Building Degree Profiles. The Tuning Approach

  • Julia González Tuning Academy, University of Deusto, Spain
  • Maria Yarosh Tuning Academy, University of Deusto, Spain
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18543/tjhe-1(1)-2013pp37-69
Keywords: degree, degree profile, reference points and meta-profiles, recognition, relevance, quality, social needs, levels, competences and learning outcomes, educational programme

Abstract

The development of degree profiles is an important art which has become quite specialized in recent years. This article concentrates on the analysis of the importance of the role of degree profiles in the design of degrees and, as a consequence, in Higher Education in general. It analyses, particularly, the work of the Tuning Project and its main processes in relation to profile building. It also gathers together and systematizes the specific contribution of four main components which should be taken into consideration at the time of the creation of new qualifications: two of the components relate to the analysis of social and professional needs and the future trends in the area. Both of these elements provide the relevance which a degree profile should strive to attain. The third component, the reference to the meta-profile, provides a capacity for recognition throughout an entire region and also in relation to the global context. The last element in profile development takes into consideration the university where the programme is anchored, its mission and strengths.

Published online: 4 July 2014

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Author Biographies

Julia González, Tuning Academy, University of Deusto, Spain

Julia González is Co-coordinator of Tuning Higher Education in the World, President of Education for an Interdependent World, Co-founder of the Tuning Journal and a member of its Editorial Board. She is also a high level expert and adviser at the national, European, and international level on higher education. She was Vice-Rector for International Relations at the University of Deusto (2003-2012) and has initiated and coordinated several international networks and educational and research projects such as the Thematic Network on Humanitarian Development Studies, the Erasmus Mundus Master in International Humanitarian Action, the European Doctorate on Migration, Identities and Diversity and two Marie Curie Training networks. She was one of the initiators of the European Master in Human Rights and Democratization and the Secretary General of the NOHA International Association of Universities. Dr. González holds a D. Phil from the University of Oxford (UK).

Maria Yarosh, Tuning Academy, University of Deusto, Spain

Maria Yarosh (mariayarosh@deusto.es) has collaborated in Tuning Russia project and is currently working for the Research Unit of the Tuning Academy at the University of Deusto (Bilbao, Spain). She is also a member of the University of Deusto team within the Erasmus Mundus Intercultural Competence project (EMIC). She holds a Specialist degree in Linguistics and Translation from the Institute of Foreign Languages (St. Petersburg, Russia); an MA degree in Lifelong Learning (Policy and Management) from the Institute of Education, University of London (UK). She recently earned a PhD in Education from the University of Deusto. Her research focuses on the development of translator intercultural competences.

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Published
2014-04-07
How to Cite
González, Julia, and Maria Yarosh. 2014. “Building Degree Profiles. The Tuning Approach”. Tuning Journal for Higher Education 1 (1), 37-69. https://doi.org/10.18543/tjhe-1(1)-2013pp37-69.
Issue
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2013): New profiles for new societies
Section
Articles

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