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SCHE in EUROPE The Missing Link : Level 5 EQF

Preliminary resultsAmsterdam, 18 June 2010

Magda Kirsch & Yves BeernaertEduconsult

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EURASHE SCHE study EURASHE SCHE study 20102010: Context: Context

In 2003 the European Commission commissioned EURASHE to carry out a study on TSC study in Europe.

In order to monitor progress that has been made in the field of short cycle higher education in Europe, the European Commission has asked EURASHE to carry out a follow-up report.

The study is made by Yves Beernaert and Magda Kirsch (EDUCONSULT), two of the researchers who also carried out the first Eur. TSC study in 2003.

They are at present collecting information and the results of the study should be available at the end of 2010.

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Scope of the 2003 SCHE Study

EU Member States (27) + EEA + TR + HR Focus on both post-secondary (level 4) and

SCHE (level 5 of EQF) No focus on employability and multilingualism A close link with the Berlin Ministerial conference

2003: preparatory document

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The Berlin Ministerial Conference: A turnaround for SCHE in the Bologna Process

Berlin Communiqué (2003): ´Realising the European Higher Education Area’ : comprehensive restructuring of the Eur. HE

to promote links between the European Research Area (ERA) and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) PhD. was added to two-cycle system .

to elaborate an overarching framework of qualifications for the EHEA that would encompass the wide range of flexible learning paths, opportunities and techniques, and would make appropriate use of the ECTS credits.

encouraged the MS to elaborate a framework of comparable and compatible qualifications for their higher education systems, describing qualifications in terms of workload, level, learning outcomes, competences and profile

stressed the important contribution of HE in making LLL a reality (including RPL)

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The Berlin Ministerial Conference: A turnaround for SCHE in the Bologna Process

As a result of the study on TSC Ministers also invited the Bologna Follow-up Group

‘to explore whether and how shorter higher education may be linked to the first cycle of a qualifications framework for the European Higher Education Area’ 

Scope of the 2010 European Study

EU Member States (27) + EEA + TR Focus solely on SCHE (Level 5 of EQF)

– No focus on post secondary education (level 4) Development as to SCHE in the light of EQF and

NQF developments Special focus on

– Employability– Multilingualism

Close link with EU strategy Ed & Tr 2010

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EURASHE SCHE study 2010EURASHE SCHE study 2010Definition for SCHEDefinition for SCHE

European Higher Education Area Framework (3 cycles)

– within the first cycle, short cycle higher educationqualifications typically including or represented byapproximately 120 ECTS credits – within national contexts- see also Dublin descriptor for this qualification

EQF for LLL (8 levels) = Translation device for NQF– Level 5– See also descriptor for level 5 in the EQF

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Methodology :Methodology :SCSCHE study 2010HE study 2010

- Information collected by 4 regional coordinators

- Country reports/files made by researchers sent for approval to Ministries of Education- Whenever necessary in-depth interviews to

complete data- Comparative European report- Examples of good practice- Conclusions & recommendations

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010::Difficulties encounteredDifficulties encountered

- Collection of information- Difficulties with on-line tool- Slow reaction of certain ministries- Certain responses not clear (even inaccurate!)- Few responses from institutions- Discrepancy between situation at federal and

regional level in some countries- Lack of knowledge about EQF- Still confusion about the status of L5

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: status 5/06/2010 : status 5/06/2010

- Around 65 respondents on-line ( so far!)- Responses from 23 Ministries for part A

- all countries- Responses from 18 Ministries for part B

- countries which have SCHE (level 5)- Personal interviews with some ministries

scheduled

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: 23 respondents : 23 respondents

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: 22 respondents : 22 respondents

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: : Where is SCHE situated in NQF? Where is SCHE situated in NQF?

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: 18 respondents : 18 respondents

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: Access: Access

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: Duration: Duration

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: Objectives: Objectives

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010::

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: : Involvement Involvement

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: :

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: :

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010: :

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010::Transition to level 6 Transition to level 6

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010::Participation in SCHEParticipation in SCHE

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010::Participation in SCHE: Participation in SCHE: 15 respondents15 respondents- Nearly 1.5 Million students- 53%Male, 47% Female- In most countries a majority of FT students (between

70% and 90%) - Four exceptions: UK (35%FT?), SI (45%), Ireland

(58%) and LV (52%) and - between 10% and 70% mature students - Majority in NL, NO, SE, SI and UK mature students- In more than half of the countries students from

disadvantaged groups or students with a low socio-economic background are more represented in SCHE than in other areas of HE

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010::ECTS – DS - CSECTS – DS - CS

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010::Profile of teachersProfile of teachers

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010 MobilityMobility

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010 Employability Employability

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SCHE study 2010SCHE study 2010 Employability Employability

- There is a demand for graduates at level 5 in all countries concerned but decreasing in some countries (e.g. NO)

- Employed as highly skilled technicians (7) or white collar/health care workers (6).

Some conclusions

EU strategy in ED & TR is not well known EQF is not well known NQF is progressing / expanding Link between EQF and NQF is not always clear Confusion about the status of L5 SCHE SCHE L5 is gradually developing further across

Europe (e.g. NL, Bnl...)

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Some conclusions

1,5 MIO students Majority of SCHE is in HE Institutions

– Minority in secondary schools etc. SCHE is clearly in line with all major

developments in HE Variety of access routes Professional orientation Theory + practice (+ placements)

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Some conclusions

Involvement of business & social partners Mostly full-time education (but 5 countries

majority mature students – half time) Flexible learning environments Most popular in: business, admin., hospitality, ICT Transition to level 6 is common but... Strong involvement in internationalisation:

– Credits, diploma supplement, mobility, projects

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Some conclusions

QA mechanisms as in other HE Accreditation Employability: rather high

but ....decreasing in some highly developed economies Clear involvement of business, TU, prof. bodies Promotion of Multilingualism rather low Social commitment L5 Link L5 and skills needs ! L5 is necessary link between L4 and L6

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Recommendations

Promote strong links between L5 and HE Clarify the title(s) held: e.g. Associate degree Clarify link L4 – L5: ECVET and ECTS Strengthen social / societal role of L5

– Access to HE for youngsters of low SES Organise PLAs for decision-makers as to L5 to

share good practice Link up with L5 developments across world

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ANY QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!