Coventry University
School of Science and the Environment
Sir John Laing Building
Priory Street
Coventry
CV1 5FB

Contact: Keith Chapman
Tel: 024 7688 8166
Email: k.chapman@coventry.ac.uk

Aims:
The broad aims of this European Masters programme are to:

• encourage the adoption of pan-European studies;
  
• inform curriculum designers of the benefits and difficulties involved in this type of course development;
  
• identify the factors that are most likely to result in a successful course.

Resources:
The resources required to make this programme successful are:

• commitment to the notion of pan-European development;
  
• mutual recognition of European higher education systems;
  
• flexibility in the application of rules and procedures;
  
• development of personal relationships.

Details:
Objectives of the Programme
The programme has the objective of developing the following attributes in students:

• technical and management skills, to enable them to hold directive posts in European construction and operate with a high level of competence;
  
• knowledge of European construction practice and solutions to construction problems;
  
• knowledge of the legal and economic framework of the European construction industry;
  
• awareness of the environmental context of the European construction industry's operation;
  
• awareness of construction practices in countries outside their own;
  
• abilities in independent investigation and research;
  
• experience in working in multi-cultural teams, thus facilitating the mobility of construction professionals across Europe;
  
• development of good communication skills.

Course Development

The programme originated in 1987 following exploratory visits from the University of Cantabria to several institutions of higher education in Europe. In 1989 seven universities, representing five different European countries, developed the original course.

The basic concept that evolved was that students from different European countries should receive the highest possible level of tuition from different nationalities of staff and experience life in several different European countries. The course structure was planned around the typical one-year UK Master's course, including two taught terms and a period for a research project. By studying in two different countries for the taught terms and by having a free choice of the location for their dissertations, students would obtain a genuinely pan-European experience. Staff would travel to these locations to deliver their modules, thus furthering their own pan-European appreciation.

A major step forward, in 1992, was the signing of the formal agreement to operate the programme by seven rectors and vice-chancellors of the partner universities, an event that took almost one year to achieve, but which still stands as a unique and significant achievement. The agreement was re-confirmed in 2000, following a major programme review.

In the second format for the course, which is the current arrangement, the delivery of each module takes place in three-week blocks consisting of fifteen hours of classes in each of the first two weeks. The third week is allocated to the students for their private study and research. This arrangement enables visiting lecturers to deliver classes in a reasonable time frame and allows students flexibility in planning their studies.

There have been several changes in the partner institutions over the years. The present partners are:

• Aalborg Universitet (Esbjerg), Denmark;
  
• Politecnico di Bari, Italy;
  
• Fachhochschule Nordestniedersachsen (Buxtehude), Germany;
  
• Universidad Politécnica de Cantabria, Spain;
  
• Coventry University, United Kingdom;
  
• Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain;
  
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain;
  
• Universidade do Porto, Portugal.

The map shows the extent of the European collaboration and the numbers of students that have graduated from the course.

All partners contribute in some way to the programme. This does not mean that all contribute equally, or that they contribute the same elements. For example, some may teach, others may organise industrial visits. Each makes their contribution in kind, that is to say that no direct payment is made to the visiting lecturers, or to their institutions, for the time spent in delivering the programme, although surplus funds are re-distributed at the year end in accordance with their contribution. The benefits to the lecturers and to the institutions from which they originate give considerable benefits. The contacts made have resulted in enhanced research development, direct experience of European higher education systems and often long-term relationships between the partners

Programme of Study

The programme is modular. A module is defined as an identifiable part of the curriculum for the degree, which has the following characteristics;

• a coherent, self-contained syllabus;
  
• an assessment regime;
  
• successful completion of a module will result in the award of a pass;
  
• all modules are mandatory and are classed as level M under University regulations;

Three awards are available - the Masters Degree and a Postgraduate Diploma and a Certificate. Distinction and merit performances are recognised in each.

The following is the programme structure:

Language
The programme is taught and assessed exclusively in English, including all coursework, examinations, group project and dissertation. This decision followed many hours of discussion during the programme development, however the students are generally fluent in English. The decision inevitably favours the UK student, however the nature of the programme involves a lot of discussion of ideas and concepts and whilst this may to some extent be monopolised by students most confident in English or who are of the same nationality as the host university, because the teaching locations are changed, the role of passive and assertive student are exchanged.

Student Numbers and Nationalities

Course Regulations
The programme operates under the postgraduate regulations of Coventry University and hence it operates under the aegis of UK quality assurance systems. The decision was taken to operate under UK systems because these were the most rigorous at the time, and it was felt that if these were satisfied then all would be satisfied. This position has not been without difficulties however, especially regarding the role of the external examiner, a concept unknown in Europe, and one which has caused the discussion of some interesting issues about the possible range of competences of external examiners at Masters level.

The programme still very firmly belongs to the partners, in spite of the fact that Coventry operates the course from the European Construction Masters Agency and Coventry regulations are used. As a demonstration of this, the final degree certificate is issued on behalf of all the partners and contains the official signatures of all the partner universities.

Evaluation:
There are three principal methods by which the effectiveness of the programme may be evaluated: external examiner reports, student feedback questionnaires, and filed reports to the European Union.

External examiners have been supportive of programme developments since its inception and continue to be constructively critical. This has enabled the programme team to develop and enhance the program during its life. Student questionnaires are always positive overall, although sometimes differences in standards of delivery of material are sources of comment. Each year a report is sent to the European Union on the operation of the programme, which they regard as being a shining example of European cooperation, developed from Erasmus seed corn finding.

Benefits:
Enormous benefits have been derived from this programme. They can be considered under three headings:

To the Students

• diversity - the students on this programme enjoy the benefit of a great diversity of educational experience;
  
• cultural difference - they learn to value and respect differences in backgrounds and culture amongst their peers and the teaching staff;
  
• life-long friendships - these are regularly developed;
  
• achievement through working out cultural, language and academic differences - the Group Project module enforces joint working in such a way that pressure is placed on the students to cooperate and work together. In this process they learn to accommodate and respect different working practices; but also develop their own views about best practice and procedure;
  
• joint award from all the participating universities - this is valued highly by the students.

To the Staff
diversity of the students - meeting and talking with a culturally diverse student group presents challenges and satisfactions;

• life-long friendships with academic colleagues;
  
• life-long friendships with students;
  
• shared commitment with all partner lecturers;
  
• pan-European experience;
  
• opportunities for collaborative research and development. There is a ready-made network for European developments.

To the Institutions

• mission statements fulfilment; lifelong learning; widening provision; commitment to the broader European and international experience.

Issues and lessons to be learnt:
Experience has been accumulated throughout the development of this programme concerning international co-operation:

• all the academic staff involved in teaching on the program must be fully committed to making it work;
  
• the programme operates primarily through personal relationships and contacts, within a framework of institutional support;
  
• there must be an acceptance that other cultures do things differently and therefore, flexibility and patience must be accepted if the program is to work;
  
• there must not be an over-burden of the UK's processes and procedures;
  
• an acceptance that the benefit to students, staff and institutions are much greater that the formal taught content of the programme.

Ongoing Developments:
When the program was first started it was supported with Erasmus funding which effectively pump-primed the birth of the programme. This enabled funds to be held by one named person and these were then passed to collective use. When Socrates was introduced, this form of external support for the programme became difficult, since the funds were now held by institutions and access to them was more difficult. Currently the programme is self-funding, with Socrates mobility payments for the students. The programme recruits students from all over the world, but particularly from the countries of the European Union and all pay a fee.

The fees are held by the European Construction Masters Agency, which at the present time is based at Coventry University. From the total sum of student fees, plus any sponsorship or other income received, the Agency reimburses the professors for the costs of their travel and accommodation when visiting host universities. The Agency also reimburses professors with the costs of meetings that they attend in order to assist in the organisation of the programme. When the final costs and income for the academic year is known, an agreed sum will be retained by the Agency (subject to a minimum retention to cover a possible shortfall of students the following year). The remainder of the fund is distributed to the partner universities in accordance with an agreed formula that reflects the contribution each has made to the programme.

References, Further Reading and Sources of Further related information:

The course has its own website at the following address:
http://www.coventry.ac.uk/acad/sbe/building/ece/index.html