Tuning is primarily a university- and faculty-driven initiative. As its name suggests, Tuning (adjusting, regulating, harmonizing) is the process of creating a common language for describing and confirming programs in terms of the perspective ‘of what a student is able to learn’ rather than ‘what to teach students’. It means, instead of ‘teacher-centered’ and/or ‘discipline-centered’ learning, Tuning calls on the proactive efforts of universities and does not look for curricula uniformity, standardization or conformance.
Features of Tuning
Tuning builds clear descriptions of what students must learn during the course, or what students are expected to achieve when a degree has been earned, as well as the material and human resources required in learning and education in each field. Results are expressed as reference points and a credit accumulation system and are to be shared both within and outside the university. The results are not only relevant for ensuring academic quality but can be applicable for meeting the demands of the job market and promoting citizenship since the reference points are built on the initiative of the faculty that plans and develops discipline curricula. Moreover, the faculty member can utilize reference points created by subject-specific area such as resources in planning and evaluating lessons, and also systematically evaluate combined subjects or curricula that constitute degrees.
Effect and Results of Tuning
Tuning has multifaceted results such as internationalization, assurance of the quality education and increase in numbers of re-entry students. Since the course design and grading system (evaluation standards) will be described more clearly, transparency and accountability to students, their parents, and society at large, including taxpayers, will be improved while incentives for quality assurance of university education will be increased. Vertical (from bachelor’s degree through master’s and to doctorate degree) as well as horizontal continuity (for transfer between universities) will also be secured through the systematization of study programs and establishment of a credit accumulation system. These in turn facilitate students’ transfer, enrollment, and return to university, thus creating alternative paths for those who have already graduated but want to re-enter university. Consequently the numbers of degrees granted will be increased. At the same time, as international outcomes, Tuning will secure comparability and validity among credits and degrees in different institutions in different countries, thus establishing a basis for cross-recognition of credits and degrees. Therefore, academically extensive degrees including joint and/or double degrees will be in conformity with international standards, and it will foster exchange across the regular curriculum. Based on such synergy, Tuning thus promotes internationalization, expansion of access to higher education, and enhancement of quality assurance.
