THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT

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THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT

• Education and Culture

• 1.a Introduction What is it?
• This Diploma Supplement follows the model
  developed by the European Commission, Council Of
  Europe and UNESCO/CEPES . The purpose of the
  supplement is to provide sufficient independent
  data to improve the international transparency
  and fair academic and professional recognition of
  quantifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates,
  etc.). It is designed to provide a description of
  the nature, level, context, content and status of
  the studies that were pursued and successfully
  completed by the individual named on the original
  qualification to witch this supplement is
  appended. It should be free from any
  value-judgments, equivalence statements or
  suggestions about recognition. Information in all
  eight sections should be provided. Where
  information is not provided, an explanation
  should give the reason why.

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2. What it can do

• Promote Transparency in higher education.
• Accommodate rapid changes in qualifications.
• Aid mobility, Access and lifelong learning.
• Facilitate academic and professional
  recognition.
• Protect national/institutional autonomy.
• Promote informed judgements about
  qualifications.
• Reduce cost.
• Increase the mobility of qualifications.
• What it is not
• A Curriculum Vitae.
• A substitute for the original qualifications /
  transcript.
• An automatic system that guarantees recognition.

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3. Background to the initiative

• The Diploma Supplement is a direct product of the
  Council of Europe/UNESCO Convention on the
  Recognition of Qualification Concerning Higher
  Education in the European Region adopted in
  Lisbon 1997.
• In 1996 the European Union Council of Ministers
  invited the European Commission to develop a new
  Diploma Supplement model.
• In December 1998 a Joint European Commission
  Council of Europe UNESCO working party
  reported on the outcomes of its testing of the
  Supplement.

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4. Why is it needed?

• New qualifications proliferate world-wide.
• The non-recognition of qualification is a global
  problem.
• Mobile citizens seek fair recognition of their
  qualifications.
• Original credentials provide insufficient
  information.
• Many barriers to recognition exist.

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5. Founding Principles

• A flexible non-prescriptive adaptable tool.
• National and international applications.
• Aids academic and professional recognition.
• Exclude claims and value-judgements.
• A simple yet sensitive tool.
• A device designed to saves time, money and
  workload.

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6. The development phase

• The diploma supplement was developed by a joint
  European commission UNESCO/CEPES Council of
  Europe working group plus a parallel Phare Multi
  Country project.
• Between September 1997 June 1998 the
  international working group developed and pilot
  tested the Diploma Supplement model. This
  involved
• Over 70 different institutions (including higher
  education institutions, social partners,
  ENIC/NARICs, and employers)
• Testing 25 different subject fields
• 250 separate evaluation of actual Supplement.
• 
  

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6.

• The project produced a very positive conclusion
  with 98 of those involved declaring that it
  should be introduced.
• The working party recommended that
• Automatic issue of Supplements is best
• Supplement should keep to a common frame work
• Supplement can be used for any qualification, any
  subject and any type and size of institution
• It is good practice to include ECTS transcripts
  in Supplements
• Supplements can be issued in more than one
  language.

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6.

• The final report of the working group (December
  1998), includes Appendix IV which is a self
  contained learning resource (available on the DG
  EAC Web site) containing
• Outline structure for the Diploma Supplement
• Explanatory notes on completing Supplements
• Founding Principles and guidelines for producers
• Glossary
• Examples of completed supplements.

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7. Outline framework

• The following explanatory box and eight
  information sections provide the framework for
  the diploma supplement.When fully completed a
  supplement provides all information essential to
  make a valid judgement about any qualification
  (examples of completed Supplements can be found
  on the European commission DG EAC web site).
• Information identifying the holder of the
  qualification.
• Information identifying the qualification.
• Information on the level of the qualification
• Information on the contents and results gained.
• Information on the function of the qualification.
• Additional information.
• Certification of the Supplement
• Information on the national higher education
  system.

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8. Information Sections and Sub-Sections

• Information identifying the holder of the
  qualification
• Family name
• Given name
• Date of birth
• Student identification number or code
• 2. Information identifying the qualification
• Name of qualification and title conferred
• Main fields of study for the qualification
• Name and status of awarding institution
• Name and status of institution administering
  studies
• Language of instruction /examination
• Information on the level of the qualification
• Level of qualifications
• Official length of programme
• Access requirement

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• 4. Information on the contents and results gained
• 5. Information of the function of the
  qualification
• Access to further study
• Professional status
• 6. Additional information
• Additional Information
• Further information sources

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8.

• 7. Certification of the Supplement
• Date
• Signature
• Capacity
• Official stamp or seal
• 8. Information on the National Higher Education
  System

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9. Supplement Guidelines

• It is recommended that Supplements
• Follow a common structure.
• Accompany the original qualification
• Have key information in the originating language
  of the institution.
• Are free from value judgements.
• Are centrally produced by institutions.
• Contain information on the local higher education
  system.
• Are issued automatically.
• Are translated accurately.
• Are linked to quality assurance systems.
• Are evaluated with sensitivity.

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10. Links with other initiatives

• The diploma supplement has great potential if it
  is combined with other international education
  initiatives.
• Possible synergies exist between the diploma
  supplement and the European credit transfer
  system (ECTS).
• The European commission (DG EAC) completed an
  ECTS extension feasibility study in February
  2000.This examined how ECTS might evolve to
  become a credit accumulation system that includes
  different modes of learning and types of
  education (including part time and distance
  education, vocational and professional education
  and lifelong learning).

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10.

• A marriage between the diploma supplement and an
  evolved ECTS provide a very powerful set of
  integrated tools to resolve recognition problems.
• The diploma supplement and ECTS are prime tools
  to help make the Sorbonne (1998) and Bologna
  (1999) declarations a reality by aiding the
  creation of the European higher education area.

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11. Summary

• A joint initiative taken by the European
  commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO/CEPES.
• It provides information on the function, level
  and status of any higher education qualification.
• It promotes transparency and facilitates
  recognition, mobility, access and lifelong
  learning. This benefits the citizens, employers
  and educational institutions.
• It is needed as recognition problems are getting
  worse.
• Credentials alone do not provide sufficient
  information on the level and function of
  qualifications.
• It is an efficient device that saves time, money
  and work.
• Important for the process of convergence foreseen
  by the Sorbonne and Bologna declarations.