Ongoing Project 2014 - 2017: Tuning EU-China Phase 2

The joint EU-China TUNING Study, co-financed by the European Commission and the Chinese Ministry of Education, was initiated in April 2012 by the EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue (HPPD). It should allow for (i) strengthening the compatibility of EU and China education systems, (ii) enhancing outcome-based education, (iii) overcoming obstacles to mobility, (iv) establishing commonly acknowledged quality criteria and (v) developing tools for mutual recognition.

The outcomes of the study offer insight in the strength and weaknesses of higher education programmes in China in general and three selected disciplines, Business, Civil Engineering and Education, in particular. The study implemented offers a good basis for enhancing outcome-based learning of higher education programmes in China. As in most other parts of the world in China degree programmes are still staff centred. It is the official policy of the Chinese authorities, however, to move to outcome based education, which in practice means a shift of paradigm in the way education is organised and offered. By basing higher education programmes on outcomes the compatibility of Chinese and European higher education (degree programmes) will be enhanced as well as mobility and recognition will be facilitated.This applies to mobility and recognition in both directions.