International Projects
Lifelong Learning Programme - Programma di apprendimento permanente
ISTITUTO MUSICALE "VINCENZO BELLINI" OF CATANIA
PROGETTO ERASMUS (Erasmus project)
ECTS Information Package
ECTS (EUROPEAN COMMUNITY COURSE CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM)
The European Economic Community promotes inter-university collaboration regarding it as criteria for improving teaching quality. Student mobility is the primary element in the collaboration between institutes of higher education because travel study abroad is an experience that is particularly important for university and professional careers, but also a means (and probably the best) of discovering new countries, ideas, languages and cultures.
The recognition of the studies made is one of the preliminary conditions for the creation of a European space for matters of study, where students and professors can circulate without obstacle. The objective of promoting academic recognition of studies made abroad has been achieved with the creation of a system of recognition of credits that presupposes the recognition of a period of study made abroad, notwithstanding the eventual differences of content and of program.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
It defines a plan of study by attributing different credits to each discipline of the study plan. The credits are defined according to various parameters, amongst which, the workload of the student and the hours committed in the attendance of courses a\o of workshops, stages, seminars and all activities that may form part of the education offered, as well as the various learning results of each individual.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF CREDITS?
The European system of accumulation and transfer of credits is centered on the student and based on the workload required of the student to reach the objectives of a course of study, preferably represented by the student's learning results and competence acquired.
HOW ARE THE PERIODS OF STUDY UNDERTAKEN ABROAD VALUED?
The European Community Course Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is based on the information relative to the plans of study combined with the results obtained by the student, the agreement between the partner institutes and the student, and the utilizing of the credits relative to the period of study undertaken abroad. These three fundamental elements are rendered operative by way of three documents: the ECTS Information Package, the candidate's contract of study documents (with his home institute) and the certificate of studies completed (left by the host institute). The code of good conduct proposed by the ECTS offers, to those interested, the instrumental means to stabilize clarity and to facilitate academic recognition. Regarding the ECTS, 60 credits represents the volume of work in an academic year of study, 30 credits are equivalent to six months e 20 credits to three months.