Erasmus Workshop

What is PRIME?

Problems of Recognition In Making ErasmusEuropean-wide research projectConducted by ESN with the support of the European CommissionTwo editions: • 1st in 2009• Follow-up in 2010

Why PRIME?

20 years of Erasmus Programme• Over 2 million students in total• Annually 180.000

Recognition problems remain:• Full recognition only for slightly more than

half of the Erasmus students• Source: ESN Survey 2006 and 2007

• Only 47% of universities have no problems with course recognition• Source: European University Association

Objectives

Draw attention of the stakeholders and parties involved in the process of recognition to ever-lasting problems and obstaclesMap and monitor good practicesProvide solutionsImprove the quality of exchange and increase the numbers

Fields of the research

Most common practices in Europe regarding:• Information provision about Erasmus and other

exchanges• ECTS• Course credit calculation• Usage of the ECTS at European universities

• Learning Agreement (LA)• Negotiation and signing

• Recognition• Validity of the LA, involved parties, common

problems

PRIME 2009

Recognitionand exams upon return

Nothing; 4%

Partly;

30%Full; 66%

Full Partial No recognition

None 0.43 0.12 0.01

Some courses 0.18 0.14 0.00400000000000001

All courses 0.054 0.03 0.025

5%

15%

25%

35%

45%

55%

65%

PRIME 2009

Recognition:remaining challenges

Other

Not known

Recognition in process

No recognition for studies abroad

Certain courses not recognized

Organizational

Course credit calculation problems

Incompatibility of study programs

Student's problems

4%

2%

3%

3%

9%

10%

15%

26%

27%

PRIME 2009

PRIME 2010

Research

Both qualitative and quantitativeThree-level research:• New: In-depth interview with National Agencies• Online questionnaire for Higher Education

Institutions• Online questionnaire for Students

From February until the end of AprilNew topics:• Grade transfer• Erasmus and additional grants, tuition fees

PRIME respondents

16 interviews with National Agencies500 responses from Higher Education Institutions (500% more than in 2009)9000 responses from students (375% more than in 2009)

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cypru

s

Czech

Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

ItalyLa

tvia

Lithuania

Luxe

mbourgM

alta

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slova

kia

Slove

niaSp

ain

Sweden

Switz

erland

Turkey

United Kingdom

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

399

260

1108 19

16683 82

251

555

682

367

237

252

749

123

352

3 4

18191

1136

453

270

103154

986

186196189102

Erasmus students

Information provision26% of students never receive information on exchange students recognition rights

Institutions providing information to students

Exchange students recognition rights

Grade transfer

ECTS/credit system at the host and home university

Learning agreement

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

49.9%

41.1%

75.8%

91.2%

17.4%

19.5%

18.7%

7.8%

7.2%

30.7%

3.2%

25.5%

8.6%

Before my exchange During my exchange After my exchange Never

Learning Agreement

87% of institutions use official form of Learning Agreement provided by European Commission75% of students make changes to the Learning Agreement

73%

23%

1% 1% 2%

Signing the Learning Agreement

Before exchange

During exchange

After exchange

LA not signed

Don't remember

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70% 58%

51%

16% 13%

Reasons for changing the courses

ECTS

93% of students use ECTS in their Learning Agreement

37%

59%

4%

Usage of ECTS credits

Together with national credit systemAs the only credit systemECTS are not used Other

According to type of course

According to workload

According to both workload and type of course

1%

13%

43%

43%

Calculation of the ECTS credits

Grade transferConversion of grades at home university upon return

Erasmus grants

Almost 100% of Erasmus students receive the grant4% of students are required to pay back part or entire grant

Reasons

53%

16%

9%

22%

Too little time spent abroad/early return

Lack of ECTS credits or equivalent

Failed exams

Other

Recognition: the concept

No common definition-subject of interpretationFull recognition according to ESN:• “All the credits earned during the

exchange and that were originally present in the final version of the Learning Agreement are recognised by the home university without a need to take any further courses or exams.”

Recognition: institutional perspective

Definition of full recognition according to HEIs

Recognition:procedures

38%

14%

38%

11%

Need of professors approval be-fore courses were recognised

No Yes, for some courses

Yes, for all courses Not knowFacu

lty E

rasm

us c

oord

inat

or

Stud

y pr

ogra

m d

irect

or /

adv

isor

Dea

n /

head

of t

he d

epar

tmen

t

Insti

tutio

nal E

rasm

us c

oord

inat

or

Prof

esso

rs

Inte

rnati

onal

Rel

ation

s O

ffice

Spec

ial r

ecog

nitio

n co

mm

ittee

I don

't kn

ow

0%

10%

20%

30%

40% 38%

20% 18% 16% 16% 14%7% 10%

Parties involved in recognition of courses studied abroad

PRIME 2010

Recognitionand exams upon return

73.08%

23.93%

3%

PRIME 2010

Full Partial No recognition

None 62.20% 0.148926014319809 0.0128878281622912

Less than 50% 0.0677804295942721 0.0466587112171838 0.00250596658711218

More than 50% 0.0263723150357996 0.0346062052505967 0.00274463007159905

All 0.0146778042959427 0.00906921241050121 0.0118138424821002

5.00%

15.00%

25.00%

35.00%

45.00%

55.00%

65.00%

75.00%

62.20%

Recognition:influence on exchange experience

Would you still have studied abroad, if you would have known you would not receive full recognition?

23%

31%27%

19%

Yes Rather Yes

No Rather No

Recognition:remaining challenges

Incompatibility of study programmesProblems with credit calculationProblems with grade transferBureaucratic issuesAttitude of certain professorsInsufficient information provision

Recommendations

Binding bilateral agreementsFlexible study programmes and creation of “mobility windows”ECTS as the only credits system, ECTS label as a tool to promote correct usage of ECTSUsage of ECTS grading scale or development of other grade conversion methodCommon guidelines on course recognition and specific roles for all partiesBetter and more timely information provisionInformation and training provided to professors

PRIME Team ESN Greece

National Coordinator:Nikolas Spanoudakis (ESN Ioannina)

Local Coordinators:Maria Kalaentzi (ESN Athens AUEB)Michalis Naris (ESN UOM Thessaloniki)Katerina Pantelidou (ESN Ioannina)Vassiliki Sioziou (ESN KAPA Athens)Irene Kotsona (ESN KAPA Athens)Alexios-Tryfonas Charalampous (ESN NTUA Athens)Konstantina Papanikolaou (ESN Auth)Apostolos Smyrnakis (ESN TEI Piraeus)

PRIMErs of Change

More information

Justyna Pisera, PRIME Project Coordinator, prime-coordinator@esn.orgwww.prime.esn.org• Final report

Apostolos Smyrnakis – ESN TEI of Piraeus

apostolos.pcs@gmail.com

http://esn.teipir.gr

THANK YOU YOU FOR

ATTENTION