Mobility management: Academic aspects Joachim Fronia

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Mobility management Academic aspectsJoachim
Fronia
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Topics for discussion

• Integrating the joint curriculum
• The use of ECTS grading scale to translate marks
  coming from national systems
• Integrating mobility in the programme
• A joint Diploma Supplement?
• Assessment
• Degree recognition

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Integration aspects of the EMECW

• Recognition of the study period abroad and exams
  
• Diplomas and degree recognition
• Use of a credit transfer system ( ECTS)
• Diploma Supplement

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EU HE reform process (1)

• 10 Action Lines based on Bologna, Prague and
  Berlin communiqués and main goals for 2010
• Adoption of a system of easily readable and
  comparable degrees
• Adoption of a system essentially based on two
  main cycles (undergraduate/graduate)
• Establishment of a system of credits (such as
  ECTS)
• Promotion of mobility by overcoming obstacles
• Promotion of European cooperation in quality
  assurance

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EU HE reform process (2)

• 6. Promotion of the European dimension in higher
  education
• 7. Lifelong learning
• 8. Higher education institutions and students
• 9. Promoting the attractiveness of the European
  Higher Education Area
• 10. European Higher Education Area and European
  Research Area two pillars of the knowledge
  based society

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HE reform process in EU achievements

• to improve the recognition of qualifications,
  allowing students to move easily between degrees,
  between countries and between academia and the
  workplace.
• to promote a widespread use of a system of
  transferable credits known as European Credit
  transfer System (ECTS), which can be accumulated
  by a student in different institutions and
  countries
• to facilitate the Diploma Supplement in a
  widely-used European language, which provides a
  standardised academic transcript lists the
  students achievements in terms of learning
  outcomes and acquired competences.
• to enhance the attractiveness and profile of
  European higher education system in the world.
  The external dimension of the Bologna Process
  includes sharing best practice with other regions
  in the world where some countries are initiating
  parallel and compatible reform programmes

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The use of ECTS

• ECTS was introduced in 1989, within the framework
  of Erasmus, now part of the LLL programme.
• ECTS is the only credit system which has been
  successfully tested and used across Europe.
• ECTS was set up initially for credit transfer.
• The system facilitated the recognition of periods
  of study abroad and thus enhanced the quality and
  volume of student mobility in Europe.
• Recently ECTS is developing into an accumulation
  system to be implemented at institutional,
  regional, national and European level.

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Diploma supplement

• In parallel to ECTS, the Commission promotes
  the Diploma Supplement, which is a transcript of
  studies which all students in participating
  countries are eligible to receive in a
  widely-spoken European language
• Higher Education institutions may apply to the
  Commission for a Diploma Supplement label
• The Commission has also developed a proposal
  to integrate the different transparency
  instruments developed for vocational training
  (like Europass, European Portfolio and the
  European CV) into a single European Framework
  called EUROPASS, which will include the Diploma
  Supplement

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Quality assurance - Assessment

• The Commission supports the European network
  of Quality Assurance Agencies (ENQA).
• The European Union is working on a set of
  guidelines on quality assurance, incorporating a
  peer review system and a European register of
  quality assurance agencies, managed by a European
  Register Committee.
• The Commissions proposal for a Recommendation
  on Further Cooperation in Quality Assurance is
  currently before the European Parliament and
  Council for discussion.

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Degree Recognition

• The Commission continues to support the NARIC
  network of credential evaluators, cooperating
  closely with the parallel network of ENIC centres
  coordinated by Council of Europe/UNESCO-CEPES.
• The Commission supports measures to enhance
  the visibility and effectiveness of these centres
  and welcomes in particular the cooperation
  between ENIC/NARIC and ENQA, exploring the links
  between recognition and quality assurance

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Conclusions for a successful mobility

• Need of recognising study period abroad
• Degree recognition and transcription of records
• Compatible exam system and transcript of records
• (ECTS grading scale or a comparable system for
  translation of national marks)
• Raising EU and third country students and
  academic staff employability through recognition
  of study periods abroad