The Chemistry Eurobachelor

Introduction and Report on Current Status

Peter Gaertner

EUPEN´s 8th General Forum

Ghent, Belgium

September 2006

The „Tuning Project“ is the HE institutions‘ answer to the political decisions underlying the Bologna process.

It involves almost 150 HE institutions in 9 subject area groups; apart from chemistry, these are: physics, mathematics, history, earth sciences, business, education sciences, nursing, European studies.

The chemistry Eurobachelor is a product of Tuning.

Both the Network and the Association are open; further member institutions, chemical societies or other chemistry-interested organisations are welcome to join us try!

ECTN is a network with over 146 members from 29 countries; apart from universities these include ten national chemical societies (AT, CZ, DE, FR, IT, LT, NL, SK, TR, UK).

ECTN also exists in the form of an Association under Belgian law.

• 2001-2002: developed by Tuning Chemistry Subject Area Group

• May 2002: presented at Closing Meeting of Tuning Phase One in Brussels

• April 2003: adopted by ECTN Association Assembly in Prague

• October 2003: adopted by FECS (now EuCheMS) General Assembly (…from Cork to Vladivostok)

• April 2004: ECTN Association decides to offer “Eurobachelor Label” to interested institutions

• September 2004: application to EU Commission for funding of pilot project for accreditation of the “Chemistry Eurobachelor Label” accepted (2 years)

• June 2006: end of pilot project

The Eurobachelor Story – A Brief Timetable

• Quality: defining reference points on an international basis.

• Quality assurance: evaluation and accreditation.• Autonomy: not a straitjacket but a framework to

be applied as the institution wishes.• Flexibility: it can readily be adapted as the needs

of the subject change.• Transparency: together with the Diploma

Supplement it is an easily understood qualification.

• Mobility: it makes it possible for the graduate to move easily within Europe, but also almost certainly throughout the world.

• Recognition: even if the Lisbon convention is in force, institutions need to apply it.

• The Eurobachelor is based on ECTS and its correct application.

What is the Eurobachelor about

Planned or realised (as of Feb. 2005): Ba = 180 ECTS Ba = 240 ECTS VARIABLE ONE TIER

Planned or realised (as of Feb. 2005): Ba = 180 ECTS Ba = 240 ECTS VARIABLE ONE TIER

Length of the First Cycle

The Chemistry Eurobachelor - A framework for a European first-cycle

degree in chemistry

OutcomesDefine which competences a programme seeks to

develop, or what its graduates should be able to know, to understand, and to do

• Aid to transparency• Aid to the development of better-defined

degrees• Aid to the development of systems of recognition• Aid to employability

Chemistry Eurobachelor – defined as a programme of 180 credits based on outcomes, but also applicable to institutions using 240 credits.

Aspects considered in the Chemistry Eurobachelor

• Learning outcomes (adapted from QAA benchmarks–UK)

• Modularisation

• Credit distribution

• ECTS and student workload

• Mobility

• Methods of Teaching and Learning

• Assessment, Grading

• Quality Assurance

Outcomes

• Subject knowledge

• Abilities and Skills(a) Chemistry-related cognitive abilities and skills(b) Chemistry-related practical skills(c) Generic/Transferable skills

• Major aspects of chemical terminology, nomenclature, conventions and units.

• The major types of chemical reaction and the main characteristics associated with them.

• The principles and procedures used in chemical analysis and the characterisation of chemical compounds.

• The characteristics of the different states of matter and the theories used to describe them.

• The principles of thermodynamics and their applications to chemistry.

• The principles of quantum mechanics and their application to the description of the structure and properties of atoms and molecules.

• The kinetics of chemical change, including catalysis; the mechanistic interpretation of chemical reactions.

Outcomes – Subject Knowledge (1)

• The characteristic properties of elements and their compounds, including group relationships and trends within the Periodic Table

• The structural features of chemical elements and their compounds, including stereochemistry

• The properties of aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic and organometallic compounds

• The nature and behaviour of functional groups in organic molecules

• Major synthetic pathways in organic chemistry, involving functional group interconversions and carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation

• The relation between bulk properties and the properties of individual atoms and molecules, including macromolecules (both natural and man-made), polymers and other related materials

• The structure and reactivity of important classes of biomolecules and the chemistry of important biological processes.

Outcomes – Subject Knowledge (2)

Abilities and Skills

(a) Chemistry-related cognitive abilities and skills

• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles, and theories relating to the defined subject knowledge

• Ability to apply such knowledge and understanding to the solution of qualitative and quantitative problems of a familiar nature

• Skills in the evaluation, interpretation, and synthesis of chemical information and data

• Ability to recognise and implement good measurement science and practice

• Skills in presenting scientific material and arguments in writing and orally, to an informed audience

• Computational and data processing skills, relating to chemical information and data

Abilities and Skills

(b) Chemistry-related practical skills

• Skills in the safe handling of chemical materials, taking into account their physical and chemical properties, including any specific hazards associated with their use

• Skills required for the conduct of standard laboratory procedures involved and use of instrumentation in synthetic and analytical work, in relation to both organic and inorganic systems

• Skills in the monitoring, by observation and measurement, of chemical properties, events or changes, and the systematic and reliable recording and documentation thereof.

• Ability to interpret data derived from laboratory observations and measurements in terms of their significance and relate them to appropriate theory

• Ability to conduct risk assessments concerning the use of chemical substances and laboratory procedures

Abilities and Skills

(c) Generic skills (1): These are the Key to Employability of the Bachelor!

• The capacity to apply knowledge in practice, in particular problem-solving competences, relating to both qualitative and quantitative information.

• Numeracy and calculation skills, including such aspects as error analysis, order-of-magnitude estimations, and correct use of units.

• Information-management competences, in relation to primary and secondary information sources, including information retrieval through on-line computer searches.

• Ability to analyse material and synthesise concepts.• The capacity to adapt to new situations and to make

decisions.• Information-technology skills such as word-processing and

spreadsheet use, data-logging and storage, subject-related use of the Internet.

Abilities and Skills

(c) Generic skills (2): These are the Key to Employability of the Bachelor!

• Skills in planning and time management.• Interpersonal skills, relating to the ability to interact

with other people and to engage in team-working.• Communication competences, covering both written

and oral communication, in one of the major European languages (English, German, Italian, French, Spanish) as well as in the language of the home country.

• Study competences needed for continuing professional development. These will include in particular the ability to work autonomously.

• Ethical commitment.

Modularisation

• We recommend that the chemistry Eurobachelor programme should be modular, with EITHER 5, 10, 15 OR 6, 9, 12, 15 credits per module

• The learning outcomes for each module should be identified

• The modules should be of three types:compulsorysemi-optionaland elective (freedom for the student is

important!)

Credit Distribution (1)

• At least 150 of the 180 credits should deal with chemistry, physics, biology or mathematics.

• The course should include EITHER a bachelor thesis of 15 ECTS credits OR an equivalent industry placement.

Credit Distribution (2)

Compulsory modules (total of at least 90 credits): Organic chemistry Inorganic chemistry Physical chemistry Analytical chemistry Biological chemistry Physics MathematicsSemi-optional modules (a minimum of 3 modules -

15 credits) from: Biology Computational chemistry Chemical technology Macromolecular chemistry ….and others, depending on the institution

The assessment of student performance will be based on a combination of the following:

Written examinationsOral examinationsLaboratory reportsProblem-solving exercisesOral presentationsThe Bachelor Thesis

Additional factors which may be taken into account when assessing student performance may be derived from:

Literature surveys and evaluationsCollaborative workPreparation and displays of posters reporting thesis or other work

Assessment Procedures and Performance Criteria (1)

Assessment (2)

• This should involve examinations at the end of each term or semester.

• “Comprehensive examinations" are possible, but must be given credits.

• Written examinations will probably predominate over oral examinations.

• Examinations should not be overlong; 2-3 hour examinations will probably be the norm.

• Examination papers should if possible be marked anonymously and the student should be provided with maximum feedback, for example in the form of "model answers".

Examination questions should be problem-based as far as possible; though essay-type questions may be appropriate in some cases, questions involving the reproduction of material simply learned by heart learning should be avoided as far as possible.

Questions should be designed to cover the following aspects:

The knowledge baseConceptual understandingProblem-solving abilityExperimental and related skillsTransferable skills

Assessment (3)

Quality Assurance: the “Eurobachelor

Label”

Supported by the European Commission (pilot project)

Run by an international “Label Committee”

• First: “Slimline” self-assessment procedure

• Second: One-day site visit by 1 national and 2 international experts (at least in the pilot phase)

• Third: Award recommendation made by Label Committee

• Final decision taken by Administrative Council of ECTN Association

• National chemical societies and EuCheMS will play a vital role

• Valid for 5 years with simple renewal procedure

The Label Committee

• Raffaella Pagani, Madrid (chair)• Terry Mitchell, Dortmund (executive secretary)• Pavel Drasar, Prague• Marek Frankowicz, Krakow• Peter Gärtner, Vienna• Gino Paolucci, Venice• Janusz Ryczkowski, Lublin• Reiner Salzer, Dresden• Evangelia Varella, Thessaloniki• Kristiina Wähälä, Helsinki

The 8 members are elected by ECTNA member institutions in a way that every two years 4 members are replaced. This guarantees continuity.

The Site Visit

• 2 international experts• 1 national expert• One-day visit• Discussions with institution leaders,

programme coordinators, teachers, students

• Tour of facilities

The International Experts

• Phase 1 (10 visits): 2 members of Label Committee (LC) per visit

• Phase 2 (10 visits): 1 member of LC plus one member of ECTNA

• Phase 3: will include representatives of institutions who have the Label

The National Expert

• Where possible, nomination by the national Chemical Society

• Failing this, nomination by the Label Committee

• ECTNA national representatives were selected to advise on selection of experts where necessary

• Applications during the pilot project: 26, from 20 institutions and 11 countries

• Countries so far: Finland, Ireland, Italy, Czech Republik,

Hungary, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, The Netherlands

• First award: University of Helsinki

Statistic and Data on the Pilot Project

Labels Awarded (taken from www.eurobachelor.net)

The Costs

• No cost to students (but they benefit!)• During pilot project: total cost to the

institution € 2000• After pilot project: the institution will

have to bear costs for the site visit (an equal flat rate for all institutions) which is currently € 4750

• Possible fee reduction for members of ECTN Association (after pilot project) which is currently € 3000

Outlook

• Start and establish cooperation with partner institutions

• Start of pilot project for the introduction of a Euromaster Label in July 2006