Overview of the Tuning Template for Radiography in Europe

The following is an overview of the Tuning Template for Radiography Education in Europe developed by subgroup 1 of the HENRE II Thematic Network. In this context, a template provides a description of a subject area (in this case radiography) as a guide for subject specialists to develop their own programme of study and for others to identify the scope of the subject area. Tuning Educational Structures in Europe (Tuning), an EU funded Socrates Life Long Learning project, developed a methodology to design and to deliver degree programmes using a learning outcomes and competence framework approach linked to ECTS credits based on student workload. The Tuning methodology consists of 5 lines: Line 1 Generic Competences. Line 2 Subject Specific competences. Line 3 The role of ECTS as a credit transfer and accumulation system. Line 4 Approaches to learning, teaching and assessment. Line 5 The role of quality enhancement in the educational process. The Tuning Template for radiography, which deals with the Lines 1 to 4 inclusive, therefore provides particular reference points which allow for flexibility and autonomy in curriculum design and construction providing a common language and thus understanding to permit points of convergence in radiography programme development. Programmes of study therefore should become comparable, compatible and transparent. Across Europe. The Higher Education Network for Radiography in Europe (HENRE) has been instrumental in developing this template for the development of radiography degree courses thus making considerable strides in relation to the Bologna process. The Bologna process aims to create a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by 2010 making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe to enable students choice from a wide range of quality courses. It is named after the University of Bologna, when in 1999, the Bologna declaration was signed by Ministers of Education from 29 European countries. The three priorities for Bologna are the recognition of a three cycle degree system (bachelor, masters, doctorate), quality assurance and qualification recognition. Since Bologna, further Ministerial meetings have been held in Prague (2001), Berlin (2003), Bergen (2005) and London ( 2007) with a further meeting to be held in Leuven/Louvain-La-Neuve in April 2009. For more information on Bologna, visit the following website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/educ/bologna/bologna_en.htm