A Framework for the Introduction of Credit Point Systems

Wolfgang Gehring, Universität Ulm

As a reaction to the increasing competition in higher education the German conference of university presidents (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) and the conference of the ministers of education (Kultusministerkonferenz) recommend the introduction of credit point systems at German universities. This is also explicitly included in the new University Law of the state of Baden-Württemberg. Since credit point systems are a fairly new idea to German universities, however, it is to a large degree unclear what measures have to be taken to introduce such credit point systems. This framework wants to help to remedy this situation. It is a guideline for the introduction of credit point systems; it offers support and can also serve as a reference book. We aim for a credit accumulation and transfer system which is to a degree modeled after ECTS (the European Credit Transfer System). It can be used not only with Bachelor and Master programs (which are mostly new to the German system of higher education), but also with the existing German Diplom degree programs. Overall, credit point systems are expected to make a significant contribution to quality assurance in both learning and teaching at institutions of higher education.

"The at first successfully in the Faculty of Computer Science introduced system has due to the positive experiences now been extended to all Faculties at the University of Ulm." (Excerpt from the foreword of President Prof. Dr. Hans Wolff)

About the second edition

"A Framework for the Introduction of Credit Point Systems" has been published in German ("Ein Rahmenwerk zur Einführung von Leistungspunktesystemen") as No. 2000-04 in the series of technical reports of the Faculty of Computer Science, Ulmer Informatik-Berichte, March 2000, ISSN 0939-5091. In April 2002, the 2nd revised and extended edition has been published, Universitätsverlag Ulm, ISBN 3-89559-078-9. An English version is planned and will hopefully be available soon. Check back for news.

The significantly extended second edition of the framework maintains a substantial part of the structure and contents of the first edition. This is enriched by our experiences with credit point systems obtained in the last years and by further aspects that have arisen in productive discussions. Completely new are sections about the estimated workload of students, a further differentiation of courses, a whole chapter about the interdisciplinary introduction of credit points and other things; several sections have been revised to fit the current conditions.

The second edition was made possible through funding through the "Bund-Länder-Kommission für Forschungsförderung und Bildungsplanung", the commission for educational planning and research promotion, in the project "Introduction of Credit Point Systems at Universities". The homepage of the project network no.5 can be accessed here.

Download (at the moment in German only) the second edition:

DIN A4 Postscript (764 kB)
DIN A5 Postscript (767 kB)
DIN A4 PDF (for Adobe Acrobat Reader) (493 kB)
DIN A5 PDF (for Adobe Acrobat Reader) (549 kB)

or order as printed version from Wolfgang Gehring.

Links / News

  • "What you always wanted to know about credit points and other quality assurance measures", Information day at the University of Ulm, January 27th 2003
  • Press release (in German) from the Ministry of Science, Research and Art of the state of Baden-Württemberg January 27th, 2003 (as Word document, 28 kB)
  • Related newspaper article (in German) from the "Südwestpresse" January 28th, 2003
  • Related newspaper article (in German) from the "Schwäbischen Zeitung" January 28th, 2003
  • Newspaper article (in German) from the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" January 21th, 2002
  • Newspaper article (in German) from the "Schwäbische Zeitung" January 12th, 2002
  • Newspaper article (in German) from the "Südwestpresse" January 12th, 2002
  • Links to the adaption of the framework's guidelines in the exam regulations (Prüfungsordnung) of the Bachelor/Master-Program in Computer Science and of the Diplom-Program in Computer Science (in German only)
  • Link to a message (in German) from the Ministry of Science, Research and Art of the state of Baden-Württemberg
  • Press Release (in German) from the Ministry of Science, Research and Art of the state of Baden-Württemberg from May 19th, 2000 (as Word document, 28 kB)
  • The Course Catalog of the University of Ulm for the academic year 2003/04 with a credit point system in all subjects

The "Credit Point System-Crew"

(from left to right: Wolfgang Gehring, Prof. Uwe Schöning, Dr. Adalbert Bader, Prof. Michael Weber, Prof. Helmuth Partsch)