ECTS ECTS – Advantages and – Advantages and DisadvantagesDisadvantages

TEMPUS CORINTHIAMTEMPUS CORINTHIAM

Beit Daniel, Israel19 December 2010

CORINTHIAM

ECTS BOLOGNA INTERNATIONALISATION QUALITY

ASSURANCE EHEA DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE MEDA REGION

Three general pointsThree general points

ECTS effects both institutions and students.

ECTS is implemented in many different ways, and to many different degrees.

ECTS was originally driven by political, not educational/pedagogic aims.

CORINTHIAM – 19 December 2010 2

Advantages – institutionsAdvantages – institutions II

harmonization of different practices ◦ (rough) equalization of course demands ◦ (relative) transparency of course offerings ◦ greater clarity of evaluation procedures

flexibility of different teaching methodologies

CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010 3

Advantages – institutions IIAdvantages – institutions II

greater attraction for domestic students◦ to undertake studies at one’s own institution◦ to transfer to one’s own institution (e.g. at

Master’s level)

increased flexibility in lifelong learning programmes

greater attraction for international students

CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010 4

Advantages – studentsAdvantages – students I

greater transparency of educational process at home

student-focused system (learning outcomes)

thanks to transferability of credits:◦ greater flexibility at home university

within degree programme in changing degree programme

◦ easier to change university

CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010 5

Advantages – students IIAdvantages – students II

international mobility (study abroad/ exchange)

(ultimately) greater employability at home and abroad

6CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

Other claims I: degree programmesOther claims I: degree programmes

The ECTS:

makes it easier to construct well-balanced programmes

promotes the feasibility of programmes in terms of student workload

enhances the quality of programmes

7CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

Other claims II: other types of education

8

The ECTS:

promotes and facilitates lifelong learning

facilitates the recognition of different types of learning (informal, non-formal, distance learning, vocational education and training, etc.)◦

CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

Other claims III: higher education in general

9

The ECTS:

helps to encourage wider participation in higher education

CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

10

the work entailed to implement the ECTS

the possibility that the ECTS can be hijacked by national governments

an overstandardization of curriculaincompatibility with national/local

educational traditions

CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

MisconceptionsMisconceptions

11

The ECTS is a panacea for all problems related to mobility

Once implemented, the ECTS is set in stone.

CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

but in the endbut in the end, f, for most of us or most of us – – at at least in Europeleast in Europe – – ……

12CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

13

It’s It’s really really the only game in the only game in town. town.

CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

14CORINTHIAM – 4 May 2010

Thank you for your attention.