Karabük University

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) which was first introduced by the European Council in 1989 within the framework of Erasmus, now part of the Life Long Learning Programme, is a student-centred credit system based on the student workload required to accomplish the objectives of a programme specified as for learning outcomes and competences to be attained. Since its introduction, the implementation of ECTS has found a wide range of acceptance in the higher education systems across the European Countries and now become a credit system and an indispensable tool supporting major aims of the Bologna Process and, thus, of European Higher Education Area as it makes teaching and learning in higher education more transparent, comparable and measurable across Europe and facilitates the recognition of all studies. The system allows for the transfer of learning experiences between different institutions, greater student mobility and more flexible routes to gain degrees. It also offers a systematic approach to curriculum design as well as quality assessment and improvement and, thus, quality assurance.

Karabuk University (KBU) has adopted the use of ECTS system as a reference and transparency tool to design and define its study programmes and educational components and learning activities based on the educational objectives and learning outcomes in line with the level requirements of both the Turkish National Framework of Qualifications and the Framework of European Qualifications and its fields of studies in Higher Education, and uses its features such as credit allocation based on student workload as to learning, teaching, assessment and grading methods for designing, implementing, reviewing, improving and assuring the quality in educational and training processes. In order to achieve this main goal, Karabuk University has started at once developing its service, facilities, and campus automation system for enabling active and effective participation of all executive and academic staff of the institution in the development, implementation and further continuous enhancement of ECTS system.

At Karabuk University, one academic semester is 17 weeks, including examination weeks, and each academic semester normally has 30 ECTS (60 ECTS for an academic year). One ECTS Credit is equal to 25.5 hours of student workload - lectures, assignment, practical work, seminar, term paper, examination, and frees studies in the laboratory, library or at home and other assessment activities - per semester in the programme. Moreover, ECTS credits are also allocated to practical placements and to thesis preparation when these activities form part of the regular programme of study at both the home and host institutions.

However, Karabuk University includes all features of ECTS Information Package and provides home, foreign, exchange and candidate students, higher education institutions, employers and other stakeholders with detailed information, which makes easy trace on the institution, degree programmes at all levels of education as well as other useful information such as career and educational opportunities, social and cultural environment, recreation and sport activities and many more they may require for any need and concern in relation to the university.