„Fachwirt/Fachkaufmann“

Master craftsman(2 years part-time)

„Meister“

Business specialist(2 years part-time)

„Betriebswirt“

Technical business specialist

(2 years part-time)

1 – 3 years on the job experience

Age (approx.)

20

25

30

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Vocational education vs. Higher Education

BachelorSenior clerk /Master craftsman

„Fachwirt, Meister, etc.“„Bachelor professional“

Initial vocational training„Ausbildung“

EQF-Level

6

7

The view of the Chambers of Commerce

Master

PhD

Business specialist„Betriebswirt“

8

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Vocational education vs. Higher Education

Bachelor

Senior clerk /Master craftsman

„Fachwirt, Meister, etc.“

Initial vocational training„Ausbildung“

EQF-Level

6

7

The view of the universities

Master

PhD

Business specialist„Betriebswirt“

8

Recognition of prior learning

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„Blanket“ Recognition

Any holder of a certain qualification (e.g. Master craftsman, Certified

senior clerk) gets exemption from equivalent university modules

without individual assessment

University (in coorperation with Chambers) check only one-time the

equivalence of the vocational qualification and the programme of study

at university

University guarantees recognition for any holder of the vocational

qualification

Basic principles

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CvO University Oldenburg

Pilot project in Oldenburg

Senior insurance clerk Versicherungsfachwirt/in

Bachelor „Business Administration“

Senior industrial clerkIndustriefachwirt/in

Business specialistBetriebswirt IHK

Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in

Bremen, Oldenburg, Emden

Intended options of blanket recognition I

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Pilot project in Bremen

Master craftsman Meister IHK

Technical Business specialist

Technischer Betriebswirt IHK

Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in

Bremen, Oldenburg, Emden

Intended options of blanket recognition II

University BremenM.Sc. „Systems

Engineering“

Ba.Sc. „Systems Engineering“

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An example: Mr. Mohlberg

Business Specialist and Senior

industrial Clerk, 32 years old

Diploma from secondary school

(Abitur)

Initial voc. Training in commerce

12 years experience on the job

Managerial responsibility in a

medium company

Interested in studying „Bachelor of

Business Administration“ (BA) at

University of Oldenburg

Expects creditation of prior learning

I‘ve already learned that in continuing vocational training. Will there be any exemption? How many ECTS points will be credited?

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Blanket Recognition

Initial vocational

training

on the job experience

Vocational qualification (e.g. Senior Clerk)

Chambers of Commerce

Validation / Creditation

Studies

BA (Uni OL)

Systems Engineering(Uni Bremen)

ECTS-Points

of continuing vocational training

Vocational qualification (e.g. Business Specialist)

Chambers of Commerce

ECTS-Points

Dual System:

on the job + vocational

school

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Blanket recognition of non-higher-education qualifications

Corresponding subject of vocational qualification

Module of Study course (e.g. „Production“ or „Leadership“

Equivalence check

Experts determine,

• to what extent the contents of the module are covered by learning outcomes of the vocational qualification

• which level of skills, knowledge, and competence (according to EQF) in reference to skills, knowledge will be achieved in the module and in the vocational qualification

Contents

Level (EQF)

• Skills

•Knowledge

• Competence

Expertise on equivalence

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Comparing continuing vocational and higher education

Continuing vocational trainingContinuing Higer Education

Learning outcomes focused on „scientific skills“:

• Reflecting

• Analyzing

• Critical Thinking

• Generate new questions

• Understanding the generation of theories, models and instruments (research)

Learning outcomes focused on „vocational skills and knowledge“

• Acquired skills have to be applicable immediately

• Models and methods shouldn‘t be scrutinized or questioned

• Formal vocational training and experiences on the job complement one another

Assessment and grading based on*:

• Learning projects

• Presentation of project results

• Reflection on team work

Assessment and grading based on:

• Written examinations

• Nationwide standardized tasks

• Standardized criteria for appraisal

Difficulties and differences

*) in BA Business Administration

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Comparing continuing vocational and higher education

Continuing vocational trainingContinuing Higer Education

Types of learning*

• Self study periods

• Online Discussion-Boards (WebCT)

• Team Projects (online)

• Real life discussions with experts

Types of learning

• Frontal teaching

• Self study

• Exercising tasks of prior years

Modularisation*:

• 10 compulsory modules (each 8 ECTS)

• 10 compulsary optional modules

• No examinations outside of modules

Modularisation:

• Learning and examination totally separated

• Training and examination –sometimes different institutions

• Multidisciplinary integrated examinations

Difficulties and differences

*) in BA Business Administration

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An example: Mr. Mohlberg

Business Specialist and Senior

industrial Clerk, 32 years old

Diploma from secondary school

(Abitur)

Initial voc. Training in commerce

12 years experience on the job

Managerial responsibility in a

medium company

Interested in studying „Bachelor of

Business Administration“ (BA) at

University of Oldenburg

Expects creditation of prior learning

This „blanket recognition“ is restricted to formal vocational education. I‘ve learned much more informally on the job. How will that be validated?

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Two options for recognition

Individual recognition

Validation

Blanket vs. individual

blanket recognition

Informal learningFormal vocational qualifications

Equivalence check Assessment of competences

(Portfolio + Complex task)

started in 3/2006

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Two options for recognition

Individual recognition

Validation

Blanket vs. individual

blanket recognition

Informal learningFormal vocational qualifications

Equivalence check Assessment of competences

(Portfolio + Complex task)

started in 3/2006

Oh, i‘ll get up to 80 ECTS-Points! That‘s almost half of the study course. Great!

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Contact

Arbeitsbereich Weiterbildung und Bildungsmanagement

Carl-von-Ossietzky-Universität Oldenburg

26111 Oldenburg

http://www.web.uni-oldenburg.de/anrechnung

Dr. Wolfgang Müskens

wolfgang.mueskens@uni-oldenburg.de