Transcript The impact of the Bologna process on civil engineering in

A case study
Shift from the integrated (5-year) programme to
the two-tier programme
at the Technical University of Civil Engineering
Bucharest
Prof. Iacint Manoliu
President of the Council for Cooperation, Relations and European Integration,
Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest
Chairman of EUCEET – II Management Committee
Conference on Civil Engineering Education
and Research in the Enlarged EU
19-21 April 2004, Brno
Present situation
Continental (binary) system .
Two types of programmes:
• of long duration (nominally 5 years), an integrated programme
leading to an engineering degree (“Inginer Diplomat”), equivalent to a
MSc degree, with no intermediary exit point or qualification
• of short duration (nominally 3 years), oriented toward engineering
applications, leading to an engineering degree (“Inginer-colegiu”),
equivalent to a BSc degree. Graduates of the 3-year programme can
continue their education, but at least one additional year would be
required for the bridge.
There is also a programme of “Advanced Studies”, leading to a
“Diploma of advanced studies” (similar to the French DEA), of oneyear duration, open to up to 20% of the graduates of the 5-year
integrated programme.
There are presently 27 public universities in 26 centers offering
engineering education in Romania.
A peculiarity of the Romanian system is that academic units in charge
with the 3-year programmes (University Colleges) are not independent
but incorporated in the Universities which offer the 5-year programme.
The changes to be made starting with
the academic year 2005 - 2006
According to the provisions of a “Law on the organization of programmes of
university studies” elaborated by the Ministry of Education in 2003, endorsed
by the Government and to be discussed by the Parliament in the near future.
Two-cycle programmes:
 First cycle degree
= Licenta (Licence) for 180-240 credits
 Second cycle degree = Master,
for 60-120 credits
The Consortium of Universities providing engineering education decided:
- the FCD in engineering will have 4 years (240 credits)
- the SCD in engineering will have 1.5 years (90 credits)
University Colleges will be dismantled. The existing shorter and more
application oriented degree (“Inginer colegiu”) will disappear. Also, the
programmes of Advanced Studies will cease to exist.
The new first cycle degree will be closer, by its philosophy and structure, to the
existing 5-year integrated degree course, however the part of the programme
devoted to specialization will have a strong application oriented component.
Titles:
• For the future graduates of the 4-year degree course – inginer licentiat
• For the future graduates of the second cycle degree course: “Inginer
Diplomat” or “Inginer Master” (no decision so far)
Criteria for establishing (tentatively)
new study plan for a two-tier system at T.U.C.E.B
General conditions
Two-tier system
4 + 1.5
First cycle
4 years x 2 semesters = 8 semesters
Contact hours
8 x 28 hours/week = 224 hours
Diploma project
to be completed in the summer of the 4th year of study
Final examination September-October, after the eight semesters of study
Principles
The study plan comprises two parts:
a. a "backbone column" spread on the entire period of study and not just a
"common tronc" for a number of semesters.
b. a part for the specialization
Structure of the proposed study plan
There are 3 specialisations in the offer of the TUCEB belonging to the civil engineering
domain proper:
civil and industrial buildings (structures)
• hydraulic structures
• railroads, roads and bridges
The structure of the proposed study plan was agreed upon for the three above
mentioned specialisations by the deans of the three faculties.
a. the "backbone" (74%)
No.
Group of subjects
Contact hours /
% from total
1
Basic subjects
50h/23%
2
General technical education
55 h / 25%
3
General engineering education
32 h / 14%
4
General economic education
11 h / 5%
5
Foreign languages, social sciences, humanities
16 h / 7%
Total
b. specialisation 60 hrs (26%)
164 h / 74%
Group of subjects in the "backbone"
1. Basic subjects: Mathematics (including Descriptive Geometry) Physics,
Chemistry, Informatics, Drawing
2. General technical education: Structural Mechanics (Mechanics, Statics,
Strength of Materials), Soil Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics
3. General engineering education: Materials Science, Surveying, Reinforced
concrete I, Steel structures I, Construction Machines and two complementary subjects (for instance Roads and Water resources planning for the
specialisations Structures)
4. General economic education: Construction Economy, Construction
Management
5. Foreign languages, environment, social sciences and humanities: Foreign
language; Ecology; Environmental impact; Elements of architecture; other
social and humanities subjects
TUCEB offer two other specialisations of "composite" type:
• Sanitary engineering and environmental protection
• Urban engineering and territorial planning
For these specialisations, separate lists of subjects in the "backbone column"
were defined.