group 2 (bremen): development of a credit system in departments of

Group 2 (Bremen):Group 2 (Bremen):Development of a Credit System in Departments ofDevelopment of a Credit System in Departments ofElectrical Engineering and Computer ScienceElectrical Engineering and Computer Science

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wenke (Hochschule Bremen)

Content: Partners - in Germany and Abroad

Objectives; Schedule; Organisation

Activities

Résumé

Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und InformatikInternationaler Studiengang Microsystems Engineering

BLK-Verbundprojekt 2, Bremen,„Entwicklung eines Leistungspunktsystems in Fachbereichen Elektrotechnik und Informatik“

Selected Topics; Results; Recommendations:

- Credit Allocation- Internationality, Mobility- Conversion of Grades

Ref. No.: M 1601.01



Group 2:Group 2:Development of a Credit System in Departments ofDevelopment of a Credit System in Departments ofElectrical Engineering and Computer ScienceElectrical Engineering and Computer Science

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (KI)

Fachhochschule Stralsund (FHS)

Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (OL)

Fachhochschule Furtwangen (FHF)

Hochschule Bremen (HSB)



Hochschule Bremen (HSB), State: Bremen Microsystems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science

Fachhochschule Furtwangen (FHF), State: Baden-Württemberg Microsystems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science

Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (OL), State: Niedersachsen Computer Science

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (KI), State: Schleswig-Holstein Computer Science

Fachhochschule Stralsund (FHS), State: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Economical Informatics, Electrical Engineering

Partners Group 2, Scientific BackgroundPartners Group 2, Scientific Background





H

HS Bremen

Uni Kiel

FH Stralsund

FHFurtwangen

UniOldenburg

Group 2Group 5AssociatePartners

Uni Ulm

FH Giessen-Friedberg

Uni Leipzig

Development of a Development of a Credit SystemCredit Systemin Dept.s EE and CSin Dept.s EE and CS

2001 - 20042001 - 2004

Group 2, HS BremenGroup 2, HS Bremen

Project and Project and Associate PartnersAssociate Partners



International Partners/Contacts:International Partners/Contacts:

GB: London Metropolitan University (Univ. of North London)

Manchester Metropolitan University

North East Wales Institute of Higher Eduction

University of Newcastle upon Thyne

FIN: Pohjois-Savo, Vaasa and Kemi-Tornio Polytechnics

IRL: Dublin, Cork and Waterford Institutes of Technology

EST: Technical University Tallinn

LITH: Technical University Vilnius

HUN: Technical University Budapest

USA: Ferris State University

Montana State University Bozeman

BRAS: Catholic University in Belo Horizonte



Objectives:Objectives:

Implementation of Modularization, Credit System at Departmental Level (structuring of courses, definition of programs and possibilities for transfer, credits as a measure for student work load)

Adaptation of Regulations/Examinations to Credit System; Development of an EDP Concept for Administration, Accumulation and Transfer of Credits

Development, Accreditation, Test of New Degrees

Expansion of International Cooperations; Mobility

New Media: Credit assessment of virtual modules; use for selection of applicants and student mentoring



Schedule:Schedule:

3 Phases: Coordination and Investigation Oct 01 - May 02

Development and Realization Jun 02 - May 04Evaluation and Conclusions Jun 04 - Sep 04

Organization of the Tasks:Organization of the Tasks:

Definition of „Work Packages“

Based on agreements made at the first meeting Nov 01

According to respective specific experiences/competences of the individual partners

Exemplary treatment of each work package by one or few partners

Transfer of results/recommendations to the entire group



Activities/PR:Activities/PR:

Meetings twice a year

Workshop May 2002 (in cooperation with Group 5)Topics: - Processing of credits in administration

- Credits - an international comparison

Informal meetings according to work packages

Implementation of a departmental commission to introduce modularization and a credit system (all partners)

Homepage with latest contributions from all partners

Presentation at a HSB-meeting of further education for scientific staff

Visit of conferences and workshops



Selected Work Packages - Selected Work Packages - Results and Recommendations:Results and Recommendations:

Allocation of Credits (U Kiel and U Oldenburg)

Internationality, Mobility (FH Furtwangen and HS

Bremen)

Conversion of Grades (FH Stralsund and U Oldenburg)



Allocation of Credits:Allocation of Credits:

Basis: detailed analysis and comparison of several existing exam regulations, recommendations, publications ECTS framework

Recommendations: allocation of credits according to „Top-down method“

- consider module work load with respect to annual work load

- allocation according to type of teaching (lecture, seminar, lab)

Basis for calculation: contact hours x individual factor- lecture factor 1- lect. with exercises factor 1.5- laboratory factor 1.5

Projects, internship, thesis: fixed number of credits



Allocation of Credits, cont.:Allocation of Credits, cont.:

Uniform size of modules (credits) is advantageous guarantees flexible use and simplified exchange of modules between programs

Credits as basis for length of examination- written exam. 15-30 minutes/credit (min. 1 h, max. 4 h)- oral exam. 5-10 minutes/credit (min. 15‘, max. 60‘)

Special regulations regarding repetition of examinations can be dropped (e.g. „Freischussregelung“)

Instead: Selection of a grade acquired, - which should not contribute to the GPA, or- which should be weighted less,

ONLY if the regular time of studies is not extended!



Internationality, Mobility:Internationality, Mobility:

Concept of a Graduate School at FHF developed centralized institution, close cooperation with departments

Tasks, according to international standards:

- effective organization of Master courses- quality assurance in postgraduate education- marketing, registration, advising of Master students

Preliminary arrangement: Competence Center for Master established cooperation of 3 departments; staff of 3; will be upgraded to graduate school

- accreditation of courses- coordination of Master activities- language tests



Internationality, Mobility, cont.:Internationality, Mobility, cont.:

• Several Bachelor/Master courses at Group-2-institutions established - accreditation in progress or planned - new international contacts established to acquire european and oversea students (aimed at half local and half foreign students) - student and staff exchange practiced (US, IRL, GB, FIN, BRA, HUN, Baltic countries) • „Master of Science“ in Microsystems Engineering started 1999 (FHF) - application for accreditation in early 2003 - more than 600 applications in 2002, effective selection procedure necessary - safe, coded transfer of ETS-results (TOEFL-Test) to FHF ensured

Advising and financial support of Master-students organized (FHF) - individual advisor, sponsoring by industry and Master-thesis in industry

• „Master of Science“ in Electrical Engineering started in October 2002 (HSB) - application for accreditation submitted to ZEvA, Hannover



Conversion of Grades:Conversion of Grades:

Of increasing relevance in case of - more mobility between universities (domestic and abroad)

- use of modules in different courses of studies

Proposal HRK, KMK (2000) regarding conversion: Inconsistencies

- use of 5 grade levels A - E („sufficient“) instead of 4 (present system)- grade distribution is NOT linear, e.g. Grade C covers a

wider %-age- range than A, B, D and E - Grade B: 1.6-2.0 = „very good“ <--> German Grade 1.7 =

„good“

Different, modified allocation by Gehmlich

Results from BLK-Project ‚Modularisierung‘ - comparison of grading systems: Germany, ECTS, USA, GB/IRL

- great differences, shift in scales



Conversion of Grades, cont., Mathematical Approach:Conversion of Grades, cont., Mathematical Approach:

modified „Bayrische Formel“ - requires exact input of grade-range

- problem: possible range <--> actually applied range

simple conversion is questioned by Sulk/Falkowski (FHS) (shown by mathematical methods):

- result: simple conversion is not feasible- not enough input to result in fair conversion (Ref. available)

Proposal Group 2:- strategy to compare different courses concerning

contents and structure („imaging“ of courses)- practical test of EC-proposal at partner institutions (Conversion into ECTS-grades using distribution of „pass-

students“ over grade scale: A (best 10%), B (next 25%), C (next 30%), D (25%),

F (10%)



Rèsumè:Rèsumè:

Project is running according to schedule of milestones

Present results comply with objectives and milestones

Late start of new staff resulted in minor delay of activities (compensation by additional student staff possible)

New master courses with mainly overseas students require - practical approaches to handle admission- administration and education in English- more intensive attending to and advising of students- new quality labels (accreditation, evaluation, ranking)

Mobility: In addition to implementation of a credit system, local students need further encouragement, e.g. within international courses

group 2 (bremen): development of a credit system in departments of

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