Nordic Master Programmes Benefits, Challenges and Good Practice for the Development of Joint Programmes

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1 Nordic Master Programmes Benefits, Challenges and Good Practice for the Development of Joint Programmes Anne Mette Holt Special Adviser, Office for International Alliances, (DTU) May 24, /30/2011

2 Nordic Master Programmes Benefits, Challenges and Good Practice for the Development of Joint Programmes Outline Strategic Framework: - Strategic Alliances at DTU - The Nordic Five Tech University Alliance (N5T) - Why Joint Programmes? The Nordic Master Programme Nordic Master Programmes at DTU and within N5T Joint Programme Model applied, example: Nordic Master in Maritime Engineering Good practice: the N5T Handbook on Joint MSc Programmes Challenges Recommendations Benefits

3 DTU Office for International Alliances

4 Why International Alliances? To develop close collaborative relationships with a small group of outstanding universities Globalization is here! The Primary competitors cannot be delimited to other Danish universities but all players on the international scene Rankings and international reputation become increasingly important Research funding based on international competition is increasing and emphasis is put on well functioning and consolidated partnerships Engineers educated at DTU must be good not just according to Danish standards but also be competitive on the international job market Alliances offer a unique chance and a useful tool for young researchers who want to set up an international research network

5 Nordic Five Tech

6 Nordic Five Tech Members Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg Aalto University, Helsinki Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm (DTU), Lyngby

7 Nordic Five Tech Why N5T? Brand based on common Nordic values within teaching, research and innovation Become the Nordic check point for international MSc Eng students Act with joint forces on university policy issues and funding within the Nordic area and the EU What do we do? Joint MSc programmes Quality assurance: N5T QA Peer Evaluation of MSc Programmes Innovation and entrepreneurship: N5T Summer camp on entrepreneurship (DTU 2011), N5T Innovation Day Working groups (learning labs, Ph.D. programme administration.. ) Moving into: Ph.D. and research collaboration Why joint programmes? A long term strategy: Supports the brand Added N5T value A common product to market Consolidates the alliance

8 The Nordic Master Programme The Nordic Flagship for the promotion of Higher Education in the Nordic Countries Pilot project run by the Nordic Council of Ministers as part of the Nordic Globalisation Agenda Three calls: 2007, 2009 and 2010 A total of 16 programmes were selected in the three rounds Funding allocated: 1 mio. DKK per programme Target group: international and Nordic Master level students Requirements: subject area within a Nordic area of excellence, at least three Nordic Countries in the consortium, 1 year for development, 1 year for implementation, two-year (120 ECTS) programmes that must result in a joint, double or multiple degree. Comprehensive Programme evaluation in : ministers decision to continue the programme with a 2011 call. Framework and funding measures have not yet been announced

9 Joint Nordic Programmes at DTU Erasmus Mundus NordSecMob - Co-ordinated by Aalto University (Aalto, NTNU, KTH, Tartu University and DTU) Nordic Master Programmes Innovative Sustainable Energy Engineering, ISEE (N5T): - Co-ordinated by KTH, funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers, 2007 call, started September 2009: Nordic Master in Maritime Engineering, NMME (N5T): - Co-ordinated by DTU, funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers, 2009 call, will start September Environmental engineering: enviro5tech (N5T) - Co-ordinated by DTU, funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers, 2010 call, will start September 2012 Aquatic Food Production safety and quality: AQFood - Co-ordinated by DTU, funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers, 2010 call, will start September 2012 Sustainable Urban Transitions (N5T) - Co-ordinated by Chalmers, funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers, 2010 call, will start September 2012 Nordplus? Engineering Mathematics (N5T) - Co- ordinated by Aalto University. Application for Nordplus funding, March 2011

10 The N5T Joint MSc Programme model Double degrees ECTS Co-supervision of thesis Pre-defined study tracks Joint summerschool/intensive course Semester 1 University 1 Semester 2 University 1 Semester 3 University 2 Semester 4 University 2

11 The Nordic Master in Maritime Engineering Co-ordinated by DTU, Department of Mechanical Engineering Funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers summer 2009 First in-take: September 2011

12 Nordic Master in Maritime Engineering A double degree programme: First year The first year is offered at all five institutions. Second year Each university has the lead responsibility for one track and the specialisation year is offered by that institution. Co-supervision of thesis work: one supervisor from each of the two institutions involved in the student s study track.

13 The Nordic Master in Maritime Engineering A platform for developing generic models and good practice: - A programme model that will serve as a guideline for future programmes (endorsed by the N5T rectors) - The N5T handbook on the development and implementation of joint programmes (initiated by the rectors)

14 N5T Handbook on Joint Master Programmes Why? Ensure a well functioning set of joint N5T programmes where students gain a good experience of the N5T collaboration Provide assistance and guidelines for new consortia Develop the N5T policy on joint programmes How? Elaborated by a joint N5T working group opon request from the N5T rectors, August 2010 Endorsed by the N5T Education Committee, January 2011 Largely based on the experienced gained from the development proces for the NMME A live document! May 2011

15 N5T Handbook on Joint Master Programmes What? General N5T policy on joint master programmes - Added N5T value, Double degree framework, ECTS, Pre-defined study tracks with competence profiles, Co-supervision of thesis work, Summer school/intensive course, Composition of programme Consortia Programme development and management - Composition of the programme board, division of tasks, consortium agreement, Procedures for approval of the programme (N5T level, National level, Institutional level) Content and Structure of the Programme - Study tracks and competence profiles, Learning outcomes (levels), Co-supervision of master thesis (guidelines for the consortium, guidelines for the supervisors, guidelines for assessment, guidelines for students, thesis agreement form) Implementation of the Programme Admission (organisation, joint admission requirements and pre-screening criteria, procedure), Rules and regulations: status and rights of the student, Student counselling, Mobility between institutions (transfer and enrolment, credit transfer, Grading scales) Tuition fees how to avoid double charging, Degrees and diplomas (deadlines and procedures, diploma supplement, insert), Quality assurance Funding Annexes: templates and detailed guidelines

16 Setting up a joint programme - challenges Designing the programme Define your out-put in terms of: - competences - diploma: single, joint, double, multiple.. Defining and selecting the contribution of each partner - define added value - identify the selling points The degree framework, legal requirements and limitations - double degrees/joint degrees - accreditation

17 Setting up a joint programme challenges Issues to keep in mind Define a common platform: Consortium Agreement Internal procedures for approval, accreditation, timeline Admission requirements and procedures - define and ensure consensus on joint requirements - local or centralised admission? - admission process: agree on and co-ordinate the timetables of each partner institution Tuition fees Ensure that the students have a good experience: - student counseling and administrative procedures (mobility, enrolment, accommodation, visa and residence permits, credit transfer, exams and resits,student counselling)

18 Recommendations Getting organised: Institutional commitment! Establishment of the consortium: a dedicated team of key professors and key administrative staff working together on a joint project Ensure a continued dialogue on contents versus form/subject matter versus legal framework: - Ensures the feasibility of the programme - Ensures a well functioning programme

19 Wrap up: Benefits N5T and the Nordic Maser Programme framework: The right tool at the right time A perfect match for in terms of values, goals and vision An excellent tool for the articulation of added Nordic/N5T value A flexible framework

20 Contacts Anne Mette Holt Special Adviser, Office for International Alliances, (DTU)

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22 Why create an alliance network? Nordic/European Flagship - the most comprehensive engineering degree program in the world. Driver for Innovation - By pooling resources of top Universities, the resourcing barriers for new programs (education or research) are smaller. Enhance Research - enhance research in specific Technologies by, based on collaboration on MSc theses, PhD projects, etc. More Specialization - By pooling resources, it will be possible to offer degree programs with increased depth and opportunity for specialization. Marketing - a marketing vehicle for excellence Quality - Increase quality of degree programs and research programs/projects Educational Marketplace - Facilitate a marketplace for MSc graduates based on a Nordic/European MSc platform in specific engineering disciplines Optimize use of resources share facilities that are expensive, highly specialized. With specialized degree programs students from all partners have access and use facilities. Global marketplace - Internationalization of education is critical in a global marketplace. The aim is to increase mobility of students and academics between partner Universities. This will be facilitated through clearly defined and visible (to students) study tracks so that it is easy for students to move between universities. Mobility A common pool of students (MSc and PhD).