Access from Bachelor to MasterStatus and challenges in vertical mobilityMaria Kelo, Higher education expert, Brussels
> Introduction (Maria Kelo)> Tuning methodology and discussion on its use for
masters admissions (Jean-Luc Lamboley)> Group work on main challenges in access to
masters: the benefits and challenges created by Bologna
> French case: good practice in admission to masters (Jean-Luc Lamboley)
> Sharing of national/institutional experiences and good practice
Workshop outline
> Expectations on the Bologna process● Comparability of degrees to increase mobility
- For the labour market- For future study
- Within degree programmes- Between study levels
● Lack of adequate mobility data (all forms of mobility, nationality vs mobility, free movers…)
little scientific evidence either way
More mobility: ideals and realities
> Fear: less mobility within degrees● No strong evidence at European level● « Saving grace »: more mobility between degree
levels BUT is this happening?
> New degrees or new cut-off points?
● Persistence in considering masters as a continuation of a determined bachelors programme- “you need to have done my bacehlors to do my masters” and “you
should do my masters if you have done my bahcelors”● description requirements often based on the
« related » bachelors programme, and not on skills and competences acquired (learning outcomes)- subjects, numbers of credits between them, assessment methods,
etc.● Nobody wants to lose their best students for the
masters level elsewhere – getting some of the best from elsewhere?
A real obstacle to mobility between programmes/ institutions/ countries between degree levels
Challenges in access to masters
> A mentality change● Trust in colleagues (their programmes – “good
enough”)● Trust in own programmes (attractive enough)● Trust in students (ability to adapt and change) ● A generous and open-minded assessment of previous
qualifications ● Bottom line: one masters not the (automatic)
continuation of a given (and only) bachelors
What can we do?
> Practical support to assess previous competencies● Individual assessment of applicants
- Problems: time-consuming, requires often personal links to institution/programmes, not ‘fair’ (?)
● Diploma supplement/course descriptions/leqrning outcomes ● Qualifications frameworks?● Tuning
> What are the main challenges in recognition of bachelors degrees for admission to masters?
> Is the problem centered at formal level (national requirements, for example), at the institutional level, or programme level (individual preferences etc.)?
> Is the problem similar to national students from different programmes as for international students?
> What is the « right » degree of « protectionism” of own programmes?
> What could be done and what has been done to alleviate the problem at institutional or national level?
> What are the advantages for institutions/countries of enabling and facilitating increased mobility between levels?
GROUPWORK – what is the problem and how can it be solved?
