Europass Diploma Supplements at IT Sligo

Bologna Workshop on the Diploma Supplement , May 4th 2011

Dr Brendan McCormack

RegistrarInstitute of Technology, SligoIreland

Member Bologna ‘Expert Group’

Higher Education Authority Ireland

Overview

The EQF

Europass Diploma Supplement

ECTS

Accessible, student-centred and transparent lifelong learning

EQF

ECTS EDS

Referencing the EQF

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1

2

3

4

5

6

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Country A

EQF

Country B

Qualifications (B)

Qualifications (A)

10

Referencing the EQF

EQF Levels Irish NFQ Levels

1 1

2

2 3

3 4

4 5

5 6

6 7

8

7 9

8 10

2nd Level

Bachelor

Masters

PhD

Short Cycle within the First

CycleFirst Cycle

Second Cycle

Third Cycle

Bologna Irish Qualifications

HC, Minor, SPA

A (supplementary) document that explains the qualification - which otherwise may be understood only within the awarding country

What is a Europass Diploma Supplement (EDS)?

Provides all the information necessary to make a valid assessment of any degree or qualification

Issued to every student, upon graduation, together with their official award parchment, free of charge, in a widely spoken European language

What’s in the EDS for students?

A summary of their learning - which is more readable and easily comparable abroad

A precise description of their academic career

A concise statement of the competencies acquired during the study period

An easier access to opportunities of employability or further studies abroad

What’s in the EDS for Employers/Educators?

EU-wide official and consistent statement of the award

Transparency & comparability of qualifications e.g. graduate education profile work placement other learning activities

Clarity on learning outcomes and learning Levels

Promotes informed judgements about qualifications that can be understood in other educational/ employment contexts.

Feedback from EDS Label submission, January 2010

Wording of the preamble altered (last 2 sentences)

Section 2.2 not completed

Section 4.2 has no details and relies on the reader searching the web site

Section 5.1 not completed and does not state N/A

In Section 4.3 the courses are listed against stage. These do not correspond to the levels used in the NFQ