ECTS - credit transfer system
The ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) is a scheme that facilitates the transfer of expertise and knowledge within the European Community and involves the identification of study parameters which can be used as a basis for comparing results achieved by students in different institutes. Credits are not marks or percentages but an indication of the quantity of work required to pass a given exam.
By way of explanation, let us take the case of a student; when s/he enrols at University, s/he takes out a “mortgage” with that Institution for 180 training credits (currently the equivalent of a basic three year degree) and/or 120 training credits (a two year specialization course). S/he pays back these credits over time by successfully passing exams, each of which has been assigned a credit rating. When the student takes an exam the quality of his /her work is taken into account (the marking system) as well as the quantity (credits).
Perhaps one of the most important novelties of the ECTS, is the extension of this evaluation system to every aspect of study. In fact the ECTS takes into consideration not only the study carried out during normal lessons, seminars and practicals but all of the work required by the student to achieve the educational aims set by the course that s/he is following. This, therefore includes individual study and research, and extra-curricular activities considered a necessary part of the course.
Hence, a student knows that over the course of a year s/he will need to do a certain number of exams to earn 60 credits and therefore will need to dedicate a given number of hours to lessons, practicals and seminars; this, in addition to individual study, revision and any other activities considered necessary to achieve the educational aims of the course. Any other activities, in the case of this Academy, could entail watching films, theatre performances, guided visits, shows, exhibitions etc.
Current teaching regulations, which take European directives concerning ECTS into account, tend to allow a ratio of 1:3 for theoretical subjects, 1:2 for seminars and semi-theoretical/semi-practical lessons and 1:1 for practical/laboratory activities.
At the Academy of Fine Arts, each subject is taught using mixed teaching techniques, theory matching and blending with practice. Courses are generally divided up into different modules.
Exam results are given as a mark out of thirty, using the traditional Italian system and the ECTS marking from A for excellent to F for fail. This system means that the results and experience obtained by both outgoing and incoming students will be fully recognized and understood on return to their own Institut