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The Bologna Process and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Dr Gillian Mackintosh Head of Registry. Background. Intergovernmental process aiming to create European Higher Education Area by 2010
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The Bologna Process and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Dr Gillian Mackintosh Head of Registry
Background • Intergovernmental process aiming to create European Higher Education Area by 2010 • Aims to create comparability and compatibility between diverse systems and institutions in Europe to: • enhance staff and student mobility • increase international competitiveness of European Higher Education
System of Credits • Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) • National system for defining qualifications in terms of entry/exit points, progression and credit requirements • European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) • - Initially introduced to facilitate recognition in Erasmus • - 1 ECTS credit = 2 AU (SCQF) credits
Three Degree Cycle • Substantial change for much of Europe • EHEA Qualifications Framework • Bachelors Degree • 180-240 ECTS credits & minimum of 3 years • Masters Degree • - 90-120 ECTS credits • Doctoral Degrees • Link between EHEA and European Research Area
Diploma Supplement • To aid mobility through facilitating better understanding and transparency of degrees • Standard description of nature, content, level, context and status of award.
Quality Assurance • Seen as vital for (i) enhancing co-operation between HEIs in Europe and (ii) promoting international competitiveness of European HE • Common European standards for QA with common reference points • European Register of Quality Agencies being established
Mobility • Both staff and student • Issue for the UK – 79% of UK institutions have more incoming than outgoing students as compared to 29% in European HEIs • Challenges • language issues • Finance • curriculum comparability • Report from CIHE states that many of the big recruiters are looking for graduates who have a global experience
Joint Degrees • The Bologna process through the establishment of the European Higher Education Area seeks to promote inter-institutional co-operation within Europe. • The strands of Bologna such as qualifications frameworks, common degree structures and quality assurance will help facilitate this. • Opportunities for Joint Degrees – e.g. Erasmus Mundus
Other Action Lines • Lifelong learning • Social dimension • Role of students
Advantages • Bologna brings some challenges but has the potential of providing a number of advantages: • Enhanced mobility • International dimension • Employability • Global competitiveness
Issues for Curriculum Reform • Degree length • Do we consider adopting the Bologna model of 3 + 2? • Student mobility • How do we enhance student mobility? • Should we look to use the ‘extra year’ to provide such opportunity? • Joint degrees • - Should we look at the opportunities this might provide in terms of a more global experience for our students?