NTU “KhPI” experience in introducing credit-module system of organizing the training process
according to ECTS
Since 01.09.2004 there was a pedagogical experiment on introduction of ECTS of the training process organization
based on ECTS requirements which lasted for 2 years at 5 faculties (10 specialties) of the National Technical
University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”.
In 2006-2007 academic year the ECTS requirements have been implemented at the 1 st year of studying of all the
University specialties, namely:
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calculating of study efforts in ECTS-points;
modules are described due to ECTS-requirements;
rating of examinations due to ECTS-marks (A-FX).
The ECTS Information package is composed for 10 specialties of 5 faculties (computer information technologies
faculty, machine-building faculty, electric machine-building faculty, engineering-physics and German engineering
faculties). It is determined at the NTU “KhPI” that total student’s study load during the year makes up 60 ECTS
credits, which equals 2160 academic hours. Academic year is divided into 2 semesters equal in load. Total study load
within one semester makes up 30 ECTS credits, which equals 1080 academic hours, which are divided into 450
academic hours of auditorium load and 630 academic hours of independent activity.
NOTATION:* L - classes in lecture-rooms; M – modular control; T – test week; E – examinations period; P –
practice; A – state attestation; H – holidays; C – military camps.
Picture 1– Schedule of the training process
As to distribution of the total extent of students’ load (i.e. 36 hours which make up one ECTS credit) among types of
classes (classes in lecture-rooms, test activities, and independent work), then as it is defined by the Order #16 of
02.06.1993, independent student’s work is the main way of mastering material during the time free from classes.
Study hours assigned for the independent student’s work are regulated by the work curriculum and must make up no
less than 1/3 and no more than 2/3 of the total extent of student’s study hours, assigned to studying a concrete
discipline (i.e. from 12 to 24 hours within one ECTS credit). Accordingly, the rest of time (i.e. from 24 to 12 hours)
must be distributed among classes in lecture-rooms and testing activities. At the NTU “KhPI” it is determined by the
training process schedule that classes in lecture-rooms (lectures, practical classes, laboratory studies, seminars,
individual consultations) are carried out by the schedule of classes, which is stable during the semester, with duration
of 15 weeks. Five weeks in a semester are assigned to test activities (modular control, tests, passing exams,
consultations for a group of students), which are also carried out in conformation to previously designed schedule for
every academic group of students. As schedule of studies for auditorium students’ load is planned for 2 weeks (socalled the 1st and the 2nd weeks), it is necessary to distribute auditorium classes with taking into account that a certain
discipline will be taught within one week for one, two, three, etc. hours, i.e.15, 30, 45, etc. hours during the semester.
Thus, value of one ECTS credit in hourly equivalent makes up: 36 hours of the total extent of a student’s load, which
consist of 15 hours of auditorium load and correspondingly 21 hours of independent activity.
Abovementioned is stated structurally in table 1.
Table 1 – Calculation of studying students’ load by a credit-modular system within NTU “KhPI”
Total extent
Classes in lecture-rooms Independent activity
Quantity of hours per week, as set at the NTU “KhPI”
54
30
Quantity of weeks per semester
20
15
Quantity of hours per semester
54x20=1080 30x15=450
Quantity of credits per semester
30
Value of 1 ECTS credit
1080/30=36
450/30=15
1080-450=630
630/30=21
The abovementioned approach is a basis for the development and introduction of common national educational and
vocational programmes for every direction of specialists’ training that enables to transfer credits between Ukrainian
educational institutions without any difficulties. Curricula in bachelors’ training under all training directions which are
composed taking into account up-to-day international requirements to training of specialists of the 1 st level, contain
all the information on distribution of ECTS credits among disciplines, including proportional distribution in hours
among types of classes. Integer number of units of ECTS credits is assigned to studying a certain discipline; a certain
kind of training activity within one discipline also has integer number of units of ECTS credits.
In 2006 NTU “KhPI” hosted the Scientific Methodic Conference “New Generation of Curricula under Conditions of
Ukraine’s Entering the Bologna Process”. The conference goal is to discuss common requirements and prepare
measures to create a new generation of curricula being developed in connection with termination of 5-year operation
of the present curricula and joining the Bologna process according to the Decree of the President of Ukraine of
04.07.05 and appropriate orders of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU). The conference
materials were published.
In 2007 together with the MESU teaching and methodic materials “Methodic recommendations on developing a new
generation of curricula for specialists’ training at the university” were elaborated and published. In February the
University hold a seminar for faculty deans and head of chairs where a standard package of ECTS documents, which
was developed by the European Commission Directorate General on Education and Culture and recommended to
use while organizing mobility in European universities, as well as a mechanism of organizing the student mobility
according to ECTS were presented.
Every university faculty assigned its ECTS coordinators.