"European Community
Education Studies"
A
European course offer in the Social Work Department of
the University of Applied Sciences Koblenz
1.
Motivation
The
national systems of education and training for social welfare professions
(in a narrow sense) are embedded in the national conditions (traditions,
structures etc.) and hence they are heterogeneous
(cp.
ERASMUS-Evaluation 1996)
and not always compatible inter-nationally.
·
This
is necessary if the products shall function adequately within the national
boundaries (i.e. intra-nationally).
The
intensified intra-european migration leads intra-nationally
more and more to multi-cultural societies.
· This
calls for a supplement to the education and training through an
inter-national/inter-cultural dimension, if the “products” wish to
continue to function adequately both at home (i.e. intra –nationally)
as well as abroad (i.e. inter- nationally).
The demand
for a supplementary inter-national/inter-cultural dimension is not
restricted to the social welfare professions (in a narrow sense) (i.e.
intra-professionally) because inter-nationally the professional
boundaries are flowing. (cp.
ERASMUS-Evaluation 1996)
·
This
calls for an
inter-professional/inter-disciplinary
co-operation in the field of education and training of social welfare
professional (in a broader sense).
The
political changes over the last years within Europe as well as the creation
of a “Single European Market” (1993) and of the “European Economic Area”
(1994) reinforce: The tendencies and the possibilities for inter-national
migration; the demand of inter-nationalising of education and
training; the necessity for inter-professional education and
training, as well as the possible intra-professional segregation
between the EU and the EEA members on the one hand and the outside on the
other hand.
The
measures taken by the EC respectively the EU, in recent years namely: The
ERASMUS-Programme; the
“Council directive” on a general system for the recognition of higher
education diplomas are only functional within the EU and partly within the
EFTA-countries, but could reinforce the isolation of schools for social
welfare professions in the other countries and therefore may be
dysfunctional intra-professionally.
The
TEMPUS-Programme offers a chance for avoiding this isolation and segregation
for the schools at least in the eligible countries. If the respective
authorities in these countries realise the importance of the social welfare
professions in the process of transformation.
The Study-Programme “ACCESS-Europe”
-
Has been
developed inter-professionally and is executed in that way,
-
Is
inter-culturally oriented,
-
Is
inter-nationally established and right from the beginning not restricted to
EU-member countries at all,
on the contrary
-
It has been
and is still ready for TEMPUS countries.
2. European
study programmes of the social work department
a
2.1 The
study programme ACCESS- Europe
Since 1988
the students of the social work department had the opportunity to take part
in an additional course. This course was based on existing bi-and
multilateral activities of the 21 partner-universities as well as on the
likewise existing curricular elements of the different study-programmes of
each university. Extended by some more elements, the additional
qualification certificate of ACCESS-Europe
(additional Certificate in Community Education studies) could be achieved.
For the
curriculum of ACCESS-Europe the following 4 modules where adapted and
developed.
Module 1:
language tuition
Module 2:
European Community Studies
Module 3:
Bilateral or multilateral courses
Module 4:
Study or placement abroad
The study
programme “ACCESS” was designed and performed inter-professionally
(pedagogy, social work, social policy). It was inter-culturally oriented as
well as inter-nationally established and wasn’t restricted to EU-countries.
ACCESS-Europe was conceived as a modular construction system. With this the
students had the opportunity to choose single modules they were interested
in and to gain the certificate of “S.U.C.C.E.S.S.”
Students
who achieved all the modules received the “ACCESS- Europe”
certificate.
“ACCESS-Europe” became part of the ERASUS-Programme and was run by 25
partners in 12 countries. More than 130 students reached this certification
since 1989.
“ACCESS-Europe” has been analysed by experts several times and was
considered a valuable contribution to Europeanisation of the study course.
(cp. F.
Hamburger 1998)
c
2.2
The study programme “Europe – COMES”
The
programme “Europe-COMES” was established in 1989/90. It meant: European
Community Education Studies. The Elements of this course could be seen as a
theoretical and practical frame work in order to develop new, intercultural
action strategies which were based on educational community programmes.
“Europe-COMES” was an advancement of the 2nd module in the
"ACCESS-Europe" programme and
connected to the former study course of “social pedagogy” (Sozialpädagogik).
It provided some optional courses as a part of the main study. In the end of
successful studies, a supplementary Europe-COMES
certificate was handed
out to those students who attended the programme. This certificate provided
a detailed report about the subjects the student had attended.
Students
who were interested in single modules only had as well as in the
“ACCESS-Programme” the opportunity to attend those and to gain the
certificate of “S.U.C.C.E.S.S.” (Single Unit Credit In Community Education
Studies) with it.
The contents of “Europe-COMES” were
1.
The acquisition of an additional
certificate,
2.
The membership in one of to projects(intercultural community work or
international youth work),
3.
The participation in the study courses based on social, youth and
community work in Europe,
4.
The acquisition of an evidence of achievement in one of the following
subjects: social policy, psychology,
sociology, pedagogy or political education).
2.3
The
“European Community Education Studies” – E.C.E.S. study programme
This study
programme exists since 1995. Within 8 semesters (2 terms of work placement
included) students can gain a diploma. It is divided in a basic and a main
study period:
The basic
study period of E.C.E.S.
The first 4
terms can be compared to the former study programme of social pedagogy (Sozialpädagogik),
but has some additional subjects as a foreign language and empirical social
research/statistics.
The main
study period of E.C.E.S.
This period
contains one study year abroad on one of the partner universities.
It is also part of this period to do project work within one specific field
of youth and community work, in connection with european community
education. The additional courses of a foreign language and empirical social
research/statistics continues. The diploma can be gained in co-operation
with the partner university.
The degree
Successful
students obtain the diploma of the University of Applied Sciences in
Koblenz. Furthermore they have the opportunity to gain another degree in
some of the partner universities.
3.
Future
Perspectives
3.1
Postgraduate Studies
In
connection with the
Bologna -
Prozesses
the
University of Applied Sciences in Koblenz is going to introduction a new
two-step-study-system in 2006. Then students can do a Bachelor of Arts or a
Master of Arts. In both cases it is possible to compare the studies with the
European Community Education Studies.
The
Bachelor
of Arts offers an
European Pathway
and the
Master of Arts can be gained in the field of international and intercultural
education. Both programmes include the objectives and contents of the former
ECCE programmes introduced before as well as of the European Community
Education Studies E.C.E.S.
3.2 European
Diploma for International/Intercultural Community Education “E.D.I.F.I.C.E.”
It was planned
to build up on the experience made with the “ECCE” programmes to develop a
new and real european study programme, which would include the
responsibilities of all the partner universities as a consortium.
This plan
will be renewed after the conversion of the present study programmes to the
Bachelor and Master programmes.
The degree
would be a “Pan-European Diploma”.
Actually there are partner universities available in
the following countries: England, France, Spain
for further universities and
information click
here
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