ECTS at Vienna University of Technology

1. ECTS atVienna University of Technology

2. Overview • ECTS – the basic idea • ECTS & Bologna process (further development) • ECTS – key features, tools and key persons • ECTS at TU Wien (history and current situation) • Documents and reports on ECTS

3. ECTS – the basic idea • Tool to support European mobility within ERASMUS (“organising diversity”) • Set up in 1989 and tested in a pilot group • System for credit transfer based on the workload of courses Aims of ECTS I • to create transparency of curricula • to facilitate the compatibility of different study programmes • to work as a basic tool for the recognition of courses completed at different institutions (for the home curriculum)

4. ECTS & Bologna Process (further development) • Expansion to a credit accumulation system (also on national level) • Generalised credit system and corner stone of the European Higher Education Area Aims of ECTS II (“European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System”) • supports credit transfer and mobility between different sectors (university - non university sector) on national and international level – pilot project! • supports credit transfer between different learning-environments (e.g. distance learning, self studies, work experience etc.) – pilot project! • improves transparency of qualifications (together with the “Diploma Supplement”) • facilitates access to the labour market

5. ECTS – key features, tools and key persons ECTS key features • Credit: • defines the workload which an average full time student has to fulfil in order to complete a course successfully. • credits are allocated to all educational components (e.g. internships, diploma thesis, doctoral thesis etc.) • credits do not define the value, importance or quality of courses. • credits are not automatically interchangeable. They have to constitute on an approved part of a study program (e.g. ECTS-learning agreement). • Workload: • includes time in the class room, projects, laboratory work, home exercises and preparation for exams. • the workload of a whole academic year is defined with 60 credits. • 1 credit stands for around 25 – 30 working hours.

6. ECTS – key features, tools and key persons ECTS key features • Learning outcomes • a set of competences which should define the objectives of a course (“what will a student know, understand or able to do after successful completion of a course”). • competences can be specific or general. • formulated by the academic staff. • described in the ECTS-information package

7. ECTS – key features, tools and key persons ECTS tools • Information Package/Course Catalogue • describes the study programme in the local language and in English. • document for students and staff – national and international • if possible: paper and web-version • Chapters: • I) Information on the institution: name, address, academic calendar, academic authorities, admission requirements, main university regulations,…) • II) Information on Degree Programmes • General: admission requirements, educational & professional goals, exam regulations, access to further studies, final exam, qualification awarded • Description of course units: title, code, type, level, year of study, no. of credits, content and learning outcomes, pre-requisites, teaching method, language of instruction, reading list • III) General information for students: costs of living, accommodation, offices for student support (students union, int. office, , insurance, facilities for special needs, practical information for mobile students, language courses, sport facilities,…

8. ECTS – key features, tools and key persons ECTS tools • ECTS Student Application Form • developed for mobile students • Contains all essential information for the host institution • Learning Agreement • developed for mobile students, spending a limited period of time at a university in another country • contains the study plan abroad. • “learning contract” signed by the student and the academic advisors at home and host institution. • guarantees the transfer of credits from host- to home institution • in addition: a recognition sheet (list of equivalent subjects at home) is recommended. • equivalent < - > identical!

9. ECTS – key features, tools and key persons ECTS tools • Transcript of Records • format for recording student activities (list of courses) • for outgoing students: issued by the home institution as information for the host institution (“ what has the student done at home before the study abroad period”) • for incoming students: issued by the host institution as information for the home institution (“what has the student done abroad”) • content: • code of course unit • title of course unit • duration of course unit • local grade • ECTS grade • ECTS credits

10. ECTS – key features, tools and key persons ECTS tools • ECTS Grading Scale • allows to compare different national grading systems • supports transfer of grades from one national system to another • “a common point of reference” • assessment follows a statistical ranking of students who passed the exam: • A 10% students • B 25% students • C 30% students • D 25% students • E 10% students • FX, F failed • working with the ECTS grading scale needs a certain amount of flexibility • ECTS Label • awarded to institutions which use ECTS in all degree programmes according to the ECTS principles

11. ECTS – key features, tools and key persons ECTS key persons • ECTS-Institutional Coordinator • promotion of ECTS within the institution • ensures the institution`s commitment on ECTS • co-ordinates ECTS-activities • ECTS-Departmental Coordinator • contact person on ECTS for students and staff on departmental level • should be part of the commission who is responsible for the allocation of credits to lectures • working with ECTS-documents (learning agreement, transcripts etc.) • ECTS-Counsellors • ECTS-experts and Bologna promoters on national level • Prepare institutions for ECTS (or the ECTS-label)

12. ECTS at TU Wien (history and current situation) History • 1991 – 1995 Participation in the ECTS pilot group in Chemistry (but no institutional commitment!) • 1992 Production of info-packages for all fields of study (ECTS model) • 1993 – 1996 Extension of ECTS to Physics, Electrical Engineering and Architecture • 1999 Visit of ECTS-counsellors • 1.1.2002ECTS becomes national law (by University Act)

13. ECTS at TU Wien (history and current situation) Current Situation • ECTS is mainly used as a tool for exchange programmes • ECTS is not used as a (national/institutional) accumulation system • Some ECTS elements are adapted to national and institutional situation: • ECTS Credits are allocated to all fields of study (by study commission) • Definition of Credits sometimes only reflect contact hours • Information package = “Welcome Guide” for foreign students (produced by int. office) http://www.ai.tuwien.ac.at/int/guide.html = “Electronic Course Book” (produced by office for study affairs and central computing unit) http://tuwis.tuwien.ac.at/ • Student Application form = (national) ERASMUS-student application form • Learning Agreement = “pre-recognition form” (signed by student and dean of studies) • Transcript of Records = “Sammelzeugnis” (issued by office for studies and admissions) • ECTS Grading Scale = used for a “point of reference” (does not replace national system)

14. ECTS at TU Wien (history and current situation) ECTS – positive experiences: • ECTS is the only tried and tested credit system on an European scale so far • ECTS creates transparency of curricula (info-packages) • ECTS allows to compare workloads (credits) • ECTS is a common “spoken and understood language” within mobility programmes (“you can not allow yourself to ignore ECTS”) Problems with ECTS (at TU Wien): • ECTS creates additional administrative work (learning agreements, transcript of records) • Allocation of credits to course units is a long-winding process. • Therefore: ECTS needs institutional commitment and co-ordination! • Difference between official and average duration of studies causes problems in fulfilling the ECTS workload (60/30)

15. Documents and reports on ECTS • ECTS pages of the European Commission (user guides, FAQs, documents etc.) http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/ects/index_en.html • The Zurich conference on ECTS (10.2002 – by the European University Association) http://www.ects-conference.ethz.ch/index.asp • Tuning Educational Structures in Europe (pilot project under SOCRATES: learning outcomes, competences, workload, quality – reflecting the Bologna process) http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/policies/educ/tuning/tuning_en.html