1. Trondheim, 19 September 2005 Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) D.Stamatis Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece

2. Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) The work presented here: Is a collaboration in the context of the mENU project (model for a European Networked University for e-Learning) WorkPackages coordinated by: University of Greenwich, UK Miltos Petridis, Liz Bacon, Gill Windall TEI of Thessaloniki, Greece Demos Stamatis, Theo Kargidis, Petros Kefalas, Thanos Tsadiras Trondheim, 19 September 2005

3. Current Trend: Forming alliances among Institutions for the development of joint programmes which are delivered through information and communication technologies (ICTs) Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Some factors are playing a catalytic role: Education policy both at national and at the European level Existing networks of institutions promoting student and staff mobility schemes More mature Technology New markets for higher education Trondheim, 19 September 2005

4. One of the most crucial issues identified in mENU was the need to define study plans in a generic and flexible way in order to provide a useful tool to all stakeholders of a European Networked University (ENU) Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Trondheim, 19 September 2005 Different stakeholders => Different Views e.g. View for prospective students View for academics View for Regulatory boards

5. The curricular to be developed is a joint programme where two or more institutions, probably from different countries collaborate The courses offered are strongly based on e-learning technologies Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Trondheim, 19 September 2005 There are two main issues that differentiate such study plans from those already developed in the context of “typical” curricula for in campus studies:

6. A careful study of quality assurance systems of the European Union The European Credit Transfer System – ECTS The necessary adaptations the above need for Networked Learning Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Trondheim, 19 September 2005 In order to develop a joint approach to the description of programs and course modules the generic framework presented is based on:

7. Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Trondheim, 19 September 2005 Templates: Description of study plans using meta data

8. Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Trondheim, 19 September 2005 Description of study plans using meta data

9. Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Trondheim, 19 September 2005 Description of study plans using meta data

10. Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Trondheim, 19 September 2005 Based on subsets of information encapsulated in templates one can produce different formats of the study programs, in an automatic or semiautomatic way.

11. Description of ENU Department offering a specific Degree Programme by the use of ECTS-NL Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL)

12. To have an effective and flexible collaboration scheme in designing a joined degree programme an excellent strategy is to apply the top down approach, which is the underlying philosophy of ECTS, at least in two levels: Level 1: Each “semester” is allocated with 30 ECTS credits. Level 2: Each semester has a fixed number (N) of course-module units with the same number of credits (30/N) allocated to them. Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL)

14. ENU view to MSc Degree TEIHSHENUProject Thesis HSHENU Project Thesis TEI ENUProject Thesis

15. TEI Student view to MSc Degree TEIENU Project Thesis ENU Project Thesis TEI ENUProject Thesis

16. External Student view to MSc Degree ENU Project Thesis ENU Project Thesis ENU Project Thesis

17. Flexible Study Plans and the European Credit Transfer System for Networked Learning (ECTS-NL) Quality Indicator 1 Development of flexible study plans Quality Indicator 2 Use of a standard course credit scheme Quality Indicator 3 Target groups identification Quality Indicator 4 Distributed Development of Courseware Material Quality Indicator 5 Distributed Delivery of the Course Quality Indicators for e_Learning programmes