3.Mobility Recognition Ects

Mobility, Recognition, ECTS

Bologna Promoters’ Presentation Material(to be adapted as needed)

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Mobility in Europe

Promoting Mobility

Recognising qualifications

ECTS Objectives

ECTS Key Features

ECTS Documents

ECTS Site Visits & Label

ECTS implementation and future challenges

Content of the Presentation

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A major objective in Europe since the Treaty of Rome (1957)

An essential aspect of European higher education (Bologna Process & Lisbon Strategy)…

… supported by EU programmes (Socrates Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, LLP, Leonardo da Vinci, Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Developement)

… implemented by European HEIs (bi/multi-lateral agreements, joint programmes)

But lack of consistent statistical information and common definition makes it hard to measure mobility flows and trends

Mobility in Europe

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2000 EU Mobility Action Plan

Financial support

Portability of student grants & loans

Easier access to health & welfare entitlements

Fairer tax requirements

Facilitated access for residence & work

Need to publicise the benefits of mobility

Need to make information more easily accessible to all PLOTEUS web portal

Need to facilitate recognition of study periods abroad & foreign qualifications

Promoting mobility

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Tools

The 1997 Lisbon Recognition Convention• 38 (out of 56) countries ratified the Convention

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)

The Europass portfolio (European CV, Diploma Supplement, Certificate Supplement, Europass language passport, Europass mobility)

The European and national qualifications frameworks

The 2005 EU Directive on the ‘regulated professions’

‘Facilitators’

The ENIC & NARIC networks• But lack of authority in taking binding decisions on the recognition

of qualifications

Recognising qualifications

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Improve transparency and comparability of study programmes and qualifications

Facilitate academic recognition ECTS as a transfer system (mobile students)

Support curricular reform ECTS as a tool for curriculum design

Promote flexibility in learning and qualification processes ECTS as an accumulation system (all learners)

ECTS objectives

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Student-centred system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme, objectives preferably specified in terms of learning outcomes and competences to be acquired

Student workload includes all aspects of study programmes: time spent attending lectures, independent study, dissertations, placement, preparing for and taking of examinations, etc

Student workload ≠ contact hours or courses

ECTS Key Features I

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System based on the convention that 60 credits measure the workload of an average full-time student during one academic year

(1 credit = 25 to 30 hours workload)

ECTS credits can only be obtained after completion of the work required and appropriate assessment

ECTS grading system: useful in particular for credit transfer. The ECTS grading scale ranks the students on a statistical basis (it supplements local/national systems)

ECTS Key Features II

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Information Package/Course Catalogue (information on the institution and its study programmes)

Learning Agreement (list of courses to be taken and agreed upon between the student and the institutions concerned)

Transcript of Records (documents the performance of the student with list of courses, credits grained, local and ECTS grades)

ECTS Documents

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Since 2000, the European Commission has been funding ECTS/DS site visits to 50 HEIs per year to help institutions introduce and implement ECTS

From 2004 to 2006, an ECTS Label was awarded to institutions which apply ECTS in the correct way in all first and second cycle degree programmes to raise the profile of institutions as transparent and reliable partners in European and international co-operation

ECTS Label currently under consultation/revision

ECTS Site Visits & Label

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According to the Trends V report:

ECTS continues to gain ground as the credit system for the European Higher Education Area

However, incorrect or superficial use of ECTS is currently still widespread

the use of ECTS for curriculum design and its implementation as an accumulation system needs to be improved

the further development of ECTS to ensure the recognition of learning outcomes for all types of learning is a key challenge in the context of lifelong learning

ECTS implementation & future challenges

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European Commission’s website:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/ects/

index_en.html

Trends V report:

www.eua.be

Web resources

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