Peter Rees Jones

1
Establishing Lifelong Learning UCAS the
electronic-Diploma Supplement (e-DS)

• Peter Rees Jones
• CETIS LIPSIG
• University of Leeds
• University of Nottingham e-Portfolio
• for Lifelong Learning Project

2
Developing Lifelong Learner Information
In this presentation I will review initial work -

• 1st on an electronic- Diploma Supplement (e-DS)
• 2nd to join up learner information in schools,
  colleges and universities to support transitions.

(UCAS!)
How may UCISA wish to help set the direction of
this work?
And in this way develop practicable and
sustainable solutions.
3
Policy Starting Points

• Tomlinson - 14 19
• 20 lines of learning on a Diploma
• Personal Review Planning and Guidance
• The reflective and effective learner.
• Burgess - reform of degree classification
• Recording achievement in HE should dovetail with
  developments in 14 - 19 (rec7)
• Continuation of PDP (rec 6)
• Should be complementary to the DS (rec 5)
• Schwartz - reform of HE admissions
• Explicitly references the work of the Nottingham
  Project

4
A Technical Starting Point

• XML is an obvious means of exchanging learner
  information.
• The IMS in the Learner Information Packaging
  specification provides XML protocols.
• CEN has agreed that this should form the basis of
  European standards in this area
• BSI has produced a standardised version of IMS
  LIP as the UK Lifelong Learning Profile (UKLeaP
  - BS8788)
• This takes specific account of UK needs
• JISC is making a major investment in this area,
  e.g. to add web services carry out a legal
  study.
• Following initial pilots, reference models will
  be developed.
• Leading to pilot implementations.
• For example of an electronic Diploma Supplement.

5
National versions of the e-DS

• Universities are testing the production of the
  paper Diploma Supplements, which must be provided
  to all graduates from 2005
• Recurrent Commission funds have been made
  available to establish an electronic-DS (e-DS)
• A common underlying European e-DS has been
  commissioned.
• National versions will then be developed from
  this base (England, Scotland Germany).
• This will use a profiling tool provided by the
  University of Koblenz through the TELCERT
  project.
• which also provides a means of conformance
  testing.
• Scenarios of use are for graduate applications to
  employment and higher degrees

6
Achieving a common European e-DS
The problem is not just the technology. What
are the requirements?

• How do universities want to make use of the DS?
• What kind of Diploma Supplement might
  universities want to have in 10 years time?
• But what kind of e-DS might a university be able
  to implement in 2006?
• And what does the TELCERT project provide to help
  make this a practicable proposition?

An outline set of business process use cases for
the e-DS are being produced.
7
Levels of implementation
Dimensions of interoperability 1

• Minimum (no change to existing ICT Dbs)
• Upgraded (incremental changes in existing systems
  to take advantage of e-DS)
• Optimised (new systems specified to take
  advantage of e-portfolios / PLEs and therefore of
  the e-DS.)
• The Burgess Group recommendations will require
  further changes to the e-DS.
• Tomlinson recommends richer information for 14-19
  achievement.
• What we do today must be extensible tomorrow.

8
Extensibility
Dimensions of interoperability 2
What should appear as DS programme details?
An employer view
An academic view
Skills
Academic modules
ltcompetencygt
ltactivitygt
Increasingly institutions may need to specify the
learning outcomes or skills achieved by students
ltRDCEOgt
ltactivitygt
ltrelationshipgt
9
Supporting transitions to HE - Scenario A
2. At age 16 I decide what where to study at
college
PRPG Personal Review, Planning and Guidance
(Tomlinson recommendation 9)
4. I register, meet my tutor and continue PDP
1. I, the student, am inducted into PRPG within
an MLE
3. I decide to apply for University
Shared MLE
PRPG
PRPG
PRPG
tutor
PDP
Univ MIS
PRPG
Applies Univ.
Age 16 Moves to college
Age 14 Enters Secondary School
Age 19 Registers _at_ University
10
Implementing Lifelong Learning - Scenario A
Nottingham City passport
Nottingham City passport
Nottingham University e-pars
Shared MLE
PRPG
PRPG
PRPG
tutor
PDP
Univ MIS
PRPG
Applies Univ.
Age 16 Moves to college
Age 14 Enters Secondary School
Age 19 Registers _at_ University