Joint degrees have a place within national qualifications frameworks and pose unique challenges to quality assurance arrangements

1. Joint degrees
and qualifications frameworks
Chelyabinsk – March 16, 2009
Bologna Process Seminar – Joint Programmes and Student Mobility
Dr Bryan Maguire
Higher Education and Training Awards Council
Ireland
Bmaguire@hetac.ie

2. Outline
• EHEA Qualifications Framework
• National framework of qualifications

3. Why was a Bologna Qualifications
Framework?
• Until 2003, little Europe-wide agreement
or common understanding on what
distinguishes the first 2 cycles
• Bologna process implies the development
of rigorous qualification frameworks that
make qualifications really transparent

4. Principles
• Qualifications are a matter of national
policy and law
• Framework for the EHEA is an
overarching “framework of frameworks”
• EHEA framework will not cover all the
features required in national frameworks

5. Purpose of EHEA framework
• International transparency
• International recognition
• International mobility
– Assist in identifying points of articulation
between national frameworks

6. EHEA Framework
• Three main cycles
– First cycle (e.g. bachelors)
– Second cycle (e.g. masters)
– Third cycle (e.g. PhD)

7. Learning outcomes
• Key conceptual development
• Descriptors of learning outcomes,
including competences
• Generic end-of-cycle outcomes

8. Dublin Descriptors
• knowledge and understanding
• applying knowledge and understanding
• making judgements
• communications skills
• learning skills

9. European Credit Accumulation
and Transfer System
• Short cycle (within or linked to first cycle)
– 120 approx
• First cycle
– 180-240
• Second cycle
– Min 60, normally 90-120
• Third cycle
– Usually not credit bearing

10. Linking frameworks
National => European
• Criteria
• Procedures for self-certification

11. Criteria for national frameworks
• Ministerial designation
• Qualifications linked to descriptors
• Based on learning outcomes & ECTS
• Bologna-compatible QA arrangements
• Transparent inclusion
• Diploma supplement referenced
• Published responsibilities

12. Procedures
• Self-certification by competent authority
• Process evidence published
• Relevant national QA agreement
• International dimension to certification
process
• ENIC/NARIC maintain listing of the self-
certified
• Diploma supplement note

13. Alignment of national
frameworks
• Ireland, 2006
• Scotland, 2006
• Germany, 2008
• England, Wales and Northern Ireland (UK), 2009
• The Netherlands, 2009
• Flanders (Belgium), 2009
• These have been aligned in using the criteria
and procedures for self-certification

14. National Framework of
Qualifications - Ireland
• architecture: Levels, Award-types,
Named Awards
• a structure of 10 levels
• level indicators
• 10 level grid of indicators, defined in
terms of 8 dimensions of knowledge,
know-how & skill and competence
(‘substrands’)

16. National framework as a
communications tool
• Transparency
• Qualifications recognition
• Learner and worker mobility

17. www.qualificationsrecognition.ie
Подтверждение квалификаций – Ирландия –
ирландский центр подтверждения
иностранных квалификаций. Если у Вас есть
иностранная квалификация, и Вы
собираетесь в дальнейшем учиться и (или)
работать в Ирландии, организация
Подтверждение Квалификаций – Ирландия
может помочь Вам.

19. Проверка соответствия Национальной
квалификационной системы Ирландии
квалификационной системе Европейского
пространства высшего образования
Резюме
заключительного отчета –
ноябрь 2006 года
Verification of framework
2006

20. Verification of framework