A central aspect of the reform in university education is making degree courses more feasible/manageable by completely restructuring them in terms of their "timing". Modularising degree courses and introducing transferable credit points makes it easier for students to study part-time or follow individual modes of study. It also makes it easier to combine studying with working professionally or raising a family. These factors are crucial from the point of view of equal opportunities. However, experience in this area to date has been disappointing.
In BA degree courses, the expectations put on students are often unrealistically high. The makes many degree courses in effect almost impossible to complete. For example, German universities often attempt to squeeze the contents of an 8 or 9-semester "Diplom" course in engineering into a 6-semester BA degree. There is a pressing need for empirical studies into student workloads; findings should be examined separately for male and female students, allowing for potential differences in living and studying conditions.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to combine raising a family with studying. According to specialists from the accreditation agencies, the excessive demands placed on students make it almost impossible for them to meet responsibilities outside their studies, such as caring for children or other dependents. The introduction of a two-tier degree system has made it possible for women to take a break from their studies after completing the BA to devote time to their families. However, this can hardly be considered progress, since it pushes women towards achieving a lower-level educational qualification and in so doing supports their exclusion from academia and leading positions in society. Indeed, it risks undoing some of the progress that has already been made, and actually lowering standards.
Strategies for making raising a family and studying more compatible. Rather than pursuing antiquated models, it is possible to create a system in which childcare facilities are available at locations close to universities, at the times when they are needed (i.e. during lectures); a system which also appeals to male students more strongly and which includes special regulations on course duration and exam procedures for students with children. Indeed, some strategies already exist for examinations: in certain universities, students with children are allowed longer retake periods under certain circumstances.
The importance of providing childcare facilities close to universities has also been recognised by many university managers, as well as by Ministers of Education. For example, the Ministry of Education of North Rhine-Westphalia has funded a study into childcare facilities and supports an Internet-based information service for universities in the federal state. [www.kinderbetreuung-hochschulen.nrw.de]
Part-time study. The possibility of pursuing a part-time degree is also important from the point of view of equal opportunities. According to specialists from the accreditation agencies, making work and study more compatible should also be one of the aims of the Bologna Process. There is an urgent need for action to achieve this objective. One practical proposal by the Gender Studies AG of the Universität Dortmund is to ensure that "part-time degrees (for students with jobs, children, care needs or disabilities) are offered as part of the normal range of courses".
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