Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Workshop Tempus BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? October 2005

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Situation in Flanders  Spring 2002: rumors and talk  Autumn 2002: definition of body of educations that the institutions want to offer  April 2003: governmental decree  BA1 started in October 2004  MA1 will start in October 2007

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Timetable at Ghent University  Autumn 2003: programming the curricula  Spring 2004: information campaign for new students  October 2004: start of new programmes

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Timetable at the Faculty of Sciences  Spring 2003: disagreement with central management about 3+1 versus 3+2 and uncertainty on the government level  Autumn 2003: programming of BA curricula only  October 2004: start of new programmes  Now: programming of MA curricula?

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? 3+1 versus 3+2: the actors  Boards of Education within the Faculties of Sciences  Management of the Faculties of Sciences (Deans)  Management of the universities (Rectors and their Boards) and the Associations  Students  Commission for Recognition (“Erkenningscommissie”)  Government

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? The board of education: 3+2  Heterogeneous level of competences in sciences of incoming students versus higher demands on final competences that the university education has to deliver  Visitations ask for a broadening of the scope of the educations and more “interdisciplinary” courses  3+1 is worse than 2+2: imbalance between BA and MA  Visitations strongly recommend 5 year study

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? The board of education: 3+2 (cont.)  International situation  Hard to program a master thesis in a MA program that takes only 1 year  Hard to prepare students for a PhD study in 1 year: not enough time to acquire the specialized competences  Uncertain consequences of 3+1 for the status of our education on an international forum  French speaking community: 3+2

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? The Deans of Faculties of Sciences: 3+2  Same arguments as their Boards of Education  Unanimous voice  All Faculties of Sciences should be treated the same way

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? University management: mixed opinions  Rector is a very important player  Issues concerning financing  Issues concerning the relation with the “Hochschule” in the Association

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Students: mixed opinions  Student delegations in Boards of Education: unanimously positive  The politically engaged faction initially negative  Now: all student bodies are positive

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? The commission for recognition: mixed opinions  Advises the government, generally in the spring of each year, over the proposals of the institutions  Generally recognizes that some science educations need a 5 year study  Issues a stronger 3+2 advice in 2005 than in 2004

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? The Government: initially reluctant  Worries about finances  Generally a good European student  Worries about perception of the public  Worries about perception of the students  Strong statements in the past continue to color the debate

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Latest developments in 3+1 vs 3+2  Provisional acceptance of 3+2 for all science educations, except geography and informatics  Acceptance contingent on “Proof of Capacity”  Commission of recognition will advise  Modalities as yet unknown  Deadline for the universities: 31 December 2005

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Mobility at the Faculty of Sciences Current situation:  outgoing mobility in 3rd or 4th year can and should be improved  incoming mobility: successful !

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Mobility at Bachelor level  Bachelor mobility can lead to international orientation in the master programmes  Bachelor diploma can lead directly to the job market. We owe it these students to offer them the possibility of an international experience

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Vehicles to increase quantity and quality of student mobility  Create a curricular framework  Create a network of partners  Shorter study abroad periods  Integrated programmes with double or joint degrees  Correct use of ECTS

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Internationalisation at Home (IaH)  English courses/options  Teaching by invited professors for (short term) courses as part of the standard curriculum  Can lead to BA at home – (part of) MA abroad

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Case study: chemistry  General European framework: Eurobachelor  2nd semester 3rd BA-year: option “European experience”  Small number of partners  Students get a structured programme abroad that is well known at the home institution: more security for students

Workshop BA/MA: 3+1 or 3+2 ? Conclusion Mobility in bachelor programmes is necessary!  Important experience for the student (scientific and personal)  Important as a taste of international experience for further study abroad periods during master, PhD or job  Important element in the accreditation of the curricula  Important for competition on international (education) market