How European Credit Transfer System Works
The main tools used to make ECTS work and
facilitate academic recognition are: The information package.
Institutions that want to use ECTS produce an information package,
updated annually, in which they describe the courses available at
the institution.
It provides general information about the institution, its
location, student accommodation, administrative procedures
necessary to register and academic calendar.
Good course information is essential to prepare serious study
abroad and descriptions covering the content, pre-requisites, mode
of assessment, time unit, type of course, teaching and learning
methods employed and ECTS credit
value are all included in the information package, along with
a description of the department offering the course. Details of
examination and assessment procedures, the institution's grading
scale and the structure of the curriculum of the degree are also
included. The information package is produced in both the national
language and in a second European Community language. They are
circulated to partner institutions for students and professors to
consult and use in planning study abroad programmes.
The learning agreement describes the programme of study abroad
and is drawn up by the individual student and institutions involved
before the student goes abroad.
The transcript of records, shows the learning achievements of
the student prior to and after the period of study abroad. The
transcript of records show for every course taken by the student
not only the ECTS credits but also the grade awarded according to
the local grading scale and the ECTS grading scale. The combination
of the local grades and the ECTS credits and grades represents
qualitatively and quantitatively the performance of the student on
the courses at the host institution.
These tools are used by the institutional and departmental
coordinators, appointed by each institution to deal with the
administrative and academic aspects of ECTS. It is their role to
advise and counsel students who wish to participate in ECTS. By
using ECTS, transparency of curricula and students' learning
achievements is created, which in turn facilitates academic
recognition.
Page last updated 1/10/2009