Quality in mobility: how to measure and assess it

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Quality in mobility how to measure and assess it
Maria Sticchi Damiani
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Key words for organised mobility
Diversity culture
language academic system
contents programmes teaching methods
housing food social
activities.
Transparency academic programmes services
exchange
procedures
Cooperation between home and host institution
between academics and
administrators between learners and teachers.
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Lets look at the quality of mobility with
reference to these aspects
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Quality of mobility - diversity

• Recognise the value of diversity in education and
  enable students to benefit from it
• make curricula flexible enough to allow for
  inclusion of diverse learning experiences
• provide opportunities for diverse learning
  experiences in a variety of countries, languages,
  institutions, programmes..
• encourage students to appreciate diversity as
  enrichment, complementarity, mind opener..

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How to measure/assess?

• Possible indicators
• Number of credits available for students options
  in the curriculum
• Variety of countries of destination
• Variety and levels of languages taught in the
  institution (including the local one)
• Variety of types of partner institutions

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Quality of mobility - transparency

• Describe educational activities and services
  available in the most transparent way
• produce a course catalogue in two languages
  according to ECTS guidelines, with desired
  learning outcomes, approaches to teaching and
  assessment, teaching staff and equipment..
• develop grade distribution curves for the various
  degree programmes according to ECTS guidelines
• describe specific facilities, services, academic
  and administrative procedures for exchange
  students
• make information available when needed by partners

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How to measure/assess?

• Possible indicators
• Compliance of course catalogue with ECTS
  guidelines, its translation into another major
  European language, its availability at due time
• Number of degree programmes involved in student
  exchanges providing ECTS grade distribution
  curves
• Publication of an action plan for the academic
  and logistic handling of incoming/outgoing
  students from beginning to the end.

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Quality of mobility - cooperation

• Develop solid partnerships and promote fruitful
  cooperation
• guarantee institutional commitment to partnership
• activate efficient communication channels with
  partners, both at academic and administrative
  level
• ensure full awareness of programmes and services
  offered at partner institutions
• agree on exchange and recognition procedures,
  both academic and administrative
• accept imbalanced flows (by country, institution,
  subject area) as arising from students choices
• jointly monitor and evaluate the work done within
  each bilateral agreement, network or joint
  programme

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How to measure/assess?

• Existence of a strategic plan for mobility,
  indicating goals and priorities for the
  institution
• Allocation of clear academic responsibilities for
  each bilateral agreement, network or joint
  programme contacts, meetings, visits, planning
  and recognition of study abroad, tutoring of
  incoming students
• Incentives for the academics involved
• Allocation of administrative responsibilities for
  the management of agreements, networks or joint
  programmes
• Opportunities for professional enhancement for
  the administrators involved.

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Conclusions
revisiting well known concepts and well
established experiences with quality in
mind may raise awareness clarify goals and
improve current practice
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