University Continuing Education at the University of Graz at a Glance

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University Continuing Education at the
University of Graz at a Glance

• Andrea Waxenegger
• University of Graz
• TEMPUS Project 3 LUC, Consortium Kick-off Meeting
  
• Thursday, 9 November 2006
• Zagreb, Croatia

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Speaker

• University education Educational Sciences/Adult
  Education since 1989 working in the field of
  University Continuing Education in research
  development, management, organisational
  development, consulting and various functions
• Present position Director of the Center for
  Continuing Education (since June 2000)
• Since 1996 Member of the founding group and
  since September, Member of the Steering Committee
  of AUCEN Austrian University Continuing
  Education and Staff Development Network
  www.aucen.ac.at
• Since May 2004 Member of the Steering Committee
  and Secretary General of EUCEN European
  University Continuing Education Network
  www.eucen.org
• Since 2004 Member of the Steering Committee and
  Managing Director of the Association for the
  Promotion of Lifelong Learning (in cooperation
  with the University of Graz)

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Overview

• What is University Continuing Education?
• What does the University of Graz offer?
• Developmental Plan 2005-2010
• The Center for Continuing Education Objectives
  and Tasks
• Special Projects
• Our Main Networks
• Contact

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1. What is University Continuing Education?

• Austrian Universities are required by law to
  include Continuing Education in their performance
  objectives continuing education, particularly
  post-graduate training
• University Continuing Education (UCE) is one of
  the 16 strategic projects in the Organisation and
  Development Plan (2005-2010) of the University of
  Graz objectives more provision for UCE new
  target groups
• By law explicitly allowed is in order to
  provide financial and organisational support
  cooperation with other legal entities.
• UCE-Provision is not part of the regular
  under/graduate degree programmes of the
  universities

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1. What is University Continuing Education?

• Formats from public lectures addressing a wide
  audience to specialised Masters programmes
  lasting several semesters
• Certificates from confirmation of
  participation/certificate of attendance?
  university certificates ? Masters degrees
• Academic titles The curriculum may specify
  masters titles in normal international use for
  the respective subject to be awarded to the
  graduates of such courses, if the admission
  requirements, scope and standards are comparable
  to those of like masters programmes in other
  countries.
• In the event that subsection 1 does not apply,
  the curriculum may stipulate that the title
  Akademische or Akademischer academically
  accredited, followed by a suffix indicating the
  contents of the course in question, is to be
  awarded to persons successfully completing the
  course in question, provided that it qualifies
  for at least 60 ECTS credits points. (ECTS work
  load of one year full-time is 1500 hours 60
  ECTS)
• Money from no fees to cost-covering fees

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1. What is University Continuing Education?

• to offer participation in university learning
  processes (i.e. research-based
  State-of-the-Art critical and reflective
  approach) and taking into consideration the
  experience and knowledge being brought into the
  process by participants from their work.
• Prerequisite is firstly, researchers/teachers
  who are capable of bringing this experience into
  university teaching and learning processes and
  secondly, these processes need enough time.
• Organisational development and change It is
  often not enough to qualify one participant
  without thinking about the transfer of knowledge
  into the organisation he or she is part of.

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2. What does the University of Graz offer? Some
examples

• 1. Public Access
• Academy on Monday a series of lectures in
  cooperation with 9 regional centers
  (video-conference) addressing a wide audience
• Megaphon-Uni a series of lectures and
  workshops in cooperation with the local street
  magazine Megaphon
• 2. Short courses, also on international level
• 3. University Continuing Education Courses up to
  Masters programmes e.g.
• Master in European Integration and Regionalism
• Master in South East European Law and European
  Integration (LL.M.)
• MSc Space Sciences (in cooperation with the Graz
  University of Technology)

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3. Developmental Plan 2005-2010

• Uni for Life university education for everyone
  between 18 and 88
• One of the long-term goals set by the University
  of Graz is to cast the university in the role of
  a partner in learning for students of any and
  all ages. In addition to the classical
  programmes offered to the 18 to 25-year-olds, the
  five faculties of the University are turning
  their attention more and more towards the needs
  of the post-25 group and are looking to develop
  the University into a partner in lifelong
  learning. In this area, the role of the
  university is two-fold to provide a network and
  impetus for applied research, and to act as the
  main point of contact for continuing professional
  development and continuing education at an
  advanced level.
• UNI for LIFE Ltd http//www.uniforlife.at
• Founded 2006
• Continuing Professional Development for Business
  and Industry, for graduates/post-graduates, for
  the University
• Contact UNI for LIFE Ltd, Klaus Ebner,
  klaus.ebner_at_uni-graz.at

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4. The Center for Continuing Education -
Objectives

• to fulfil the role of the University of Graz in
  the community as a lifelong partner in university
  continuing education
• to further develop and expand the programme of
  university continuing education currently being
  offered by the University
• in the area of general interest courses at
  university level for public access and
• in the area of scientific learning
• to further improve the quality of the programme
  of university continuing education in these two
  areas

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4. The Center for Continuing Education - Tasks

• to develop and test an innovative programme of
  general interest courses at university level for
  public access
• based on academic/scientific research, to develop
  and test
• an innovative programme of university continuing
  education and
• innovative learning environments in the area of
  scientific learning
• to set up an information centre and counselling
  service on university continuing education and
  training for target groups in the area of public
  access programmes and scientific learning
  programmes
• to develop programmes to further competence and
  increase professionalism of educators working in
  university continuing education (teaching within
  the context of university continuing education
  learning with older and inter-generational
  learners)
• to build up and maintain regional, national and
  European
• partnerships for programme development
• cooperation projects and
• networks

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5. Special Projects

• Development of a Concept for a University of the
  Third Age as well as testing and evaluating of
  pilot modules VITA ACTIVA
• Started on 1 September 2005 Duration 23 months
• Supported by Federal Ministry of Social Security,
  Generations and Consumer Protection and the
  Federal Ministry of Education, Science and
  Culture considerable contribution by the
  University
• Target groups senior citizens and
  non-traditional students
• Main objectives of the project develop a
  profile, an organisational model, a new
  (university-accredited) programme and
  institutionalise what has been developed
• Quality research-based level accompanying
  programme personal growth, study skills,
  IT-skills

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5. Special Projects

• SOCRATES-Grundtvig
• ADD LIFE! ADDing quality to life through
  inter-generational learning via universities (as
  coordinator)
• http//add-life.uni-graz.at
• see handout

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5. Special Projects

• SOCRATES-Grundtvig
• EQUIPE plus (as partner)
• http//www.equipeplus.org
• see handout

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6. Our Main Networks

• EUCEN www.eucen.org
• AUCEN www.aucen.ac.at

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7. Contact

• Dr Andrea Waxenegger
• Center for Continuing Education at the University
  of Graz
• andrea.waxenegger_at_uni-graz.at
• http//www.uni-graz.at/weiterbildung/zentrum