1. Learning Cultures: The Impact of Culture on Learning Tim Buttress and Katja Durkin qualifications are better understood

2. Culture “No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive” Mahatma Gandhi “It is not the biggest, the brightest or the best that will survive, but those who adapt the quickest” Charles Darwin

3. Culture – another view! “Culture is roughly anything we do and the monkeys don't” Lord Raglan

4. What we are going to do Concept of credential evaluation and why it is important Education systems and education models Cultural impact on communications Impact of Bologna

5. Credential Evaluation Credential evaluation is the process of converting foreign academic credentials into educational equivalents. Best way to understand the competencies, skills and abilities of an individual from overseas. Used by universities, colleges, employers, professional bodies, central and local government, careers advisory services, charities…

6. Why is it important Understanding the abilities of an individual Entry to regulated professions Immigration Combating fraud

7. Credential Evaluation and Combating Fraud Some estimates suggest that up to 25% of CVs contain false claims about qualifications Under qualified professionals working as teachers, engineers… Students losing their entire family income on a bogus institution Undermining the image and quality of UK higher education Entering the UK illegally

8. Education worldwide

9. Education models Anglo-Scottish Model Humboldt Model Napoleon Model

10. In sum … Anglo-American model students from the UK would be used to: Some independent study, focused and modular study, specialised Humboldt model students would be used to: Independent study, specialised but not modular studies, considerable freedom of subject choice Napoleon model students would be used to: Taught and guided studies, lots of examinations, not much independent study experience, very focused but not necessarily modular.

11. Issues facing Students from other models HumboldtNapoleonic 1 Wider academic base in degrees1 Less freedom than in UK system 2 No professional rights with UKquals2 More teaching contact 3 UK degrees shorter3 Less research 4 More teaching contact than in UK 5 Practical aspects?

12. What is Culture Culture Law and politics Language Values and attitudes Social organisation Aesthetics Education Religion Technology and material culture Terpstra and Sarathy 2000

13. Impact of Culture on Communication What is more important, rules or relationships? Do we function in a group or as individuals? Do we display our emotions? Is responsibility specifically assigned or diffusely accepted? Do we have to prove ourselves to receive status or is it given to us? Do we do things one at a time or several things at once? Do we control our environment or are we controlled by it? Alfons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner

14. Emotional -v- Neutral EmotionalEmotional NeutralNeutral

15. What does this mean? Japanindirect style of verbal communication messages are implicit and indirect voice intonation, timing and facial expressions UK and Germanyexacting style too many words is considered an exaggeration too few words is perceived as ambiguous USA and Canadadirect style of verbal communication accomplish objectives

16. What does this mean? So what does this mean? In the USA an Administrative Assistant might call a Senior Executive ‘Bob’ or ‘Dan’ or ‘Barak’! Would this happen in Japan? Or other parts of Asia? What about mobility across Europe?

17. Implications of Bologna Process

18. Features of Bologna 2 cycle degrees (undergraduate and postgraduate) ECTS Diploma Supplement Mutual recognition

19. Bologna Agreement Doctoral Cycle of minimum 3 years Masters Cycle – 60 – 120 ECTS Bachelor Degree Cycle – minimum of 180 ECTS Secondary school leaving certificate required for university entrance

20. Bologna Changes on Study Style? Overall more modularised Overall more focused This might mean that students are: More prepared for labour market Study less long and are more focused on a particular learning outcome Less academic/independent

21. Bologna Changes on Study Style? Will Bologna remove the cultural issues associated with education?

22. Conclusion Credential Evaluation plays a vital role is selection Awareness of culture and the learning styles within those culture uis a vital aspect of improving student welfare HSBC effect (self-reference criteria)