Permeability Between Vocational Training and Bachelor’s Degree - From IT Specialist to Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Through Adapted Study Design

An interdisciplinary project financed primarily by the research cluster and jointly carried out by Professor Uwe Elsholz, Chair of Lifelong Learning, and Professor Jörg Desel, Chair of Software Engineering and Theory of Programming.

Project duration: 3 years, starting 01.01.2019

The goal of this project is to promote the permeability between vocational training (including work experience) and higher education at the FernUniversität in Hagen by taking into consideration existing competencies, not only in regards to recognition of credits, but also in terms of methodological-didactical approaches.

To this end, a general permeability concept will be developed using the example of vocational training for IT specialists and the bachelor's degree in computer science. In this context, it is possible to reduce the duration of the study program by up to 60 ECTS credits. This kind of reduction expresses a genuine appreciation and recognition of the student’s educational path by considering the relevant competencies of IT specialists.

The central questions of the research project are therefore:

1. How can a university bachelor's degree program be adapted to suit those who have undergone vocational training, so that they can achieve their educational goals with less effort, taking into account existing competencies?

2. How can the bachelor's program in computer science be adapted for IT specialists? Which aspects of the adaptation are specific to this subject?

Scientific project members

The project received an award from the Stifterverband and the DATEV-Stiftung Zukunft in the context of the "Fellowships for Innovation in University Teaching" program - more about the award.

Publications

2023

Conferences

  • Kiesler, N., & Thorbrügge, C. (2023). Socially Responsible Programming inComputing Education and Expectations in the Profession. Proceedings of the 2023 Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science EducationV. 1, 443–449. https://doi.org/10.1145/3587102.3588839

2022

Journals

  • Elsholz, U., Schäfer, L. O., & Huynh, H. N. (2022). Kompetenzsensible Studiengestaltung als mehrdimensionale Herausforderung. die hochschule journal für wissenschaft und bildung, 31(1-2), 82–93. https://www.hof.uni-halle.de/journal/dhs222.htm

Conferences

  • Kiesler, N., & Thorbrügge, C. (2022). A Comparative Study of ProgrammingCompetencies in Vocational Training and Higher Education. Proceedings of the 27th ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer ScienceEducation, 1–7.

2021

Conferences

  • Huynh, H. N., Elsholz, U., & Opel, S. (2021, September). Individuelle Anrechnungaußerhochschulischer Kompetenzen am Beispiel eines informatischenStudiengangs. 9. Fachtagung Hochschuldidaktik Informatik (HDI) 2021.
  • Opel, S., Netzer, C. M., & Desel, J. (2021a). AsTRA - An Assessment Tool forRecognition and Adaption of Prior Professional Experience and VocationalTraining. Proceedings of OCCE 2021 D℡-IFIP TC3 Conference, 222–233.
  • Opel, S., Netzer, C. M., & Desel, J. (2021b, September). Adaption von Lernwegen in adaptierten Lehrmaterialien für Studierende mit Berufsausbildungsabschluss. 9. Fachtagung Hochschuldidaktik Informatik (HDI) 2021.
  • Thorbrügge, C., Desel, J., & Schäfer, L. O. (2021, September). Studienverkürzung durch Anerkennung von Kompetenzen. Eine Interviewstudie über Vorqualifikationen von Informatikstudierenden. 9. Fachtagung HochschuldidaktikInformatik (HDI) 2021.

2020

Conferences

  • Desel, J. (2020). Workshop on Modeling in Higher Education Teaching: TeachingModeling – Model Teaching. In J. Michael & D. Bork (Eds.), CompanionProceedings of Modellierung 2020 Short, Workshop and Tools & Demo Papers co-located with Modellierung 2020. http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2542/MOHOL1.pdf

Phd Thesis