The UK Credit Framework and the Bologna Process

Tim CobbettDirector of Quality and Governance

BOLOGNA PROCESS

Bologna Declaration 1999- 29 European ministers lay basis for

establishing European Higher Education Area by 2010

- Now 46 participating countries- Russia joined in 2003

BOLOGNA PROCESS AIMSConnection of national systemsInternational transparencyInternational recognitionInternational mobility

Bologna: 10 Action Lines (1-5)1. Easily readable and comparable degrees2. 3 cycles (Bachelor, Master, Phd)3. Establishment of a system of credits (ECTS)4. Mobility5. European Co-Operation in Quality Assurance

Bologna: 10 Action Lines (6-10)

6. Promote European dimension 7. Focus on lifelong learning8. Inclusion of institutions and students9. Promote attractiveness of European Higher

Education Area (EHEA)10. Synergy between EHEA and European Research

Area

Bologna First Cycle

= Bachelors= UndergraduateEnd of Cycle Qualifications include:BA (Hons) = Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)BSc (Hons)= Bachelor of Science (with Honours)

Bologna Second Cycle

= Masters = PostgraduateIncludes:MA = Master of ArtsMSc = Master of ScienceMPhil = Master of Philosophy (usually research)

Credit – Common Features

“the allocation of credit provides information about the amount of learning and the academic standards of that learning”

Credit – amount of learning

Total student study hoursStudent workload required to achieve the objectives of a programmeNot just lectures, tutorials, seminarsIncludes self-study time, assessment, etc

Credit – academic standardsLearning Outcomes (and competencies)Level of learning outcomes maps to Bologna cycle Academic requirements of different levels described in Dublin Descriptors – European wide agreement. Universities develop their own learning outcomes, and are assessed to ensure that in line with Dublin Descriptors

European and UK Credit (1)

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)

UK Higher Education Credit Framework

European and UK Credit (2)

1 ECTS Credit = 2 UK Credits1 UK Credit = 10 Study Hours1 ECTS Credit = 20 study Hours

UK National Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)Responsible for Quality Assurance of all UK universities and other HE providersRegular Audits of institutions (6-years)Quality Code sets out expectations for academic standards and quality improvement

UK Credit and Qualifications

FHEQ validated against Bologna Framework in 2008

FHEQ maps directly onto the European frameworkEuropean Qualifications = UK qualificationsUK Credit = European Credit

UK Higher Education Qualifications and Credit

Certificate in HE Level 4 120 credits (1 year)Diploma in HE Level 5 120 credits (1 year)Bachelor Degree Level 6 360 credits (3 years)Masters Degree Level 7 180 credits (12 months)Doctoral Degree Level 8 540 credits (3 years)

Mapping of EHEA Framework to UK Framework, UK Credits and

ECTS

see handout

Masters CoursesUK Mainland Europe

Duration 12 or 13 months Variable - up to 3 years

Credits 180, of which at least 150 at level 7 90-120 ECTS, of which at least 60 at Second Cycle

Websites - Further InformationEuropean Higher Education Area http://www.ehea.info/European University Association http://www.eua.be/Home.aspxUniversities UK International Unit (includes Europe Unit) http://www.international.ac.uk/Quality Assurance Agency http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx