EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM (ECTS) IN THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, TIRANA UNIVERSITY

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Ing. Pal Nikolli

Tirana University,

History and Philology Faculty, Dept. of Geography,

Tirana, Albania;

E-mail:

Graduated in the year 1983 in the Geodesy branch of Engineering Faculty, Tirana University. In the year 1987 He has been nominated lecturer in the Geodesy Department of Tirana University. In 1994 has been graduated Doctor of Sciences and in 1999 he is titled Associated Professor. During this period he has teaches the following subjects: “Cartography” (for Geodesy and Geography students), “Hidrography” (for Geodesy students) and “Geodesy” (for Civil engineering & Geology students). Actually he is lecturer and head of the following subjects: “Elements of Cartography” (for Geography students), “Interpretation of Arial Photographs and Satellite Images” (for Geography students), “Cartography II” (for Geography students) & “Cartography” (for Geodesy students). He is author and co-author in 3 textbooks, 30 scientific papers, 40 scientific & popular papers, etc. He has participated in the postgraduated course of GIS in 1994 (Italy) etc.

SUMMARY

Especially, since 1990, when the great social-economic changes started taking place in our country, cartography has gradually obtained its today place in the university education. We experience growing demand for specialists in geography, who, besides traditional cartographic education, should have firm knowledge in such related disciplines as computer cartography (Cartography II), geoinformatics (GIS), remote sensing, land ecology and environmentalistics. All this found its reflection in the current educational models, where the massive advance of the digital forms of cartographic information’s processing and use of the most modern models and technologies may be reported.

ECTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA

This article describes how the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) operates in the Department of Geography. Information, mutual agreement and the use of ECTS credits are the three basic principles of the ECTS system. These principles are put into practice in three key ECTS documents: Information Package, the application form/ Learning Agreement and the Transcript of Records. ECTS gives Tirana University the means of creating more transparency and simplifying the recognition of academic progress. Full academic recognition is the indispensable prerequisite of the ECTS system and entails that studying abroad replaces a comparable course at the home university, even if the structure of the agreed study programme covers different substantive aspects. Making ECTS work relies on mutual trust regarding academic performance at the Partner University.

ECTS Credit System

The ECTS credit system has numerical values (between 1 and 60), allocated to the course units to describe the student workload. The credits thus reflect the quantity of work each course requires in relation to the total quantity of work necessary to complete a full year of academic study at the institution. ECTS takes into account the total amount of study, and not just time spent in classes. Within the ECTS, 60 credits represent an academic year, 30 credits one semester and 20 a term. The credits can only be awarded if all the necessary work has been completed (including examinations). Special arrangements can be discussed.

ECTS Grades / Percentage of students normally expected to receive this grade / Definition
A / 10 / EXELLENT: outstanding performance with only minor errors
B / 25 / VERY GOOD: above the average standard but with some errors.
C / 30 / GOOD: generally sounds work with a number of notable errors.
D / 25 / SATISFACTORY: fair but with significant shortcomings.
E / 10 / SUFFICIENT: performance meets the minimum criteria.
FX / - / FAIL: further work required before the credit can be awarded.
F / - / FAILED: considerable further work is required.

One has to differentiate between credits that reflect the study workload, and grades that relate to the quality of work. Grading systems vary greatly across Europe and can present a significant problem since, on the one hand, not only are grades interpreted differently from country to country, but even from university to university, and on the other hand, inappropriate means of transferring grades can have considerable academic consequences for the student. The ECTS grading scale provides additional information on student performance. It does not replace the grades of the local university. The universities themselves decide how to apply the assessment scale to their own assessment systems. The ECTS grading scale is based on a combined use of key terms and numerical definitions, which contribute to the transparency of these key terms.

THE SHORT HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT OF TIRANA UNIVERSITY

The Chair of Geography at History and Philology Faculty has been founded in academic year 1959-1960. From 1971 until 1978 a scientific core, consisting of three scholars, was functioning. In 1978 this core was attached to the Academy of Sciences and was called “ The section of Geographic Studies” at Hydrometeorological Institute.

In 1992. “ The chair of Geography” was nominated “ Department of Geography” and was composed of the chair of Physical Geography and that of Economic Geography. In October 1993, this department was abolished leaving way only to the two above-mentioned chairs (physical and economic geography). While since 1994 the Department of Geography comprises the section of Physical Geography and that of Human Geography.

This department provides diploma for both geographers and geography teachers. The geographers or specialists on geography have access to be employed in different institutions which deal with the problems of environment, territory adjustment, and of spatial planning; in city planning offices, in cadastres (land registry), in travel agencies; as specialists in central and local governmental bodies etc. Those provided with a diploma for geography teachers mainly teach geographic subjects in high schools.

DIDACTIC RESOURCES

The knowledge on the disciplines included in the teaching plan and their absorption by the students are based on the textbooks and basic literature incorporated in the program of every subject; in the lectures, theoretic seminars, drills and exercises, practical assignments, teaching-learning expeditions and pedagogical practices; Cartography GIS- laboratory, internet explorers ( website) , library of the faculty etc.

Students carry out their teaching obligations through course tasks, tests, practical-laboratory assignments, course papers and annual references. At the end of the complete cycle, the students have to take oral, written or mixed examinations on some subjects, while on the others they are checked up in the form of colloquies.

The students are made known with the different forms of their knowledge-control from the very beginning of the cycle of each subject.

FOREIGN RELATIONSHIP

The department cooperates with the department of geography at the University of Nebraska (USA), of Bamberg, Posdam and Haubsbourg (Germany), University of Bari (Italy), Universities in Anger, Montpellier, Aix-en Provence and Paris (France).

PUBLICATIONS AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

  1. Scientific papers and monographs

Members of the department of geography publish regularly articles in the magazines “ Geographic Studies”, ”Albanologic Studies” etc. From time to time they have published articles and monographs both in Albanian and in foreign languages.

  1. Teaching textbooks

There have been published, revised and republished, by the members of the department of Geography, teaching texts about the main subjects. The following texts have been published during the last years:

General Physical Geography V. Trojani & Dh. Doka

Physical Geography of Albania P. Qiriazi & A. Vranaj

General Geomorphology V. Kristo & Gj. Gruda

Basis of Human Geography B. Draci, Dh. Doka & E. Yzeiri

Elements of Cartography A. Shehu & P. Nikolli

Cartography Elements and Topography P. Nikolli

History of Albanian Cartography A. Shehu & P. Nikolli

  1. Conferences and scientific sessions

The first and second national conference, respectively in 1985 and 1995.

The national conference “On development and Population” (1995)

The international conference on Speleology (1998)

Scientific Session “ Geography in transition” etc.

Members of Geography department have taken part in many national and international conferences and symposiums abroad, maintaining scientific papers. Recently, the department of geography in cooperation with the University of Posdam and that of Pristine, Academy of Sciences and Albanian Institute of Statistics are involved in the framework of a project of DAAD: "Improvement of the teaching process in geography at Tirana University through the scientific-teaching approach to geoinformatics" and compiling the Digital Atlas of the population of Albania. Also in cooperation with the University of Bamberg (Germany) and that of Prishtina and Tetova, the department of geography are engaged in the study about the transformation of industrial space in Albania after 1990, exemplified within Tirana.

TEACHING PLAN

The teaching plan organized on the basis of mandatory/optional course subjects, completes gradually, from the first to the forth year, the basic and profound knowledge for them who would be teacher and geographers in every geographic field; in the physical, human and regional.

Basic Studies on the domain of geography include the two first years and the profound ones include the two last years. As far as basic studies are concerned, the introductory and base subjects comprise the bulk of the most important disciplines of the physical and human geography, whereas the profound studies are orientated according to the speciality to be chosen by every student. The backbone of these studies consists of the systematic subjects. Generalizing studies focus the subjects, which give a total idea for the study of certain regions.

THE STRUCTURE OF TEACHING PLAN ACCORDING TO ACADEMIC YEARS AND SUBJECTS

I YEAR

Nr / SUBJECT / Total charge/hour / Lectures / Seminars / Lab. work / Course tasks / Annual ref. / Obligations / Credits
Mandatory Subjects
1. / General Physical Geography / 90 / 60 / 30 / 1 / E / 11.5
2. / Elements of Cartography / 75 / 30 / 45 / 1 / T / 6
3 / Bases of Geology / 45 / 30 / 15 / E / 6
4. / Introduction Human Geography. / 60 / 45 / 15 / 1 / E / 6.5
5. / Geog. of Popu. & Dwellings / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 6.5
6. / Statistics for Geographers / 45 / 15 / 30 / 1 / T / 5.5
7. / Foreign languages / 90 / 90 / T / 6.5
8. / Physical culture / 30 / 30 / T / -
9. / Land practice / 60 / 60 / T / 3.5
II. Optional subjects
10. / Astronomy / 45 / 15 / 27 / 3 / T / 4
11. / Geology / 45 / 30 / 12 / 3 / 1 / E / 4
12. / Demography / 45 / 15 / 30 / 1 / T / 4
13. / Informatics / 45 / 15 / 30 / 1 / T / 4
14 / Economics (Micro+Macro) / 45 / 30 / 15 / E / 4

II YEAR

Total charge/hour / Lectures / Seminars / Lab. work / Course tasks / Annual ref. / Obligations / Credits
Nr / SUBJECTS
Mandatory Subjects
15 / General Geomorphology / 75 / 45 / 30 / 1 / E / 8
16 / Climatogeography / 45 / 30 / 10 / 5 / E / 4.5
17 / Hydrogeography / 45 / 30 / 10 / 5 / E / 4.5
18 / Biogeography / 45 / 30 / 10 / 5 / E / 5
19 / Pedogeography / 45 / 30 / 10 / 5 / E / 5
20 / Social Geography / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 5
21 / Political Geography / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 5
22 / Introduce. in Reg. Geogr. / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 6
23 / Foreign Language / 90 / 90 / E / 6
24 / Physical Culture / 30 / 30 / T / -
25 / Land Practice / 60 / 60 / T / 3
II. Optional Subjects
26 / Coastal Geomorphology / 30 / 15 / 15 / 1 / T / 4
27 / Dynamic Geomorphology / 30 / 15 / 15 / 1 / T / 4
28 / Territorial Degrad.& Dessert. / 30 / 15 / 15 / 1 / T / 4
29 / Cartography II / 45 / 15 / 8 / 22 / 1 / T / 4
30 / History of Albania / 45 / 30 / 15 / T / 4
31 / History of World / 45 / 30 / 15 / T / 4

III YEAR (SPECIALIST OF GEOGRAPHY)

Nr / SUBJECTS / Total charge/h / Lectures / Seminars / Lab. work / Course tasks / Annual ref. / Obligations / Credits
I. Mandatory Subjects
32 / Applied Geography / 30 / 15 / 15 / 1 / T / 3
33 / Introd. in Regio. Geogra / 45 / 30 / 15 / E / 5.5
34 / World Regional Geogra. / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 6.5
35 / Rural Geography / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 4.5
36 / Urban Geography / 48 / 32 / 16 / 1 / E / 4.5
37 / Geography of Tourism / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 5
38 / Geomorpholo. of Albania / 32 / 16 / 16 / 1 / E / 5
39 / Geography of Industry / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 5
40 / Thematic Cartography / 45 / 15 / - / 30 / 1 / T / 3
41 / Seminar on annual work / 31 / - / 31 / 1 / T / 3
42 / Pedagogical Practice / 50 / - / 50 / T / 3
II. Optional Subjects
43 / Urban Economy / 30 / 15 / 15 / 1 / E / 3
44 / Agricultural Economy / 30 / 15 / 15 / 1 / T / 3
45 / Economy of Tourism / 32 / 16 / 16 / 1 / T / 3
46 / Geogr of Transp& trade / 32 / 16 / 16 / 1 / T / 3
47 / Coastal Geomorphology / 32 / 16 / 16 / 1 / T / 3
48 / Land Degrad.& Desertif. / 30 / 15 / 15 / 1 / T / 3
49 / Interpr of Aerial Photog / 32 / 16 / - / 16 / 1 / T / 3
50 / Knowledge on Business / 32 / 16 / 16 / E / 3

III YEAR (TEACHING PROPHILE)

Nr. / SUBJECTS / Total charge/hour / Lectures / Seminars / Lab. work / Course tasks / Annual ref. / Obligation / Credits
I. Mandatory Subjects
51 / Applied Geography / 30 / 15 / 15 / 1 / T / 3
52. / Intod. in Regio. Geogra. / 45 / 30 / 15 / E / 5
53 / Reg.Geography of World / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 6
54 / Rural Geography / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 4.5
55 / Urban Geography / 48 / 32 / 16 / 1 / E / 4.5
56 / Geography of Tourism / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 4
57 / Psichology of Develop. / 45 / 30 / 15 / E / 4
58 / Geography of Industry / 45 / 30 / 15 / 1 / E / 4
59 / Psychology of Education / 48 / 32 / 16 / E / 4
60 / Bases of Teaching / 48 / 32 / 16 / T / 3
61 / Seminar on Annu. Work / 31 / - / 31 / 1 / T / 3
62 / Pedagogical Practice / 50 / - / 50 / T / 3
II. Optional Subjects
63 / Geomorphology of Albania / 32 / 16 / 16 / 1 / E / 3
64 / Thematic Cartography / 45 / 15 / - / 30 / 1 / T / 3
65 / Geog.ofTranspo.&Trade / 32 / 16 / 16 / 1 / T / 3
66 / Knowledge on Business / 32 / 16 / 16 / E / 3

IV YEAR (SPECIALIST OF GEOGRAPHY)

Nr. / SUBJECTS / Total charge/h / Lectures / Seminars / Lab. work / Course tasks / Annual ref. / Obligation / Credits
I. Mandatory Subjects
67 / Ecogeography / 35 / 21 / 14 / 1 / E / 3.5
68 / Mediterren. Landscape / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 2.5
69 / Juridical Culture / 30 / 18 / 12 / T / 2
70 / Regio. Geog.of Albania / 106 / 78 / 28 / 1 / E / 7
71 / Geog AlbTerri away Bor / 35 / 21 / 14 / 1 / E / 4
72 / History of Geog. Thught / 36 / 24 / 12 / 1 / E / 4
73 / Regio Geogr. of World / 42 / 28 / 14 / E / 5
74 / Spe.Course on PhysGeo / 35 / 21 / 14 / T / 3
75 / Spe.Course on PhysGeo / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 3
76 / Territory Adjustement / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 3
77 / Seminar on Dipl.Theses / 26 / - / 26 / T / 3
78 / Land Practice / 150 / - / 150 / T / 5
II. Optional Subjects
79 / Spec. Cour. on Envir. Geo. / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 2
80 / Geobotanics / 35 / 21 / 14 / 1 / T / 2
81 / Medical Geography / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 2
82 / Territory Planning / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 2
83 / Agricultural Policies / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 2
84 / Environmental Economy / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 2
85 / Bases of GIS / 35 / 14 / - / 21 / 1 / T / 2
86 / DIPLOMA THESES / 7

IV YEAR (TEACHING PROPHILE)

Nr. / SUBJECTS / Total charge/h / Lectures / Seminars / Lab. work / Course tasks / Annual ref. / Obligation / Credits
I. Mandatory Subjects
87 / Ecogeography / 35 / 21 / 14 / 1 / E / 3.5
88 / Medeterrean Landscape / 30 / 18 / 12 / 1 / T / 2.5
89 / Juridical Culture / 30 / 18 / 12 / T / 2
90 / Reg Geog. of Albania / 106 / 78 / 28 / 1 / E / 7
91 / Geog AlbTerri away Bord / 35 / 21 / 14 / 1 / E / 4
92 / History of Geogr.Thought / 36 / 24 / 12 / 1 / E / 4
93 / World Regional Geogra / 42 / 28 / 14 / E / 5
94 / Technologies of Education / 36 / 24 / 12 / E / 3.5
95 / Knowledge Meas&Valuat / 36 / 24 / 12 / E / 3.5
96 / Teaching Methodology / 36 / 24 / 12 / E / 3.5
97 / Seminar of Diplo Theses / 26 / - / 26 / T / 3
98 / Pedagogical Practice / 150 / - / 150 / T / 6
II. Optional Subjects
99 / Spec Course Phys Geog / 30 / 18 / 12 / T / 2
100 / Spec Course Econ Geog / 30 / 18 / 12 / T / 2
101 / Territory Adjustment / 30 / 20 / 10 / 1 / T / 2
102 / Spec Course Envir Geog / 30 / 20 / 10 / 1 / T / 2
103 / Medical Geography / 30 / 20 / 10 / 1 / T / 2
104 / GRADUATING EXAM
\ DIPLOMA THESIS / / 4.5

BRIEF PROGRAMS OF CARTOGRAPHIC SUBJECTS

I YEAR

Elements of Cartography

Assoc. Prof.Dr. Pal NIKOLLI

Development I term

Week Charge L2.S3

Assessment test

Credits 6

Object, importance, tasks and principles of cartography; elements of maps and their classification; cartographic signs; mathematics basis of maps (earth, system of coordinates, map scales; cartographic projections; nomination of topographic maps; geodesic supporting points; quotas and kilometric coordination); toponimy; maps and other cartographic productions (atlas, geographic globe, relief models and photomaps); measure and geographic studies in maps (map usage, precision, cartographic information, measure of longitude, surfaces and calculation of volume, determination of points of coordination in maps and globe; profile construction, representation of morphometric characteristics of relief and river puddle); cartography and aerophotography.

Terrain longitude and corner measure; representation of dislevels and slopes; topographic profile construction in terrain; eye, tachometric and photogrametric rilevation; orientation and distance movement in terrain.

Statistics for Geographers

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pal SELALA

Development II term

Week Charge L1.S2

Assessment test

Credits 5.5

Base notions on the discipline of statistics, elements, observations, variables etc. It includes chart and graphic methods to represent the data. Average and variation indexes, territorial and timing series. Introduction to probability;

Selections and distribution of selections;

Point and index assessment of peopling;

Analysis, verification of statistical hypothesis for a peopling index, For two peopling;

For X peopling (the analysis of variance) Analysis of regression, and of the simple and multiple correlation.

Land practice (I Year)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vasil TROJANI, Prof. Vangjel MELO

& Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pal NIKOLLI

Development II term

Week Charge 12 days

Assessment test

Credits 3.5

This is developed in the forms of teaching expedition and practice. The first part of practice continues 9 days and consists of knowing by the students; geographic features and geologic processes, which are taught by the subjects of “General Physical Geography” “Bases of Geology” and “Geology”. While the second part continues for 3 days and aims at the better knowledge by the students of topographic elements to identify and display them in maps, to learn and apply the methods of orientation of movement on land; to point out the location in the map; to construct topographic profiles on the ground etc.

Informatics

Prof. Dr. Bashkim RUSETI

Development II term

Week Charge L1.S2

Assessment test

Credits 4

  1. On informatics and computers.

Knowledge on computers and informatics;

Characteristics and quantifying parameters of computers;

Peripheries;

Features and parameters quantifying some of the most useful equipments. Stages needed to solve a problem in computer.

  1. System of usage of MS-DOS.

Concepts on the usage of MS-DOS

Files in general

Directories in MS-DOS and the commands connected with them.

Managing of discs, respective commands,

  1. Word perfect

WP software in elaborating the text;

Introduction to WP and escape;

File;

Start and processing of document;

Displacement and correction;

Select, delete, copy and displacement of a block.

I I YEAR

Cartography II

Assoc. Prof.Dr. Pal NIKOLLI

Development I term

Week Charge L1.S2

Assessment test

Credits 4

First part: the history of Albanian cartography Albanian cartographic thought.

Second part: computer and cartography; graphics presentation; raster and vector methods; sources of cartographic information; geodesic database; reference systems; map projection; scale; precision; text and legend; presentation of boundaries and surface; interpolling and smoothing methods; map transformation and publication.

III YEAR (GEOGRAPHER)

Thematic Cartography

Prof. Dr. Agim SHEHU

Development I term

Week Charge L1.S2

Assessment test

Credits 3

Methodology and techniques of creation of thematic maps (environment, earth coverage, land usage, political, administrative, economic, touristic maps, transport etc) and of maps which, display the natural and human risks (flood, fire, earth erosion, earthquakes etc).

Themes are related to those important problems treated in the subjects of geography, because map is considered to be a product of geographic and cartographic studies. In this context, a great attention is paid to the original of map author;

The above-mentioned themes are treated concretely in laboratory work and some of them are worked out with the methods of statistics such as real and potential risk of erosion, density of buildings in human settlements, cliff display etc.

Aerial Photography of Interpretation

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pal NIKOLLI & Prof.Dr. Agim SHEHU

Development II term

Week Charge L1.S1

Assessment test

Credits 3

Object; task and importance of interpretation; theoretic bases for interpretation of aerial photographs and satellite images; geographic bases of interpretation; interpretation of settlements, hydrography, communication, relief, flora and land; geologic and geomophological interpretation;

Remote sensing, its history and scope; observation on the processing of images; classification of images; Interpretation of satellite images; logical stages of the process of interpretation.

IV YEAR (GEOGRAPHER)

Bases of GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Prof. As. Dr. Pal NIKOLLI & Mirela SKENDERI

Development I term

Week Charge L1.S2

Assessment test

Credits 2

GIS, importance and its technologies; aims, contents andmethodology; basic components parts of GIS; database sources; nature and spatial data sources; land survey, technology and data collection by Photogrametry; remote sensing and image interpretation; GIS and geographic analyses; infrastructure of GIS.