Determining course credit

What is a credit system? Systematic way of describing an educational program by attaching credits to components Can be based on  Contact hours between faculty and students  Learning outcomes  Student workload

ECTS ECTS (The European Credit Transfer System) is the system that members of the Bologna Process have agreed to use Action Line 3 of Bologna – Establishment of a system of credits It is based on student workload required to meet objectives of a program Objectives of the program based on learning outcomes and competencies of graduates

ECTS Initially established in Europe so students taking courses at a different university could transfer appropriate credit back to their home institution It has enhanced the quality and volume of student mobility in Europe Now also used as an accumulation system for  Institutions  Regions  Nations  Europe

Why ECTS? Makes study programs easy to read and compare for all students, local and foreign Facilitates mobility and recognition Helps universities organize and revise study programs Makes European higher education more attractive for students from other continents

Key features of ECTS Based on principle that 60 credits measure a workload for a full-time university student for one year Assume that most European students who are full-time spend a total of hours during the academic year in study, both in class and outside of class One credit is about working hours My own interpretation: working hours are roughly 1/3 in class and 2/3 out of class

Key features of ECTS Credits only obtained after successful completion of work and appropriate assessment of learning outcomes achieved What are learning outcomes? Sets of competencies  What will student know?  What will student understand?  What will student be able to achieve? All after completion of a process of learning All these must be identified for Bologna

Key features of ECTS Student workload includes all time spent on a study program  Lectures  Seminars  Independent study  Private study  Preparation of projects  Examinations  Etc.

Key features of ECTS Credits assigned to all components of a study program Reflects the quantity of work required for each component needed to achieve objectives or learning outcomes Quantity for credits is in relation to total quantity for a successful completion of a full year of study

Key features of ECTS Student performance documented by local or national grade For ECTS transfer, also helpful to assign an ECTS grade May well be different than grading system used locally or nationally