What are ECTS and Turkey Higher Education Qualifications Framework?
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), is a credit system based on student workload and student centered. It is the value representing all the courses (theory and practice, seminars, self-study, quizzes, assignments, etc.) that needs to be completed successfully by students.
During the implementation of the Bologna Process in Turkey, ECTS is one of the most important fields of study. In recent years, many universities in Turkey intensified their efforts in harmonizing their credit and grading systems with the principles of ECTS.
According to the Lisbon Strategy goals published by Turkey Higher Education Qualifications Framework ( THEQF) ,The European Union (EU) in 2000 and the objectives of Bologna Process which our country got involved in 2001,the transparency of the countries members of The Bologna Process refers to "developing national qualifications framework in the field of higher education" that is aimed to increase the recognition and mobility until 2010. National Qualifications Framework is a system in which national and international stakeholders are recognized and configured in a specific order. Through this system, all qualifications and other learning achievements in higher education can be explained and linked with each other in a consistent manner.
Specification works on ECTS for the classes included in syllabuses of all academic levels (associate degree, undergraduate degree, graduate degree) were started in 2010, completed in 2011 and implementation of ECTS was made compulsory for all students from 2011-2012 Academic Term.
What is The Diploma Supplement?
The Diploma Supplement, developed by the Council of Europe, the European Commission and UNESCO/CEPES, is a supplementary document to diploma which is given by the higher education institutions in order to make the degree to be comprehensible. This document is should be submitted to the students regardless of a demand for it and like the diploma, it is prepared as a single copy just for once. It is a kind of form which enables a diploma given in a country to be comprehensible for the related institutions in other countries. The Diploma Supplement helps the students to explain explicitly the abilities obtained during their education. By this way, the diplomas of the students who prefer to go abroad for educational or professional purposes will be comprehensible.
The Diploma Supplement is comprised of 8 parts. In the first part is the personal information. In the other parts, on the other hand, there is information about the degree, the level of the degree, the content of the education program, the subjects and marks taken by the student during his/her education, the academic/professional rights obtained by the student with the degree and the higher educational system of the country.
What is not The Diploma Supplement?
The Diploma Supplement is not a transcript and Curriculum Vitae (CV) and does not provide academic/Professional recognition.
What is The Contribution of The Diploma Supplement?
• It can be easily compared and matched in abroad and it is more comprehensible.
• It provides a full description of the abilities obtained by the students during their education.
• It provides an objective and fair judgment about the success and qualifications.
• It provides employment and post-graduate education opportunities in abroad.
What is The Contribution of The Diploma Supplement to Higher Education Institutions?
• It enables the academic and professional recognition
• It enables the recognition of the institution in abroad.
• It enhances the opportunities of the graduate students to find job within their country and other countries.
• It enables the higher education institutions to submit diploma which is well-accepted all over Europe.