Visibility of European Higher Education Area initiatives in Spanish universities home websites Luis M. SÁNCHEZ-RUIZ, Mónica E. EDWARDS & Enrique BALLESTER-SARRIAS Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia (Spain) 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

Why universities websites Context Goals Sample and methodology Results Conclusions PLAN 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

Why universities websites

Context

Goals

Sample and methodology

Results

Conclusions

Websites usually become the first external image of the University. Websites may even become the only source of information for outsiders Websites are the first shopwindow where heterogeneous people (students, teachers, researchers, administrative staff, etc.) can consult the subjects they are interested in by interacting with the institutions. UNIVERSITIES WEBSITES 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

Websites usually become the first external image of the University.

Websites may even become the only source of information for outsiders

Websites are the first shopwindow where heterogeneous people (students, teachers, researchers, administrative staff, etc.) can consult the subjects they are interested in by interacting with the institutions.

UNIVERSITIES WEBSITES Define the image of the University in the outside. An instrument to show the institutional culture and its own identity. Become the only element of communication and publicity of the structure and activities showing its philosophy, organization and strategic position. Their success depends upon its quality, distribution, and many other competitive factors including its size, language, age, visibility, popularity and its impact factor, among other aspects. 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

Define the image of the University in the outside.

An instrument to show the institutional culture and its own identity.

Become the only element of communication and publicity of the structure and activities showing its philosophy, organization and strategic position.

Their success depends upon its quality, distribution, and many other competitive factors including its size, language, age, visibility, popularity and its impact factor, among other aspects.

CONTEXT 4 Göteborg 7 Graz 2003 5 Praga 2001 1 París 1998 6 Zürich 2002 8 Berlín 2003 2 Bolonia 1999 3 Salamanca 9 Bergen 2005

CONTEXT The Bologna Declaration called for the following: Adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees A degree structure based on two main cycles (undergraduate and graduate) A common system of credits (the European Credit Transfer System, ECTS) Elimination of obstacles for mobility of students and job seekers 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

The Bologna Declaration called for the following:

Adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees

A degree structure based on two main cycles (undergraduate and graduate)

A common system of credits (the European Credit Transfer System, ECTS)

Elimination of obstacles for mobility of students and job seekers

CONTEXT change organizational change structural change change change cultural change change change of academic culture 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

GOALS We try to answer the following questions: Is the information of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) actually available in all Spanish universities websites? Are Spanish initiatives for EHEA visible in their websites? How visible is this presence? 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

We try to answer the following questions:

Is the information of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) actually available in all Spanish universities websites?

Are Spanish initiatives for EHEA visible in their websites?

How visible is this presence?

the European Higher Education Area related content quality and quantity web page characteristics and actualization how easily this content may be reached METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE We analyze different features in N = 56 Spanish Universities considering 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

the European Higher Education Area related content

quality and quantity

web page characteristics and actualization

how easily this content may be reached

METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE Pages and Log (pages) for introduction of EHEA expression. Content access facility, analyzing the difficult level (easy, average and difficult to find EHEA issues within the website). Content weight amount related to the quality and quantity of information (measure with the scale 1 to 5). Innovation networks references at national or international level. For example, Tuning project . 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

Pages and Log (pages) for introduction of EHEA expression.

Content access facility, analyzing the difficult level (easy, average and difficult to find EHEA issues within the website).

Content weight amount related to the quality and quantity of information (measure with the scale 1 to 5).

Innovation networks references at national or international level. For example, Tuning project .

RESULTS Access to EHEA expression in Spanish websites 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

RESULTS The general tittles in the introduction of EHEA issues are usually in English, but the contents are in Spanish or in other local community languages (catalán, euskera, gallego, valenciano). The majority of websites are in Spanish language (and without English translation possibility), and this situation is unfavourable for the information exchange at international level. 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

The general tittles in the introduction of EHEA issues are usually in English, but the contents are in Spanish or in other local community languages (catalán, euskera, gallego, valenciano).

The majority of websites are in Spanish language (and without English translation possibility), and this situation is unfavourable for the information exchange at international level.

RESULTS Level of difficulty for accessing to the EHEA contents 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

RESULTS Percentage of websites with valuation of quality and quantity information level of EHEA contents (from 5 = high level to 0 = nothing) 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

RESULTS The 62.5% of the websites is very good documented in EHEA topics, but only the 33.9% has high level of information at both national and European levels. Only the 33% of the analyzed websites contain activities related to research networks on higher education or provide information about innovation activity with European projection. 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

The 62.5% of the websites is very good documented in EHEA topics, but only the 33.9% has high level of information at both national and European levels.

Only the 33% of the analyzed websites contain activities related to research networks on higher education or provide information about innovation activity with European projection.

The visibility of EHEA on websites shows indirectly the achievements of the Spanish universities and identifies remaining obstacles and weaknesses to the advances in the harmonization of the educative systems and the construction of the European Higher Education Area CONCLUSIONS 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

The visibility of EHEA on websites shows indirectly the achievements of the Spanish universities and identifies remaining obstacles and weaknesses to the advances in the harmonization of the educative systems and the construction of the European Higher Education Area

It is necessary a major visibility of the interactions and transparency of information for the different stakeholders. Further efficiency gains could be reaped from networking national and regional initiatives, sharing information and experience and learning from each other. The improvement of high levels of connectivity into the universities networks may have a significant impact to materialize the Bologna objectives. CONCLUSIONS 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.

It is necessary a major visibility of the interactions and transparency of information for the different stakeholders.

Further efficiency gains could be reaped from networking national and regional initiatives, sharing information and experience and learning from each other.

The improvement of high levels of connectivity into the universities networks may have a significant impact to materialize the Bologna objectives.

Thanks! http:// www.eees.ua.es / http://www.uab.es/servlet/Satellite?cid=1096479900713&pagename=UAB%2FPage%2FTemplatePlanaModel1 http://www.uniovi.es/EEES/ 4th EISTA '06 July 20-23, 2006 – Orlando, Florida, USA.