Abstract:

This paper addresses the need to develop ICT systems to support the various European Higher Education (EHEA) Reform tools. It first introduces the various tools that have been developed within the EHEA reforms; these include the European Credit Transfer Accumulation System (ECTS), Learning Outcomes (LOs), Diploma Supplement, European Qualifications Framework (EQF), National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) and U-Multirank.

It then briefly introduces the new Erasmus Plus programme and discusses how these tools support the various thematic areas within the programme and the strategic target of the European Union for mobility of students and academic staff, as well as the internalization of Universities.

The paper then briefly presents two ICT systems, namely ReProTool and MapQFTool that support the ECTS reengineering of curriculum and the mapping of qualifications and awards within the European Union, respectively. ReProTool provides support to the process for adopting ECTS and Learning Outcomes in programmes and courses and provides standard templates and facilities that support the application for the ECTS Label. MapQFTool provides a database of qualifications and awards in the European Union and their placement in the National Qualifications Frameworks and through an automated mapping between the various NQFS through the EQF, a mapping of awards and qualifications across EU.

Finally, the paper discusses the expected interface of U-Multirank, a new ranking system proposed by the European Commission that aims to create different clusters of Universities and move away from the traditional research-based ranking systems; the expected interface will provide a sophisticated web-based search engine for locating Universities ranked within these different clusters.

The paper is thus structured as follows. Introduction addresses the strategic aims of the European Union with regards to the internalization of Universities and Education. Section 2, presents the various tools that provide support for the strategic aims addressed. Section 3 briefly introduces the new Erasmus Plus programme, which aims at making the European Union an international Center of Education. Section 4 and Section 5 present ReProTool and MapQFTool respectively. Finally, Section 6 presents the expected interface of U-Multirank.

Keywords:

European Higher Education Area Reform Tools, ICT Systems.