Design guidelines for flexible and scalable SLPs

Abstract

The project “European Short Learning Programmes” (E-SLP) aims at developing networked Short Learning Programmes, which answer societal needs and provide flexibility to learners. Within the project SLPs are understood as short-term academic programs situated between singular learning units and more extensive academic programs. They offer academic training for selected topics that are of high relevance to certain target groups or introduce new skills that are highly relevant for primarily lifelong/adult learners in employment (D.2.1 E-SLP).

A Short Learning Programme (SLP) is an educational programme with a sequenced set of components (units, modules or other learning building blocks). It is offered by Higher Education Institutions at EQF levels 4 to 8 (foundation, bachelor, master and doctoral). It is usually awarded with a (micro) credential and can be used as stackable elements of larger qualifications, (e.g. bachelor degree). It should be worth 5 to 30 ECTs. It can be market driven and focused on the needs of society. It is normally targeted at non-traditional and adult learners. A SLP can either be online or blended. It must be flexible and scalable. It can be recognised and preferably accredited, and can relate to larger formal degree (WP5 - one page summary).

The aim of these “Design Guidelines for Flexible and Scalable SLPs” is to help the creation and development of SLPs at Meso and Micro level. They illustrate how to design flexible, scalable, accessible and relevant SLPs for users and groups of users. As it is relatively new, design principles are evolving and as front-runner the E-SLP project is the trailblazer. Using online SLPs to go beyond a regional design to national and international design.

These “Design Guidelines for Flexible and Scalable SLPs” have been produced, as part of the E-SLP project. Data was collected from an internal report: “Compendium of Good Practices” (D 4.1 E-SLP), which was drafted from the findings of a survey collecting information on the design of 22 SLPs supported by the detailed interviews of 8 of these SLPs. This report gathered evidence of design good practices in existing SLPs and revealed possible progress that could be made. These improvements have evolved into guidelines, which focus on how to design SLPs that correspond to the parameters of the E-SLP project. These guidelines are, furthermore, based on results from reports published by collaborating partners: WP2, WP3, WP5 and on academic literature.

This is the second version of the “Design Guidelines for Flexible and Scalable SLPs”, it was updated once the SLPs’ pilots were designed. A WP6 survey gathered feedback on the pilot design process and possible issues encountered. This enabled us to gather and include further information on the creative experience in this revised version (V2). The Guidelines are devided in 2 parts, the first one addresses topics of macro-design while the second concentrates on micro-design. It then provides an assessment template for existing SLPs, thus enabling universities to check whether their short learning programmes fit the general criteria of the E-SLPs, as well as numerous templates and methodological instruments in annexes.

The target audience for these guidelines ranges from programme directors to educational staff (supporting the development of educational programmes), to management staff (dealing with educational policies) and to lecturers and professors. To facilitate its use, tags with the relevant target audience are displayed in the left margin of each section.