Joint Studies A New Way to Earn a Diploma

Joint Studies

A New Way to Earn a Diploma

Third Croatian Seminar on BP

Dubrovnik, Juny 30 to July 2, 2005 Melita Kovačević


Dubrovnik, Juny 30 to July 2, 2005

JOINT CURRICULA AND JOINT DEGREES

In order to further strengthen the important European dimensions of higher education and graduate employability, Ministers called upon the higher education sector to increase the development of modules,courses and curricula at all levels with ”European” content, orientation or organisation. This concerns particularly modules, courses and degree curricula offered in partnership by institutions from different countries and leading to a recognized joint degree.

(Prague Communiqué, 2001)



JOINT CURRICULA vs. JOINT DEGREES

In order to further strengthen the important European dimensions of higher education and graduate employability, Ministers called upon the higher education sector to increase the development of modules,courses and curricula at all levels with ”European” content, orientation or organisation. This concerns particularly modules, courses and degree curricula offered in partnership by institutions from different countries and leading to a recognized joint degree.

(Prague Communiqué, 2001)



JOINT DEGREES – definitionafter study programmes that correspond to all or at least some of the following:

the programs are developed and/or approved by several institutions

students from each institution study part of the program at other participating institution

the students’ stay at the participating institutions are comparable length

periods of study and passed exams are recognised fully and automatically

professors of each participating institution also teach at the other institutions and work on curriculum jointly

after completing the program, the student either obtains the national degree or a degree awarded jointly



cooperation in QArecognition of degrees and qualification

transparency and convergence of EHE systems

staff and student mobility

international employability

enhanced attractiveness

joint curricula / joint degrees manifold

Mei:CogSci: Middle European international master programme in Cognitive Science

Tempus meeting, March 16 - 17, 2005, Zagreb

To learn about “European dimension” in action Reflect on stand-alone degrees To help improve inter-university cooperation since Joint

programmes require: transparency and agreement on degree structures student and professor mobility joint curriculum development proper use of ECTS language policy

EUA’s Interest in Joint Programmes:





Conclusions:

agreed that joint degrees are important instruments for implementing the objectives of the Bologna Process, promoting mobility of students and teachers, employability, quality, the European dimension and the attractiveness of the EHEA

quality assurance is necessary to guarantee international acceptance

mutual trust and co-operation between national QA systems would be essential to avoid problems with recognition of joint degrees

The Stockholm Seminar (May, 2002)





The Stockholm Seminar

Common denominators for European joint degrees were proposed, among them the following:

two or more participating institutions in two or more countries

a joint study programme confirmed in a written agreement between the institutions

the requirement of student and staff mobility

linguistic diversity

a European dimension





Analysis supported the Stockholm conclusions:

Efforts to establish joint degrees are relevant to most objectives of the Bologna Process

Effect of a joint programme may be greater than the sum of its parts when each partner covers the part where it is the most competent

Joint degrees exist in most fields of study

Joint degrees are more common on the second degree level than on the lower level

Stockholm Seminar Follow – up :Andrejs Rauhvargers: EUA Survey on Master Degrees and Joint Degrees in Europe

(September 2002)





Stockholm Seminar Follow – up :Andrejs Rauhvargers: EUA Survey on Master Degrees and Joint Degrees in Europe

(September 2002)

Obstacles

National legislation do not hinder joint programmes, but that legislation in many countries makes it difficult or impossible to award a joint degree

Recognition of joint degrees often is more complicated than recognition of national degrees





(October 2002)

The Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research of the Council of Europe adopted a set of recommendations.

Lisbon Recognition Convention Committee encouraged to consider adopting a subsidiary text to the Convention on the Recognition of Joint Degrees, and governments



governments asked to review national legislation to remove obstacles



(June 2004)

Recommendation on the Recognition of Joint Degrees

(subsidiary to the Lisbon Recognition Convention)

governments should:

- review their legislation to remove legal obstacles

- introduce legal provisions to facilitate recognition







Joint Degrees and Fields of Study











some examples (country / programme):

France 200

Germany 1140 (300 “real” joint degrees)

Poland 10 – 20

Spain 6% of all programmes



Joint Degree Study – New Possibilities and Chalenges

A. Teaching methods

B. Teaching areas

C. The degree

D. Job placement





A. Teaching Methods

Frontal learning combined with: Distance learning

setting up a web sitevideoconferences

short study courseslectures of the foreign teachersintensive laboratory stagesparticipation in seminars, workshops and conferencesco-tutoring of final thesis

Tutoring and co-tutoring of foreign teachers (definition of individual curricula )

Language: English (lessons and thesis)





Newly developed areas such as:

biotechnologynew materialsearth sciences …

Multidisciplinary approach:

In 70% of the projects

B. Teaching Areas

Joint degrees share

teaching staff

equipment





Joint degree: mutually recognised by the universities (partners in the project) signed by the rectors of the participating universities

legislation problems temporary solution: multiple degrees

Final discussion on the thesis:mixed commission with representatives of all the partner universities(in cases, external experts also)



C. The Degree



• contacts between universities and industrial word letters of recommendation with list of publications of the students

and of patents organization of short stages in industries

agreements for professional training contracts

• agreements between partner universities for common monitoring of placement of graduates

• organization of workshops for the dissemination of results of the project and the promotion of the job placement

• contacts with partner universities for possible post-doc grants

• curricula of the graduates in the web site of the partner universities



D. Job Placement



Problems and obstacles

• diversity on:

• Legal systems - lack of legislation for the joint degrees- different legislation on doctoral studies

• Administrative procedures - complexity of bureaucracy in order to make the international agreements mutually compatible

• Learning structures - difficulties in harmonizing curricula and modules





Legal Situation and Financial Incentives

• still many of national legislations do not allow joint degrees

• possibility of awarding traditional “Double Degrees”

• Austrian University Act, 2002 – legislation combined with financial incentives

• grants for student mobility – not sufficient





• comparative evaluation of methodologies

• inclusion of young researchers in high level international scientific frameworks

• doctoral studies relevant to the labour market of several European countries

• creation and adoption of an organization module, from the institutional, logistic and educational point of view, apable to overcome the differences of the individual European countries



Positive aspects

European Joint Degrees: a hallmark of excellence of the EHEA

Documents

Joint Studies A New Way to Earn a Diploma