Local Regulations for Credit Transfer at First and Second Cycle Levels at Linnaeus University

Transcription

1 Dnr: LNU 2012/132 Local Regulations for Credit Transfer at First and Second Cycle Levels at Linnaeus University Approved by The chairmen of the faculty boards and the board of educational science Valid from 1 March 2012 This is a translation of the Swedish document

2 Decided: 24 February 2012 Dnr: LNU 2012/132 Contents Introduction 3 Revision 3 Definition of student 4 Credit transfer for courses / programmes from another university 4 Credit transfer from other types of education and from vocational work experience. 4 Evaluation of basis for credit transfer 5 Rights to lodge appeals 5 2. Local Regulations for credit transfer at Linnaeus University Students at Linnaeus University What is evaluated in credit transfer: Preliminary decisions Credit transfer from other higher education institutions Grades Requirements for documentation from the applicant Processing / administrative time Criteria regarding who may decide about prior education or professional/vocational experience Application and decisions on credit transfer Appeals Documentation in Ladok Regulations governing credit transfer from foreign university-level education Learning Agreements for Exchange Students 8 2 (8)

3 Decided: 24 February 2012 Dnr: LNU 2012/132 Introduction It is a common occurrence that students study parts of their programmes at other universities / university colleges here in Sweden or abroad. In order to facilitate the mobility of students, the question of credit transfer both nationally and internationally has been spotlighted. Many students in addition wish to complement existing knowledge and skills which have been acquired as a result of vocational work experience together with academic studies. Linnaeus University therefore takes a generous standpoint with regards to evaluation of credit transfer. Credit transfer should take place on the basis of objective grounds and not as the result of chance or arbitrary treatment. This statement applies to both students who have studied at Linnaeus University or at other Swedish higher education institutions and students who have studied abroad under the auspices of Linnaeus University or as a result of their own initiative. It is also important that students at Linnaeus University are treated equally regardless of which school / department they belong to. Agreements signed by Linnaeus University and agreements / conventions ratified by Sweden should always be followed. Local regulations for credit transfer at Linnaeus University are a supplement to the Higher Education Ordinance. Revision Replaces previous regulation document dnr: LNU 2011/255 3 (8)

4 1. National regulations for credit transfer Regulations pertaining to credit transfer are contained in the Higher Education Ordinance, chapter 6. The same regulations are in force for the credit transfer for programmes from a Swedish university / university college as for degree programmes from universities / university colleges abroad. Definition of student Higher Education Ordinance chapter 1 Section 4: In this ordinance student refers to those who have been admitted to and pursue higher education studies, third cycle to those who have been admitted to and pursue third cycle studies, in both cases in so far as possible as not otherwise specifically stated. Ordinance (2006:1053). Credit transfer for courses / programmes from another university Higher Education Ordinance chapter 6 Section 6: If a student at a higher education institution in Sweden has successfully completed a higher education course or study programme, she or he is entitled to transfer the credits awarded for a course or study programme at another higher education institution. This does not apply, however, if there is a substantial difference between these courses or study programmes. The same applies for students who have successfully completed a course or study programme: 1. at a university or higher education institution in Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway or a signatory to the Council of Europe's Convention of 11 April 1997 on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Swedish Treaty Series 2001:46), or 2. at Nordiska högskolan för folkhälsovetenskap (NHV The Nordic School of Public Health). Ordinance (2006:1053). Credit transfer from other types of education and from vocational work experience. Higher Education Ordinance chapter 6 Section 7: A student is entitled to transfer credits from a course or study programme other than that laid down in Section 6 if the nature and extent of the knowledge and skills cited by the student are such that they correspond on the whole to the course or study programme for which the credits are to be recognised. A student may also be given credit for corresponding knowledge and skills acquired in a vocational or professional capacity. Ordinance (2006:1053). 4 (8)

5 Evaluation of basis for credit transfer Higher Education Ordinance chapter 6 Section 8: The higher education institution shall assess whether credits can be awarded for the prior course or study programme or professional or vocational experience. Credits may only be awarded to those who are students unless otherwise provided by statute or ordinance. Ordinance (2010:1064). Rights to lodge appeals Higher Education Ordinance chapter 12 Section 2. Appeals may be made to the Higher Education Appeals Board against the following decisions of a higher education institution: 3. a decision on the transfer of credits for courses and study programmes or professional or vocational activities 2. Local Regulations for credit transfer at Linnaeus University 2.1 Students at Linnaeus University Only students at Linnaeus University can be considered for credit transfer. Students are defined as persons who have been admitted to and pursue studies at Linnaeus University. 2.2 What is evaluated in credit transfer: contents (and any overlapping of course contents) scope level 2.3 Preliminary decisions Linnaeus University is not obligated to give preliminary decisions on credit transfer to persons who are not students at the University. For preliminary decisions given to students who will be travelling abroad under the auspices of Linnaeus University, there are partly special principles in force- see section 2.13, Learning Agreements for exchanges students. 2.4 Credit transfer from other higher education institutions Linnaeus University will approve credit transfers which have been made at other universities and university colleges in Sweden. 5 (8)

6 2.5 Grades Students who have been credited with a course from another school / department or other higher education institution in Sweden will retain their original grade provided that the grade scale is in agreement Students who have been credited with sub-component courses from another school / department or other higher education institution in Sweden will keep their original grade provided that the grade scale is in agreement 2.6 Requirements for documentation from the applicant For the evaluation of credit transfer, the applicant should provide documentation that she / he has undergone an examination for the course with at least a pass result. The following document should be enclosed together with the application for credit transfer: - Syllabus (including lists of teaching materials) - Syllabus / certificate of enrolment (attested copies) or documents which relate to previous vocational experience Original documents should be submitted on request from the University. 2.7 Processing / administrative time Applications for credit transfer will be processed as quickly as possible and the decision will normally be taken within one month after the submission of the complete application. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. 2.8 Criteria regarding who may decide about prior education or professional/vocational experience Only teachers appointed at Linnaeus University may decide whether prior education or professional/vocational experience shall be eligible for credit transfer. A teacher who has been appointed as course examiner may also decide whether prior education or professional/vocational experience shall be eligible for credit transfer for the courses that he/she is examiner. Other teachers, besides examiners, may also be given the right to make credit transfer decisions. All teachers who have been given the right to make credit transfer decisions must have the necessary skills within the subject area which is being assessed about the laws, ordinances and local regulations which apply to credit transfers 6 (8)

7 Joint decision by the Deans on 21 December 2010, dnr: 2010/ Application and decisions on credit transfer Applications and decisions on credit transfer should be in writing. The application form can be obtained from the University. Decisions on credit transfer will be notified to the student in writing. In the case of rejected applications, the decision should outline the reasons why the application has been turned down together with procedures for lodging an appeal ie with whom the appeal can be lodged, within what time frame and where the appeal should be sent Appeals Appeals with regards to credit transfer can always be made to the Higher Education Appeals Board. The appeal should be made in written and addressed to the Higher Education Appeals Board (in Swedish Överklagandenämnden för högskolan), and sent to Linnaeus University. The appeal should be submitted within three weeks of the student s notification of the decision. In cases of appeal, Linnaeus University can either amend its decision in favour of the applicant or adhere to its previous decision. If Linnaeus University adheres to its original decision, the matter should be referred to the Higher Education Appeals Board for a statement of clarification Documentation in Ladok Credit transfer should be documented in Ladok Regulations governing credit transfer from foreign university-level education Credit transfer of foreign higher education will be assessed providing that one of the following conditions has been fulfilled. The course / programme is governed or acknowledged by the state or under the supervision of the state. The course / programme is acknowledged by a regional authority which is commissioned by the state to recognize educational qualifications. The course is recognized by an organization which has been commissioned by the state to provide administration of credit transfer for courses and programme or an accrediting organisation which is generally accepted. 7 (8)

8 The course / programme has been pursued within the framework for Linnaeus University s co-operative agreements Learning Agreements for Exchange Students For students on exchange programmes, a preliminary evaluation of the credit transfer is a part of the decision relating to foreign exchange studies and should therefore as far as possible be carried out in advance. For courses at foreign universities it is normally the cases that courses should be allotted academic credits, appropriate level (first cycle, second cycle etc) and be accepted by the authorities responsible for the credit transfer assessment, prior to the commencement of studies. Foreign studies should be registered in LADOK. Every change in the choice of courses should be approved to guarantee credit transfer upon return to the home university. Upon return, students can apply for the transfer of credits for the courses successfully completed during their time abroad. 8 (8)