Designing and implementing a dual Bachelor’s degree study course with integral attainment of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree Erasmus Project

Project Title

Designing and implementing a dual Bachelor’s degree study course with integral attainment of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

In all EU countries, there is a clear and rapidly growing shortage of entrepreneurs and managers, which is the most limiting factor for the further development of SMEs. The need for young talent and the required skills have been comprehensively analysed by Hanse-Parlament for all Baltic Sea countries.
In some EU countries, e.g. Germany, a large proportion of the next generation of entrepreneurs is recruited through vocational training, particularly master craftsman training. However, there are increasing problems.
In many EU countries, vocational education has lost much of its attractiveness, and more and more young people are striving to study. Master craftsman training is perceived as a dead end and not a good alternative to university studies.
In Germany, master craftsman training is classified at level 6 of the Qualifications Framework, like the Bachelor’s degree. However, there is hardly any practical impact associated with this, the actual permeability is very low.
Competences already acquired in master craftsman training are generally not credited towards a course of study.
Internationally, the master craftsman qualification is only recognised to a very limited extent.
Master craftsmen have comprehensive practical knowledge, professional experience and good skills in specialist practice and theory. In contrast, competences in business administration and corporate management are increasingly insufficient for running a company.
In SMEs, practical experience and professional knowledge are essential for self-employment. As many university graduates lack these skills, SMEs can only recruit a very limited number of junior managers from this group. In order to overcome these problems, courses of study must teach relevant skills in specialist practice and theory as well as professional knowledge.
The following objectives were pursued with the development and implementation of dual Bachelor’s degree courses which integrally achieve Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees:
a) Increasing relevance and quality and improving competences and knowledge with orientation towards the needs of the SMEs.
b) Through the dual study approach, at the same time imparting relevant vocational skills and practical experience.
c) Realisation of important contributions to overcoming the shortage of young entrepreneurs for SMEs.
d) As a Bologna-compliant course of study, full international recognition, including master craftsman training.
e) Making contributions to the EU agenda for the modernisation of Europe’s higher education systems.
f) Increasing the attractiveness of vocational training.
g) Creating full permeability while avoiding recognition problems.
The project was implemented by six experienced partners from Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Finland. The internationally active lead partner is particularly experienced in the qualification and promotion of SMEs and in the implementation of complex projects. A chamber was involved, which contributed its experience in master craftsman training and represented the interests of SMEs in the project. Four partners were higher education institutions / universities; only one has extensive experience with dual study programmes in cooperation with SMEs.
During the three-year implementation period, the following main activities were carried out and results achieved.
1. project management as well as implementation of 6 workshops and 2 international consulting and transfer conferences.
2. development of alternative methods and models for the realisation of dual study programmes with integral achievement of master and bachelor degrees.
3. development of module manuals for two integral dual study programmes for construction and electrical professions.
4. accreditation, testing, evaluation and implementation of the study programme for building professions.
5. initiating the accreditation and testing of modules of the study programme for electrical professions.
6. development and coordination of examination regulations for both study programmes and the different countries.
7. development of checklists and procedures for adaptation to different national conditions and coordination of four national implementation concepts.
8. transfer of the project results to 70 chambers and higher education institutions/universities from 13 countries, which were involved in the project implementation as associated partners and received sustainable implementation advice, and implementation of further dissemination measures.
For the freely accessible products of the project
– Blueprint models & concepts for integral, dual study programmes,
– Module handbook for construction professions,
– Module handbook for the study programme Electrical professions,
– integral examination regulations for master and bachelor degrees and
– Manual with all project results and distribution via bookstores
high sustainable uses are ensured with a process-oriented expansion of the implementation regions including financing.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 432489,41 Eur

Project Coordinator

HANSE-PARLAMENT EV & Country: DE

Project Partners

• UNIWERSYTET PRZYRODNICZY W POZNANIU
• VILNIAUS GEDIMINO TECHNIKOS UNIVERSITETAS
• Wielkopolska Izba Rzemieslnicza w Poznaniu
• SATAKUNNAN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY
• hochschule 21 gemeinnützige GmbH