September 2007Nathalie Depoorter Quality Assurance and ECTS Tempus project, Mostar, September 2007

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Table of Content ECTS : the history Quality Assurance and ECTS Tuning Educational Structures in Europe Study workload ECTS users’ guide ECTS label/ Diploma Supplement label ECTS: the future

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter ECTS: the history from 1989 till now Problems universities faced during internationalisation before ECTS:  Lack of information about the available courses  Lack of academic compatibility  Lack of trust among the institutions in academic respect ° 1989 as pilot scheme within Erasmus programme Aim: to facilitate recognition of study period abroad through transfer of credits Pilot projects successful → ECTS-system adopted by other disciplines, universities, …

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter ECTS: the history from 1989 till now Bologna Declaration (1999): Introduction of a system of readable and comparable degrees Signatory states have identified ECTS as one of the cornerstones of the EHEA Large # countries: adopted ECTS by law as accummulation system (or are in the process) Some countries: ECTS = requirement for accreditation

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter ECTS: the history from 1989 till now New Developments since Bologna From input to output Focus on learning outcomes From knowledge to competences From teacher- to student-oriented approach Extension to accumulation

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter ECTS: the advantages for European Education Study programmes: easy to read and compare Can be used for all types of programmes (LLL, modules..) Mobile and non-mobile students benefit → used for accumulation within institution → used for transfer between institutions ECTS covers self-study and work experience (competences)  “European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System”

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Quality Assurance and ECTS: ECTS is an integral part of Quality Assurance in education Quality Assurance elements linked to ECTS TUNING model Study workload evaluation ECTS Users’ guide ECTS-label/Diploma Supplement-label

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning model a project by and for HEI’s The answer of the institutions to Bologna & Lisbon declaration/Luxemburg process Motto: Tuning of educational structures and programmes on the basis of diversity and autonomy

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning: objectives Implement the Bologna-Prague-Bergen process on university level Implement three cycle system (Ba-Ma-PhD) Identify common reference points from discipline and university perspective Develop professional profiles and comparable and compatible learning outcomes Facilitate employability and LLL by promoting transparency in educational structures (easily readable and comparable degrees) Develop a common language for all stakeholders

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning methodology To understand curricula and make them comparable Five lines of approach: Generic (general academic) competences Subject-specific competences The role of ECTS as an accumulation system Approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment The role of quality enhancement in the educational process

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning line 1: generic competences Questionnaires to graduates, employers, academics Distinction between ‘importance’ and ‘achievement’ of learning outcomes Distinction between general, academic and subjectrelated competences  The importance of 30 generic competences and an evaluation of how well HE institutions develop them.

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning line 2: subject specific competences Agreement on discipline related competencies Agreement about relation between learning outcomes and content  Mapping of subject areas and development of common reference points and subject specific competences of each of the pilot disciplines.

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning line 3: ECTS as accumulation system Importance of credits for comparison and combination of study tracks One system (ECTS) is preferable Linked to Learning Outcomes

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning line 3: ECTS as accumulation system Learning Outcomes Expressed in competences Formulated by academic staff On the basis of input of internal and external stakeholders Competences Dynamic combination of knowledge, understanding, skills and abilities Obtained by the student

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning line 3: ECTS as accumulation system

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning line 3: ECTS as accumulation system Relation between credits and QA Recognition if credit related to level and learning outcomes Description of complexity, creativity and profundity Credit related to academic standards Established (international) system of QA Transparancy

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning line 4: Approaches to learning, teaching and assessment Teaching, learning and evaluation is task for HEI Attention for transfer of general skills and competences Focus on competences = attention to New methods of teaching New criteria for evaluation

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Tuning line 5: quality enhancement in the educational process Constant effort to improve quality of programme design, implementation and delivery Responsibility of staff, with contribution of stakeholders and students One of the elements to ensure quality enhancement:  Measuring student workload (as part of ECTS)

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Student workload: essential element of ECTS 1 ECTS = hours study time 60 ECTS = one academic year hours a year  Important to check with reality. Ghent University: two methods Prospective method: difficult approach Retrospective method: minimal approach

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Student workload: essential element of ECTS Prospective method: All students Each group is representative (male/female) Every group is registrating in the same time during 4 weeks in the academic year 2 ‘normal’ weeks of classes 1 week in the study period before the exams 1 week in exam period

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Student workload: essential element of ECTS Form with a timetable and the following information Planned activity? (college, study, workshop,…) Who? (alone, together with friend,...) Place? (home, dorm, library,…) Study materials? (book, hand-outs,…) Study activity? (reading, learning, writing …) Discipline? (course)

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Student workload: essential element of ECTS Prospective method: advantages Stronger design High student participation: 60-65% Short time to registrate the information and data Difficult to manipulate A lot of information given

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Prospective method: disadvantages Complex procedure Too much information and data A lot of procedures to evaluate it High development costs (labour-intensive) Student workload: essential element of ECTS

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Student workload: essential element of ECTS Retrospective method After a semester of a year For every course the following information: Participation in the planned activities Preparation time for the planned activities Tasks Studying during the semester Preparation of exams Other study activities

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Student workload: essential element of ECTS Retrospective method: advantages Easy procedure Little information and data Fast analysis is possible Low cost

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Student workload: essential element of ECTS Retrospective method: disadvantages Student participation < 50% Frequently: forms filled in incorrectly ‘subjective’ reaction of students Different memories Other factors such as mood of the day, …

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Diploma Supplement: link with ECTS Diploma Supplement Supplement to an official diploma certifying the award of a degree/qualification Format agreed upon by CoE, Unesco and EC and endorsed by Bologna signatory countries Covers an entire degree programme (1st, 2nd and evt. 3rd cycle): sum of all ToR Transparency tool linked to ECTS Facilitate swift and informed recognition decisions Also for non-mobile studens (QA)

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Key features: ECTS Users’ guide Information package: Information on the institution Information on degree programmes General description Description of individual course units General information for students

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Users’ guide: Information on the institution (part 1) Name and address Academic calendar Academic authorities General description of the institution (including type and status) List of degree programmes offered Admission/registration procedures Main university regulations (notably recognition procedures) ECTS institutional co-ordinator

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Users’ guide: information on degree programmes (part 2) GENERAL DESCRIPTION Qualification awarded Admission requirements Educational and professional goals Access to further studies Course structure diagram with credits (60 per year) Final examination, if any Examination and assessment regulations ECTS departmental co-ordinator

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Users’ guide: information on degree programmes (part 2) DESCRIPTION OF INDIVIDUAL COURSE UNITS Course title, course code Type of course, level of course Year of study Semester/trimester Number of credits Name of lecturer Objectives of the course (preferably expressed in terms of learning outcomes and competences) Prerequisites Course contents Recommended reading Teaching methods Assessment methods Language of instruction

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Users’ guide: general information for students (part 3) Cost of living Accommodation Meals Medical facilities Facilities for special needs students Insurance Financial support for students

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter Users’ guide: general information for students (part 3) Student affairs office Study facilities International programmes Practical information for mobile students Language courses Internships Sports facilities Extra-mural and leisure activities Student associations

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter ECTS-label/DS-label ECTS-label Introduced for HEI using ECTS in a correct way in all their degree programmes Last round: only 21 ECTS labels awarded (Ghent Universitity one of them) New round to be expected March 2008 DS-label Correct way of using the Diploma Supplement

September 2007 Nathalie Depoorter ECTS: the Future Will be used after 2010: future-oriented concept! Continuous update of ECTS is required to be successful Working towards the European Higher Education Area with more institutions: success-story Glad to be a part of it! Thank you for your attention