The ECTS system at ISPGAYA is based on the three core elements settled up by the European Executive Agency: information (on study programmes and student achievement), mutual agreement (between the partner institutions and the student) and the use of ECTS credits (to indicate student workload).
These three core elements are made operational through the use of three key documents: the course catalogue, the Student application form/learning agreement and the transcript of records, as well as the Diploma Supplement.
Through the code of good practice by the ECTS, ISPGAYA provides:
1. Full academic recognition as it is a condition sine qua non for student mobility in the framework of the LLP - Erasmus programme.
2. Transparency through the following means:
(i) ECTS credits, which are numerical values allocated to course units to describe the student workload required to complete them. They reflect the quantity of work each course unit requires in relation to the total quantity of work necessary to complete a full year of academic study at the institution that is, lectures, practical work, seminars, tutorials, fieldwork, private study - in the library or at home - and examinations or other assessment activities. ECTS is thus based on a full student workload and not limited to contact hours only. In ECTS, 60 credits represent the workload of an academic year of study and normally 30 credits for a semester and 20 credits for a term.
(ii) The Course Catalogue which supplies written information to students and staff on institutions, departments/faculties, the organisation and structure of studies and course units.
(iii) The Student Application Form/learning agreement covers the programme of study to be taken and the ECTS credits to be awarded if satisfactory completion, committing the student to undertake study abroad as an integral part of his or her higher education. The home institution guarantees full academic recognition of the credits gained abroad and the host institution provides the agreed course units, subject to timetabling.
(iv) The Transcript of records shows students’ learning achievements in a way which is comprehensive, commonly understood and easily transferable from one institution to another.