CALOHEE Extension
Rational of the project
The project builds on the experience and outcomes of the TUNING – CALOHEE Project. The project outcomes intend to strengthen the position of the European and national higher education sector and the degree programmes offered, by evidencing what is actually learned. This involves the development of Subject Area based Qualifications Reference Frameworks (Bachelor and Master) for the wider public and all stakeholders and more detailed Assessment Reference Frameworks for specialists in the field. Both frameworks contribute to the enhancement and fairness of external and internal quality assurance mechanisms.
In other words: reference frameworks offer clear indicators for the design and implementation of degree programmes and show the intended learning to be relevant to society. Relevance in TUNING-CALOHEE involves three meanings: (1) the pleasure of the individual of becoming knowledgeable; (2) the preparation for finding employment which is aligned to what has been learned and (3) preparation for a role in society. From higher education graduates it might be expected that they contribute – in a more managerial role – to the sustainability and further development of society.
Take away for institutions involved
The TUNING experience as well as the experience of the CALOHEE project is that the Qualifications Reference Frameworks have serious impact on the sector. They offer guidance and set standards, which will be used by higher education staff, but also Quality Assurance organisations. By participating, the institutions involved have the opportunity to play a key role in developing a fair, sustainable approach to comparing and measuring the achievement of learning outcomes in European higher education, which should also result in an enhancement of their own degree programmes. One of the important goals of this study is to determine if students are in fact prepared for their role in society (personal development, citizenship and employability) after graduation, while also meeting the academic standards associated with their area of specialization. Programmes which can evidence that they meet these aims are obviously more attractive to potential students and to society in general.
Methodology
The project CALOHEE Extension focusses on 5 main subject areas:
- Business Administration
- Information Engineering/ICT
- International Relations
- Medicine and
- Performing and Fine Arts.
For each subject area, a working group is created, made up of fourteen senior staff/ academics and one student. This offers the opportunity to work together with a group of international colleagues in the academic field to develop conceptual frameworks that can set direction for programmes offered in the academic field. All the five subject areas will build on the work that has already been done as part of the Tuning Educational Structures in Europe and other Tuning related projects in the past.
Step 1 – Develop a TUNING-CALOHEE Qualifications Reference Framework for the first and second cycle (bachelor and master)
Step 2 – Develop a related TUNING-CALOHEE Assessment Reference Framework for the first and second cycle (bachelor and master)
Step 3 – Match the Frameworks with existing degree programmes
An additional action will be the development of an Assessment Reference Framework for Civic, Social and Cultural Engagement. For this action a special group of experts is set up, but the participants of the project might be invited to contribute to their work. The work is meant as input for the Subject Area Qualifications Reference Frameworks.