the european credit transfer system (ects) more details in the site: dr michalis glampedakis...

The European Credit Transfer The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)System (ECTS)

More details in the site: More details in the site: http://www.ehea.infohttp://www.ehea.info

Dr Michalis Glampedakis Professor Technological Institution (University) of Athens GreeceDr Michalis Glampedakis Professor Technological Institution (University) of Athens Greece 11

The European Credit Transfer and The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool of the Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) for European Higher Education Area (EHEA) for making studies and courses more transparent making studies and courses more transparent and thus helping to enhance the quality of and thus helping to enhance the quality of higher education.higher education.

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)


ECTS is a ECTS is a learner-centredlearner-centred system for credit system for credit accumulation and transfer, based on the princi-accumulation and transfer, based on the princi-ple of transparency of the learning, teaching and ple of transparency of the learning, teaching and assessment processes. assessment processes.

Its objective is to facilitate the planning, delive-Its objective is to facilitate the planning, delive-ry and evaluation of study programmes and stu-ry and evaluation of study programmes and stu-dent mobility by recognising learning achieve-dent mobility by recognising learning achieve-ments and qualifications and periods of ments and qualifications and periods of learning.learning.



In 1999 the Bologna Declaration included ECTS In 1999 the Bologna Declaration included ECTS among the main objectives to be achieved by among the main objectives to be achieved by countries participating in the Bologna Process. countries participating in the Bologna Process.

Through the reforms implemented in the course Through the reforms implemented in the course of the Process, ECTS has become a key tool of of the Process, ECTS has become a key tool of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).



ECTS helps the design of educational ECTS helps the design of educational programmes by higher education institutions programmes by higher education institutions (HEIs) or by other providers. (HEIs) or by other providers.

The use of ECTS credits aids programme design The use of ECTS credits aids programme design by providing a tool which improves by providing a tool which improves transparency and helps to engender a more transparency and helps to engender a more flexible approach to curriculum design and flexible approach to curriculum design and development.development.



ECTS for mobility and credit recognition ECTS for mobility and credit recognition supports the credit transfer and recognition in supports the credit transfer and recognition in general, which takes place both in degree and general, which takes place both in degree and credit mobility.credit mobility.



ECTS plays serious role in facilitating LifeLong ECTS plays serious role in facilitating LifeLong Learning, open learning opportunities and the Learning, open learning opportunities and the recognition of prior learning and experience.recognition of prior learning and experience.

ECTS contributes to quality enhancement in ECTS contributes to quality enhancement in HEIs.HEIs.



Let’s study the ECTS more analytical.Let’s study the ECTS more analytical.



ECTS credits express ECTS credits express the volume of learning the volume of learning based on the defined based on the defined learning outcomes learning outcomes and and their associated their associated workloadworkload. .



60 ECTS credits 60 ECTS credits are allocated to the learning are allocated to the learning outcomes and associated workload of outcomes and associated workload of a full-a full-time academic year time academic year which normally comprises which normally comprises a number of educational components to which a number of educational components to which credits (on the basis of the learning outcomes credits (on the basis of the learning outcomes and workload) are allocated. and workload) are allocated.

ECTS credits are generally expressed in whole ECTS credits are generally expressed in whole numbers.numbers.



ECTS CreditsECTS Credits 25 to 30 hours of workload for one credit25 to 30 hours of workload for one credit 60 ECTS credits for one academic year,60 ECTS credits for one academic year, 1500-1800 hours workload per academic 1500-1800 hours workload per academic

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Learning outcomes Learning outcomes are statements of what the are statements of what the individual knows, understands and is able to do individual knows, understands and is able to do on completion of a learning process. on completion of a learning process.

The achievement of learning outcomes has to be The achievement of learning outcomes has to be assessed through procedures based on clear and assessed through procedures based on clear and transparent criteria. transparent criteria.

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Learning outcomes Learning outcomes are attributed to individual are attributed to individual educational components and to educational components and to programmesprogrammes at a at a whole. whole.

They are also used in European and national They are also used in European and national qualifications frameworks to describe the level qualifications frameworks to describe the level of the individual qualification. of the individual qualification.



Workload Workload is an estimation of the time the indi-is an estimation of the time the indi-vidual typically needs to complete all learning vidual typically needs to complete all learning activities such as lectures, seminars, projects, activities such as lectures, seminars, projects, practical work, work placements and individual practical work, work placements and individual study required to achieve the defined learning study required to achieve the defined learning outcomes in formal learning environments.outcomes in formal learning environments.

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Workload Workload ….. …..

The correspondence of the work-load of an The correspondence of the work-load of an academic year is often formalised by national academic year is often formalised by national legal provisions. legal provisions.

Generally, workload ranges from 1,500 to 1,800 Generally, workload ranges from 1,500 to 1,800 hours for an academic year, hours for an academic year, so,so, one credit corre- one credit corre-sponds to 25 to 30 hours of work. sponds to 25 to 30 hours of work.

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Workload Workload ….. …..

It should be recognised that this represents the It should be recognised that this represents the typical workload and that for individual students typical workload and that for individual students the actual time to achieve the specified learning the actual time to achieve the specified learning outcomes will vary.outcomes will vary.



Credit transfer Credit transfer is the key to successful study is the key to successful study mobility. mobility.

Institutions, Faculties, Departments and/or other Institutions, Faculties, Departments and/or other educational units may make agreements educational units may make agreements (between sender and hosting) which shall (between sender and hosting) which shall guarantee the automatic recognition and transfer guarantee the automatic recognition and transfer of credits.of credits.

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Transfer of credits Transfer of credits is the process of having is the process of having credits awarded in a programme of an institution credits awarded in a programme of an institution recognised in another formal context for the recognised in another formal context for the purpose of obtaining a qualification. purpose of obtaining a qualification.

Credits awarded to students in one programme Credits awarded to students in one programme may be transferred from an institution to be may be transferred from an institution to be accumulated in another programme offered by accumulated in another programme offered by the same or another institution. the same or another institution.



ECTS is adopted ECTS is adopted as the national credit system as the national credit system in most countries of the EHEA. in most countries of the EHEA.

In other regions of the world, it is increasingly In other regions of the world, it is increasingly used by institutions or interacts successfully used by institutions or interacts successfully with local credit systems based on comparable with local credit systems based on comparable criteria, thus playing a role in the growing criteria, thus playing a role in the growing global dimension of education.global dimension of education.



ECTS increases the transparency and readability ECTS increases the transparency and readability of the educational process and thus plays an ef-of the educational process and thus plays an ef-fective role in stimulating change and moderni-fective role in stimulating change and moderni-sation, because its implementation encourages sation, because its implementation encourages the paradigm shift the paradigm shift from a teacher-centredfrom a teacher-centred to a to a learner-centred learner-centred approach, which is recognised approach, which is recognised as an underlying principle of the EHEA.as an underlying principle of the EHEA.



ECTS facilitates ECTS facilitates mobilitymobility from institution to from institution to institutioninstitution, , from country to countryfrom country to country, and , and between different educational sectors and between different educational sectors and contexts of learningcontexts of learning (i.e. formal, non-formal, (i.e. formal, non-formal, informal and work-based learning), through informal and work-based learning), through recognition and credit transfer.recognition and credit transfer.



ECTS is ECTS is designed designed not to replace the national not to replace the national systemssystems, but , but to enhance the understanding of to enhance the understanding of them in other countriesthem in other countries..



Are there problems with the ECTS impleme-Are there problems with the ECTS impleme-ntation? ntation? Yes! There are. See some:Yes! There are. See some:•ΗΗow to estimate how many hours of study ow to estimate how many hours of study equal to one credit?equal to one credit?•How many hours a student can work a week?How many hours a student can work a week?•How many weeks make an academic year?How many weeks make an academic year?•Students attend courses that concern or those Students attend courses that concern or those with the most creditswith the most credits??



Are there problems with the ECTS impleme-Are there problems with the ECTS impleme-ntation? ntation? Yes! There are. See some:Yes! There are. See some:

Not mentioned, but Not mentioned, but it are importantit are important!!•Is correct the workload estimation for each Is correct the workload estimation for each subject? And whose estimates it?subject? And whose estimates it?•Controversy between the academic staff on how Controversy between the academic staff on how much ECTS will have their lesson!much ECTS will have their lesson!




Course credits are not defined by faculty Course credits are not defined by faculty contact hours, but are determined by the contact hours, but are determined by the student's workload. Faculty are asked to student's workload. Faculty are asked to 'cost 'cost outout' the workload in a course, and then credits ' the workload in a course, and then credits are assigned by a “are assigned by a “wayway”. ”.

Components of the workload include hours in Components of the workload include hours in class, time spent on learning activities, such as class, time spent on learning activities, such as writing papers, doing lab work, and so on, and writing papers, doing lab work, and so on, and the preparation by the student for and time a the preparation by the student for and time a student spends on assessments.student spends on assessments.

Dr Michalis Glampedakis Professor Dr Michalis Glampedakis Professor Technological Institution Technological Institution

(University) of Athens Greece(University) of Athens Greece

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There is no direct link between contact There is no direct link between contact hours and creditshours and credits. For example, a lecture . For example, a lecture hour may require three hours of independent hour may require three hours of independent study by the student, while a two-hour seminar study by the student, while a two-hour seminar might involve a full week of preparation. might involve a full week of preparation.

A student-workload based system, like ECTS, A student-workload based system, like ECTS, therefore therefore cannot be based on contact hourscannot be based on contact hours, , even if a university uses the indication of the even if a university uses the indication of the number of contact hours for other purposes, number of contact hours for other purposes, such as calculating staff time. such as calculating staff time.



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Makes study programMakes study programmemes more understandable s more understandable and easier to compare,and easier to compare,

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The ECTS:The ECTS:



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Enhances academic recognition, Enhances academic recognition,

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The ECTS:The ECTS:



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Enhances academic recognition, Enhances academic recognition, Facilitates students’ mobility,Facilitates students’ mobility,

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The ECTS:The ECTS:



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Makes study programMakes study programmemes more understandable and easier s more understandable and easier to compareto compare

Enhances academic recognition Enhances academic recognition Facilitates students’ mobilityFacilitates students’ mobility Encourages the diversity of academic curriculum & Encourages the diversity of academic curriculum &

knowledge of other cultures.knowledge of other cultures.

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The ECTS:The ECTS:



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……....Makes European HE more attractive for students Makes European HE more attractive for students from other continents,from other continents,

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The ECTS:The ECTS:



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……....Makes European HE more attractive for students Makes European HE more attractive for students from other continents,from other continents,Plays an important role within the EHEA Plays an important role within the EHEA being being promoted within the EU,promoted within the EU,

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The ECTS:The ECTS:



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……....Makes European HE more attractive for students Makes European HE more attractive for students from other continents,from other continents,Plays an important role within the EHEA Plays an important role within the EHEA being being promoted within the EU,promoted within the EU,Access to high quality HE. Access to high quality HE.

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The ECTS:The ECTS:



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Legal Framework Legal Framework Allocation of Credits Allocation of Credits Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes Information and Co-ordinationInformation and Co-ordination

Requirements of ECTS Requirements of ECTS



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Steps of the Implementation Steps of the Implementation



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Credits where credits are due – The ECTS! Credits where credits are due – The ECTS! Dr Michalis Glampedakis Professor Dr Michalis Glampedakis Professor

Technological Institution Technological Institution (University) of Athens Greece(University) of Athens Greece

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24 countries had already finished (49%)14 countries were closed to the end (29%) 7 countries were in the middle of the necessary activities (14%) 3 countries were at the beginning of the implementation (6) and, 1 country had not yet started (2%)


Implementation Range on 2013-2014 Implementation Range on 2013-2014


No data are available, but we estimate that more than 75% of the countries have fully implement the ECTS.




It is a bumpy road, with many obstacles, but leads to well and useful clearings.




Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

for any further information for any further information

do not hesitate to contact medo not hesitate to contact meDr Michalis Glampedakis, Professor, Athens TEIBologna ExpertSite: http://users.teiath.gr/mglambEmail: [email protected]

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the european credit transfer system (ects) more details in the site: dr michalis glampedakis...

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