1. Council of Europe ~ Ministry of Education,Youth and Sport of the Republic of Moldova ~ Rectors Council of the Republic of Moldova ~ The Institute for Public Policy THE DYNAMICS OF THE BOLOGNA PROCESS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA International Seminar, Chisinau, 8-9 December, 2005 THE RECOGNITION SYSTEM: THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT Stephen Adam – University of Westminster, United Kingdom.

2. ~ THE DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT ~ 1.What is it? 2.What it is not? 3.Why is it needed? 4.What does it offer students? 5.What does it offer Higher Education Institutions? 6.What is its role in the Bologna Process? 7.Good practice guidelines for Diploma Supplements 8.What does it contain? (8 sections and sub-sections) 9.EUROPASS 10.Concluding thoughts

3. 1.What is it? An initiative developed by the Council of Europe, the European Commission and UNESCO in 1998 It is a product of the 1997 Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Convention) It is document that provides a description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies that were pursued and successfully completed by the individual named on the original qualification. It is a detailed explanation of a qualification An information tool to improve international mobility, transparency and recognition

4. 2.What it is not? A Curriculum Vitae A substitute for the original qualification An automatic system that guarantees recognition

5. 3.Why is it needed? Rapid global proliferation of new qualifications, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and qualification frameworks Many legitimate qualifications are not recognised or are under recognised Mobile citizens seek fair recognition of their qualifications Original credentials provide insufficient information It aids mobility, access and lifelong learning

6. 4.What does it offer students? A diploma that is more readable and easily comparable abroad. A precise description of the academic course pursued and on the competencies acquired during the study period. Objectivity and a fair judgement of their achievements and competencies An easier access to work or further studies abroad It fosters their employability (employers are more and more interested by the student profile that is provided by the DS).

7. 5.What does it offer Higher Education Institutions? It facilitates academic and professional recognition, thus increasing the transparency of qualifications. It protects national/institutional autonomy while offering a common frame which is accepted all over Europe. It promotes informed judgements about qualifications. It raises the visibility of the institution abroad. It promotes the employability of their graduates at national and international level. It helps save time since it provides the answers to a lot of recurrent questions put to HEI.

8. 1. 6.What is its role in the Bologna Process? The Diploma Supplement is given specific mention in the Bologna Declaration 1999 and the Prague Communiqué 2001. The Diploma Supplement facilitates: –easily readable and comparable degrees –better access to employment + further study –mobility –a major recognition tool The Berlin Ministerial Communiqué went further: They (Ministers) set the objective that every student graduating as from 2005 should receive the Diploma Supplement automatically and free of charge. Berlin Communiqué, 2003

9. 7.Good practice guidelines for Diploma Supplements Should conform to the guidelines produced by the original working party: –Include the approved note of explanation –Follow the approved structure and sequence –Never include value-judgements –Obey translations rules –Be quality assured, etc.

10. 8.What does it contain? (8 sections) 1. INFORMATION IDENTIFYING THE HOLDER OF THE QUALIFICATION 2. INFORMATION IDENTIFYING THE QUALIFICATION 3. INFORMATION ON THE LEVEL OF THE QUALIFICATION 4. INFORMATION ON THE CONTENTS AND RESULTS GAINED 5. INFORMATION ON THE FUNCTION OF THE QUALIFICATION 6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 7. CERTIFICATION OF THE SUPPLEMENT 8. INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

11. The Diploma Supplement: Sections and sub-sections (1) 1INFORMATION IDENTIFYING THE HOLDER OF THE QUALIFICATION 1.1Family name(s): 1.2Given name(s): 1.3Date of birth (day/month/year): 1.4Student identification number or code (if available): 2INFORMATION IDENTIFYING THE QUALIFICATION 2.1Name of qualification and (if applicable) title conferred (in original language): 2.2 Main field(s) of study for the qualification: 2.3Name and status of awarding institution (in original language): 2.4Name and status of institution (if different from 2.3) administering studies (in original language): 2.5Language(s) of instruction/examination:

12. The Diploma Supplement: Sections and sub-sections (2) 3INFORMATION ON THE LEVEL OF THE QUALIFICATION 3.1Level of qualification: 3.2Official length of programme: 3.3 Access requirements(s) 4INFORMATION ON THE CONTENTS AND RESULTS GAINED 4.1Mode of study: 4.2Programme requirements: 4.3Programme details: (e.g. modules or units studied), and the individual grades/marks/credits obtained: (if this information is available on an official transcript this should be used here) 4.4Grading scheme and, if available, grade distribution guidance: 4.5Overall classification of the qualification (in original language):

13. The Diploma Supplement: Sections and sub-sections (3) 5INFORMATION ON THE FUNCTION OF THE QUALIFICATION 5.1Access to further study: 5.2Professional status (if applicable): 6ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 6.1Additional information: 6.2Further information sources: 7CERTIFICATION OF THE SUPPLEMENT 7.1Date: 7.2Signature: 7.3Capacity: 7.4Official stamp or seal: 8INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

14. 9.EUROPASS Single framework for the transparency of Qualifications adopted by the European Commission December 2003. To be implemented by start of 2005: Part of the Copenhagen Declaration 2002 (VET + HE) Creates a single framework for the transparency of qualifications Subsumes: Europass CV; Europass mobility; Europass Diploma Supplement; Mobilipass; Europass Certificate Supplement; Europass Language Portfolio Links to the proposed European Qualifications Framework (EQF) for lifelong learning

15. 10.Concluding thoughts … Diploma Supplements: –are to be issued by 45 European countries by 2005! –should be issued automatically and free of charge –Should be issued in an appropriate international language –The European Commission have created a DS label The Diploma Supplement is one of the central tools of the Bologna Higher education reform/modernisation process It is an increasingly powerful recognition tool as the Bologna reforms are implemented (especially qualifications frameworks) For more information (G oogle it or ): –http://www.coe.int –http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/policies/rec_qual/recognition/diploma_en.html –http://www.aic.lv/enic/ds/default.htm –http://www.enic-naric.net/ –http://wwweuropass.cedefop.eu.int –http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/ects/example4.pdf