Work Experience
ECTS CREDITS EARNED THROUGH WORK EXPERIENCE
TheThe "Weiterbildendeapplicant Master"must degreesdemonstrate areone openyear of professional experience following the completion of Bachelor/EQF Level 6 studies. This experience should preferably be in a field appropriate to graduatethe studentschoice whoof areMaster's currentlyprogram, whether working e.g.in a secular profession or in a professional or volunteer capacity in a church or para-church ministry,institution, in education, mission,missions, or social ministry.work.
ETS recognizes that the application of learningknowledge obtainedacquired at EQF-Bachelor/EQF-Level 6 (Bachelor) is a unique stage in a person’person's personal and professional development. It is learning throughby doing,doing withunder the advantageguidance thatof an experienced mentormentor, orwhich supervisorallows isfor workingcritical alongside to provide instruction, correction, encouragement,reflection and direction.evaluation of progress and ensures the acquisition and practice of skills in the field.
As part of the continuing professional development in one’an individual's life, itthis work experience can be awardedcredited credit based onas informal and/or non-formal learning,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 ofas this takes place inafter thegraduation contextat ofBachelor/EQF on-the-jobLevel training6, where invaluable work experienceit is gained;regarded aas featureMaster/EQF Level 7 level work.
DOCUMENTATION OF WORK EXPERIENCE
ETS expects that prospectiveall employerslearning seek,must whilstbe makingdocumented and assigned an importantappropriate contributionECTS to society and personal development.
ETS recognizes thatlevel in order to receive credit, all learning achievements must be documented and an appropriate level of ECTS awarded.credit. This enablesprovides transparency and authenticatesensures thethat credits for informal and non-formal education toare be countedcredited in the same way as credits for formal on-campuseducation education.on campus.
CREDIT COUNTING – A 300 ECTS MASTER
Following the 180 ECTS obtained at EQF Level 6, ETS offers the recognitionEvidence of anpractical internshipexperience year, or even longer work experience, with 30 ECTS at EQF Level 7. Itgained 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 Portfolioportfolio, which includes documents that learnersthe havestudent has collected to revealdemonstrate variousdifferent skills in diversedifferent ways. It may include references from employers, mentors, or supervisors, a performance appraisal,review, Curriculuma Vitae,resume, and other documents. ForAlso, for example, thePowerPoint inclusion of power points,presentations, sermon outlines, developed Bible Studies,studies, creative materials for Sundaychildren's Schoolministry or Youthyouth meetings, and posters advertisingfor events could allmay be includedsubmitted as evidence of the workprofessional experience.
The above documents mentioned above may be submitted as an e-portfolio,portfolio. a helpful medium, particularly ifIf the student is leadingleads worship, uses powerPowerPoint pointspresentations, or has recorded sermons recorded on DVD, it is best if it is submitted in an easily accessible format such as Word or YouTube.
The Portfolioportfolio or e-portfolio should be submitted to ETS with the application form for a Weiterbildendecontinuing Master,master's takingdegree, note offollowing the Learninglearning Outcomesoutcomes and thesample Sample Checklist.checklist.
For example:
Sample Checklist for Portfolio:
I1. have included in the Portfolio:
- 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 :
A1. successful learner from this program will be able to:
- 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.
CREDIT COUNTING
The internship year or even longer professional experience is valued by ETS at 30 ECTS of Masters/EQF Level 7. It can form the first part of the continuing theological and professional education in MA Pentecostal-Charismatic Studies or MA Marriage and Family Studies (both 90 ECTS) offered in collaboration with Lee University. Together with the 180 ECTS acquired through Bachelor/EQF Level 6, this makes a total of 300 ECTS.
Each ECTS is equivalent to 30 hours of actual work.
The 30 ECTS awarded equals 900 hours of actual work. This can be achieved in one year of full-time work or part-time with a weekly commitment of 20 hours per week, which may include taking vacation time.
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.