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Akademisches Auslandsamt International Office • Workshop: Focus on Learning Outcomes – If and How? Meike Röhl, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
Akademisches Auslandsamt
International Office
••
Workshop:
Focus on Learning Outcomes –
If and How?Meike Röhl, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
Central Questions
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
centralised vs. decentralised
What can the role of international offices be in a procedure that, in principle,
the faculties are in charge of?
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Facts and figures
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
Foundation: 1607
Staff, approx.: 5,400
Professors, approx.: 380
Degree programmes, approx.: 150
Students (WS 2016/17), approx.: 28,500
International students, approx.: 10%
Int. doctoral candidates, approx.: 25%
Outgoing students, p.a., approx.: 800
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Institutional Profile
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
▪ Law
▪ Business Administration and Economics
▪ Social Sciences and Cultural Studies
▪ History and Cultural Studies
▪ Language, Literature, Culture
▪ Psychology and Sports Science
▪ Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography
▪ Biology, Chemistry
▪ Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Management
▪ Veterinary Medicine
▪ Medicine
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Institutional Profile
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
BFS: Biomedical Research Centre
ECCPS: Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary System (funded by the Excellence Initiative)
GiZo: Giessen Centre for Eastern European Studies
IFZ: Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition
ZEU: Centre for International Development and Environmental Research
ZMI: Centre for Media and Interactivity
GCSC: International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (funded by the Excellence Initiative)
GGL: International Giessen Graduate Centre for the Life Sciences
GGS: International Giessen Graduate Centre for the Social Sciences
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A Brief History of Recognition at JLU
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
▪ HRK (German Rectors Conference) - conference on recognition (2010)
▪ introducing „recognition representatives“ (2010) all faculties/departments had to appoint a person in chargefor ALL mobilities (examples)
▪ repeated topic in „round table study coordinators“, Erasmus coordinators‘-conference, deans of the faculties, etc.
▪ Providing a webpage with info about Lissabon convention(2007) and information on recognition procedures, links toall „recognition representatives“ (2010)
▪ 2016: amendment of higher education statistics law all periods abroad have to be recorded and documented
▪ 2017: development of university-wide form for recognition, replaces LA after mobility
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System currently in place
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
1) planning
2) before mobility: Learning Agreement
3) during mobility: Changes to Learning Agreement, (if necessary)
4) at the end of mobility: Transcript of Records (ToR) from host institution
5) after mobility: application for recognition PLUS ToR to be filed with the „recognitionrepresentative“ of the respective faculty/department
Planning
Courses? Upon Consultation!
Learning Agreement
Transcriptof Records
If necessary: Changes can bemade after the arrival
Submit ToRand
Recognition form
After the stay
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System currently in place
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany8
Recognition of credits achieved at foreign institutions
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
Student fills in theapplication document
(page 1 +2)
Confirmation by the ECTS-recognition representative
(page 2)
Recognition by auditcommitee (or chairperson) +
acquisition in theexamination office
template„recognition of credits achieved
abroad“
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Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
Recognition of credits achieved at foreign institutions
▪ the form was introduced for recognition of credit mobility to be used by all faculties/departments, use of the form is compulsory
▪ Since April 1st, 2017, credit mobility is being recorded by the exmaninationoffices only if the process is documented on the new form
▪ Most importantly: the signature of the „recognition representative“ MUST beon the document
The faculties are asked to inform all staff involved with recognition about thenew procedure and provide information for the students
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Flaws and Obstacles
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
▪ process of recognition is decentralized, therefore there is no consistent process
description for students
▪ faculties/examinations offices partly do not do ex-ante-recognition
▪ no access to (ECTS) course catalogue by the time students have to apply for study
abroad period, so changes to the proposed list of courses are standard which
creates more paperwork
▪ despite all the information/regulations in place, the process is often unclear esp.
for the student
o What if students fail a course? Consequences?
o What if the student does not wish to transfer the credit as agreed in the LA?
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Challenge I - Actors involved in recognition process
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
▪ Students
▪ Faculties / departments / module coordinators
▪ Examination Offices
▪ Chairperson of the board of examiners
Whose perspective are we taking?
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Challenge II – How to involve those involved?
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
▪ Round table degree course coordinators
▪ The deans offices / deans’ round table
▪ Representatives of the examinations offices
▪ Representatives of International Office (counselling function?)
▪ Students?
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Challenge III – Quality Assurance
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
▪ How can we monitor if credits were actually recognised?
▪ How can we assure that learnings outcomes are being given
preference over equivalence?
▪ student perspective: is there an option to file a complaint if here
are problems with recognition?
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3 most important results
Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany15
ECTS Course Catalogue• „universities should work really hard to privide a complete course catalogue,
calendar, with the most detailed information…“• mutual trust and close cooperation with partners• give guidelines and train staff in charge of Course Catalogue
Transparency• selection process• people involved• recognition /students‘ rights• grading conversion
Appreciate diversity• Keep getting those involved talking• Work on individual/flexible solutions for your institution• bear in mind that it DOES make a difference whether you work at a 5.000 or a
40.000 student institution
Stay in Touch!
Beratung zu Studium und Praktikum im Ausland / PROMOS (Advice for study and internship abroad / PROMOS)
Akademisches Auslandsamt der JLU Gießen (International Office)
Goethestraße 58, 35390 Gießen, Zimmer 22
[email protected].: 0641 99-12136
Open consultation hours:
Mon & Wed 10am – 12pm / Thu 2 – 4pm
- Meike Röhl / International Office, JLU Giessen, Germany
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