Recognition of credits: The University of Ferrara case International Mobility and Education Office dr. Gianluca Zucconelli

The Recognition of credits: preliminary topics 2 According to the ECTS Users’ Guide 2015… “The process through which an institution certifies that learning outcomes achieved and assessed in another institution satisfy (some or all) requirements of a particular programme, its component or qualification.”

UniFe has been involved in the Erasmus programme since a.y. 1991/92 and during this first edition only 43 students decided to spend a period abroad to study. The Recognition of credits in Ferrara find a first legal basis in an internal regulation that imposes a strict procedure: 1. The student must have a Certificate of the hosting Institution concerning the learning outcomes; 2. The student must translate the document and s/he must obtain the authentication of the translation by the Italian Embassy; 3. Only the Rector has the power to recognise the learning outcomes. University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 1991/92

University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 1991/92

5 University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 1991/92

After the Bologna Process and the dissemination of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), that aims to make study programmes in Europe easier to read and compare, UniFe adopts a new procedure for the recognition of credits. Unfortunately it does not consider the ECTS and it focuses only on the translation of the ToR. Steps of the “new” procedure: 1. Authorization of the Faculty to take some exams abroad + LA; 2. ToR and translation made by the student and confirmed by the Departmental Erasmus Coordinator; 3. Recognition of credits “automatically” by the Central Student Service Office. University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 2001/02

University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 2001/02

8 University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 2001/02

University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 2007/08 ECTS is widespread in Europe and UniFe decides to follow the ECTS’ goal and the Erasmus LLP guidelines. Steps of the procedure for the recognition of credits: 1. Learning agreement; 2. ToR; 3. Recognition of credits by the Faculty that has also the power to declare a partial recognition.

10 University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 2007/08

11 University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 2007/08

In february 2015, after a long discussion with the Erasmus Coordinators in each Department, the International Mobility and Education Office decided to introduce a new and detailed regulation for the International mobility with particular attention to the credit mobility and the recognition of credits. University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 2014/15

Art. 24 del Regolamento relativo alla Mobilità Internazionale 1. ECTS as Guiding light: 1CFU = 1 ECTS; 2. LA and ToR; 3. ECTS grade distribution table; 4. Erasmus Coordinator is in charge for the recognition; 5. Partial recognitions are banned. From next academic year thesis research abroad and recognition of credits Credits awarded: 70% of the total ECTS for Thesis activity 30% for the final dissertation 13 University of Ferrara and the Recognition of credits. a.y. 2014/15

Thank you!