Assessment of Traineeships within the European Credit Transfer System Erasmus Project

Project Title

Assessment of Traineeships within the European Credit Transfer System

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 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries; Quality Improvement Institutions and/or methods (incl. school development); Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

The ATEST (Assessment of Traineeships within the European credit transfer SysTem) project was proposed as a two year project and looked for a solution and recommendation around ECTS credits award for internships. Partners of the project were 9 universities from 9 EU countries, coordinator was Educa International, o.p.s. (NGO).

The traineeships are for students a part of their university education to gain practical experience in their field of study through practical activities in companies and other institutions . This is very important and essential for their further professional development and better emloyability after the graduation.
The current practice used for recognition of traineeships results shows a huge differences between universities and also within the same university. We can see large differences in the attitude towards allocation of credits for internship performed within the Erasmus programme (from 0 ECTS to 30 ECTS). If we accept the Erasmus programme traineeships as an integral part of study, it must be objectively evaluated in accordance with recognized rules, i.e. ECTS. For traineeships there was no model how to evaluate and recognize participation in Erasmus traineeships under the ECTS, mainly of volutary traineeships.
The project partners analyzed their own credit allocation systems at their universities, universtities of Educa Consortium and also all partners asked other universtities in their countries to fill in a project questionnaire which was distributed also to other countries participating in Erasmus traineeship activities. Project team prepared analysis, and outcomes present a possible solution and recommendation how to approach traineeships based on ECTS according to the period, results and other aspects of traineeships.
Project found also other problems that should be addressed by another analysis of data. The attitude of companies toward traineeships and evaluation of traineeship.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 152569 Eur

Project Coordinator

EDUCA INTERNATIONAL, o.p.s. & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• TECHNOLOGIKO EKPAIDEFTIKO IDRYMA ATHINAS
• UNIVERZITA PAVLA JOZEFA SAFARIKA V KOSICIACH
• Technische Hochschule Deggendorf
• INSTITUT DES HAUTES ETUDES ECONOMIQUES ET COMMERCIALES ASSOCIATION
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
• UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA