THE UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK&

QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORKS

BHQFHE KICK-OFF MEETINGPADERBORN UNIVERSITY

DR ANN LEDWITH&

PROF DERMOT COUGHLAN

JANUARY 29TH – 31ST 2014

Midwest Region

Limerick City

•3rd largest city in Ireland

•Compact, Affordable •Close to west coast •European City of Sport 2011 •City of Culture 2014

University of Limerick •Established 1972 – 1 building, 20 hectares. •Last year we celebrated 40 years. Campus - 43 buildings, 150 hectares •11,823 students –9,397 UG students –1,540 Taught PG students –886 Research students

CAMPUS FACILITIES Running Track – UL Arena

UL Boathouse

Faculties

•Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences •Education and Health Sciences •Kemmy Business School •Science and Engineering

Pioneering and Distinctiveness •Industrial placement for all undergraduate students (Coop)

•On campus accommodation – 2,500 students •Philanthropic funding - €130 million •Graduate Medical School •Graduate Employment - strong track record – 2011 graduates 85% employed or pursuing further study.

Key Research Areas •Materials and Surface Science •Information and Communication Technologies •BioEngineering and Biosciences •Energy •Applied Mathematical Sciences •Culture, Diversity and Social Change

International Students

•1,182 full-time international students from over 70 countries

•933 Visiting students on study abroad, Erasmus or exchange

•Largest groups of students - China, India, USA, Saudi Arabia.

ECTS PROJECT AT UL

• Not simply a multiplying factor approach

• All taught programmes and modules were rewritten in terms of learning outcomes.• 4000 modules• 260 programmes

INITIAL DECISIONS TO BE MADE

• Big bang or slow pain?• Establish credit volumes for all UL award types• Level descriptors for UL to inform specific

programme descriptors• Programme template• Module template• Supporting document management system• Guides for programme and module designers

BENEFITS OF CHANGE TO ECTS

• Emphasis on learning outcomes– i.e. emphasis on outputs rather than inputs

• Portal system supports consultation process with key stake holders in the programme approval process (all done on-line)

• Central Database of programme modules and information for use on the web and on other forms of publication

Conclusion• Nationally the Irish Framework is one of the most advanced

in Europe and indeed globally• The Irish Framework has been used and modeled for both the

Australian and New Zealand Frameworks http://www.nqai.ie/documents/Irel-Auspublishedreport.pdf

http://www.nqai.ie/TheCompatibilityofQualificationsinIrelandandNewZealand.html

• From a UL perspective we have implemented the system within our university

• We have advised on its implementation in other countries most recently as part of the CQUO Project which developed a framework for the South Ural Region of Russia

GO RAIBH MÍLE MAITH AGAIBH

THANK YOU