How the Bologna reform influenced learning outcomes: analysis of perceived qualifications and professional requirements of environmental sciences graduates

ABSTRACT

In the context of the Bologna reform, the Environmental Sciences programme at ETH Zurich was transformed from a Diploma to a Master's degree programme. In a comparative secondary analysis of graduate surveys of the last homogeneous cohort of Diploma graduates (N = 85) and two Master's cohorts after the reform (N = 108), this study investigated the qualifications required by graduates in their professional activities and matched them with the level of qualification acquired at university. It concluded that graduates’ general skills meet professional requirements better after the reform. However, for two out of five domain-specific skills (knowledge of legal aspects, interdisciplinary knowledge) ratings of skill acquisition declined significantly. Nonetheless, Master's graduates showed a slight or substantial knowledge and skills advantage for seven of the eight skills of the programme's qualification profile that were addressed in the survey. The basic quality of the sustainability oriented programme has thus been maintained.

KEYWORDS:

• Bologna reform
• qualifications
• key skills
• sustainability
• environmental sciences

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Ralph Hansmann http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8488-2669

Notes

1 This classification is based on the responses of the participants to the closed-ended question ‘Are you currently gainfully employed (as employee or as self-employed person)?’ for which only one answer was admitted. Those choosing the predefined response categories ‘Yes, I am gainfully employed’ or ‘No, but I have a firm job offer or have been assured a contract’ were classified as professionally active. Those selecting ‘No, I’m looking for a job’ or ‘I am currently in an employment scheme offered by the employment office (RAV)’ were classified as searching for an employment. Those who were not in employment at the time of the survey, had no signed contract of employment and were not searching for employment could choose between various reasons or could formulate the reason openly.