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Work Experience

ECTS CREDITS EARNED THROUGH WORK EXPERIENCE

The "Weiterbildende Master" degrees are open to graduate students who are currently working e.g. in a church or para-church ministry, in education, mission, or social ministry. ETS recognizes that the application of learning obtained at EQF-Level 6 (Bachelor) is a unique stage in a person’s personal and professional development. It is learning through doing, with the advantage that an experienced mentor or supervisor is working alongside to provide instruction, correction, encouragement, and direction. As part of the continuing professional development in one’s life, it can be awarded credit based on informal and/or non-formal learning, and because it is after the EQF-Level 6 (Bachelor) award it is therefore post-graduate i.e. EQF-Level 7.

Learning by the acquisition and practice of skills, and participation in real-life situations under the guidance of a skilled professional. Regular meetings together with a mentor or supervisor will assist in the evaluation and assessment of practice and progress. This enables critical reflection which is important in the generation and creation of new ideas, problem-solving, and the development of a personal philosophy of life. All of this takes place in the context of on-the-job training where invaluable work experience is gained; a feature that prospective employers seek, whilst making an important contribution to society and personal development.

ETS recognizes that in order to receive credit, all learning achievements must be documented and an appropriate level of ECTS awarded. This enables transparency and authenticates the credits for informal and non-formal education to be counted in the same way as credits for formal on-campus education.

CREDIT COUNTING – A 300 ECTS MASTER

Following the 180 ECTS obtained at EQF Level 6, ETS offers the recognition of an internship year, or even longer work experience, with 30 ECTS at EQF Level 7. It can form the first part of the ongoing theological and professional training in the MA Pentecostal/ Charismatic Studies or the MA Marriage and Family Studies both 90 ECTS, offered in conjunction with Lee University. Together this makes a total of 300 ECTS for the EQF Level 6 and the Master, EQF Level 7.

Each ECTS reflects 30 hours of actual work.

The 30 ECTS awarded reflect 900 hours of real-time service. This can be achieved in one year of full-time work or a weekly commitment of 20 hours per week part-time, which allows for holidays to be taken.

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Following the study at EQF-Level 6 (Bachelor), the student must have one year of work experience, preferably in a field that reflects the choice of Master's program, although one may work in a secular job, but may also be engaged in paid or voluntary work in a church, para-church or social ministry.

The student should also provide proof of the Mentored Practicum, Internship, Work, or Ministry Experience, as outlined above. This may be in the form of a Portfolio which includes documents that learners have collected to reveal various skills in diverse ways. It may include references from employers, mentors, or supervisors, a performance appraisal, Curriculum Vitae, and other documents. For example, the inclusion of power points, sermon outlines, Bible Studies, creative materials for Sunday School or Youth meetings, and posters advertising events could all be included as evidence of the work experience.

The documents mentioned above may be submitted as an e-portfolio, a helpful medium, particularly if the student is leading worship, uses power points or has sermons recorded on DVD, it is best if it is submitted in an easily accessible format such as Word or YouTube.

The Portfolio or e-portfolio should be submitted to ETS with the application form for a Weiterbildende Master, taking note of the Learning Outcomes and the Sample Checklist.

For example:

Sample Checklist for Portfolio

I have included in the Portfolio:

  1. At least one item which reflects or informs each Learning Outcome, and clearly indicates to which outcome it belongs.
  2. A total of ___ items
  3. Reflection on each item
  4. My application form
  5. I have shown my portfolio to one of my referees.

Students will be asked to reflect on their learning activities in their continuing personal development by engaging in self-assessment and self-evaluation based on the learning outcomes. These can then form part of the application interview with ETS faculty.

Learning Outcomes – Based on the Practical Year of Work Experience 

A successful learner from this program will be able to:

  1. Apply appropriate methodology in the workplace; employ critical thinking and a range of problem-solving devices in new or unfamiliar surroundings. 
  2. Analyze situations, plan and organize programs and events with the ability to communicate effectively to a range of audiences.
  3. Operate comfortably within a wide range of practical and transferable skills, being able to make judgments that will enable the successful performance of ministerial tasks.
  4. Exercise leadership in the field, with a degree of autonomy, whilst receiving mentoring and direction from a supervisor.
  5. Develop a healthy relationship with their mentor and honestly evaluate their own personal involvement
  6. Ascertain the value of good preparation and subsequent evaluation.
  7. Work effectively as part of a team and assess the personal contribution made.

AWARD OF ECTS CREDITS

As with formal education, the award of credits is preceded by an assessment to verify the achievement of learning outcomes. The assessment methods and criteria are constructed in such a way as to measure the achievement of the required learning outcomes at the appropriate level.

The portfolio will be examined by a qualified on-site assessor at ETS, with the authority and training to award credits for learning outcomes acquired outside the formal learning context. The assessor appointed will analyze a range of transparent criteria, established, to evaluate if the Learning Outcomes have been achieved. The assessor will document and report back to the appropriate committee and Faculty meeting (ECTS Users’ Guide, 2015, p. 46).

The assessment will reflect the nature of the educational goals and learning outcomes to gauge the award of ECTS for informal and non-formal learning, earned outside of a Higher Education Institution. In accordance with the requirements of the "Ländergemeinsamen Strukturvorgaben für die Akkreditierung von Bachelor- und Masterstudiengängen" the ECTS credits awarded for off-campus learning will equate to those of formal learning within the institution.

Applicants who have participated in the full-time one-year ETS Internship or the Two Year part-time Pastoral Training of the Church of God, Germany, or the Vikariat program of the BFP, should already possess the appropriate documentation of successful completion, but they need to provide evidence of their BA or EQF-Level 6. Fees may have been charged for the above programs but apart from the application fee, no further fees will be required for the 30 ECTS awarded for Continuing Professional Development in accordance with (Landeshochschulgestetz); this includes German, EU, EAA, and international students with a German university entrance qualification.Development.

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