Project Description

The Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA) started in 1999 (Bologna Declaration); whereas, the development of the EQF started in 2005. The two frameworks clearly have similarities and overlapping areas. The Learning Outcomes (LO) approach may serve as bridge is to avoid the development of two isolated frameworks. UNI LO thus intends to explore the Learning Outcomes approach in the frame of EQF/EHEA contributing to its full understanding and application by promoting the active involvement of the Career services of the Universities helping the huge target group of European University students and holders of professional qualifications to better understand its potential in a clear and practical way.

The project outcomes have been designed following a conceptual framework in which the objectives correspond to the activities to develop and these produce the following results:

– Survey report to better define the state of the art in LO implementation in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)

– Report on the integration seminars carried out to identify criticalities and bottlenecks in the implementation process, containing recommendations for policy, practice and research.

– Report on benefits and applications of LOs (including mutual recognition of awards, recognition of prior learning, improved assessment, QA, modularisation, improved access and equal opportunities)

– Initial community of Practice in place with at least 60 participants.

– Report on awareness building and exploitation activities.

– Tools for Course Managers, Guidance and Career Officers in HEI to facilitate the implementation of EQF and LOs in HE, and Tools for initial professional development, assessment of professional competence, and continuing professional development aimed at helping professional institutions

– Guide to EQF and LOs for Higher Education students

– Updated website.

– Contracts signed. Interim and Final reports completed. Attendance to Coordination meetings.

– Quality and evaluation plan designed and implemented. Interim and final evaluation reports completed.

UNI LO anticipates considerable impact on Universities across Europe as it has been specifically designed to fill a gap among the existing networks and initiatives by focusing not simply on the EQF/EHEA from a Learning outcomes perspective but more concretely on designing and implementing tools to help the guidance officers to clarify, better understand and raise awareness to the wide audience of students and holders of professional qualifications. While it is impossible to quantify the overall impact due to the networking character of the project, minimum targets have been identified in terms of identified contacts (approx. 2000 in LLL30+) and outputs that will be monitored, measured and reported throughout the project (using e.g. contact database, log of liaison activities, list of network members, web 2.0 statistics etc.).