Two types of certification can be delivered: a certificate of participation and a certificate for ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). The kind of certification depends upon the option of the participants and the agreements on credit transfer with their home university.

The certificate for participation:

"This is to certify that (name) has participated in the ICP Adult Education in Europe, organised by the Univeristé Paul Valéry, Montpellier, France. He/she attended the modules (titles and dates). (Date), Montpellier and (signed by) Prof. Dr. Pierre HEBRARD, Programme co-ordinator and Prof. Dr. Herman BAERT, General co-ordinator."

This certificate can be issued to part time participants.

The certificate for ECTS:

Participants who want/need to obtain certification of their successful participation in the programme, must contribute substantially to the writing and the presentation of a paper. The paper as a whole is the result of group work during the programme.

The intercultural study groups, that are composed at the beginning of the programme, have at least 4 members belonging to at least two or more universities. They are self-directed groups functioning within the general framework of the assignment. They can ask for some tutoring by the programme co-ordinator or by one or more of the module co-ordinators. The tutoring can provide e.g. some help concerning the use of basic texts and literature, the concept of a chapter, the clarification of an idea or concept, the critical review of some statements and conclusions.

Tutoring is not compulsory and should be regarded as an opportunity to improve the learning process. It can be requested and organised by live contact in Montpellier or at distance by e-mail.

The content of the paper is related to the general structure and contents of the programme. The main part is composed of chapters referring to each of the modules. The paper is completed with both an introduction and a final section with general reflections and conclusions.

In each chapter, covering one module, concepts, theories and examples of practice are selected around one or a few questions or problems that seem for the group members to be relevant for adult education in their countries and in Europe. Theories and practices presented and discussed during the lectures, the assignments for discussions or case studies, and the field visits are the resources for these chapters. Some additional reading is welcome but not compulsory. So a chapter is not a kind of a summary of a module, but a selective and critical processing of input and reflections, processed in an intercultural study group.

The introduction explains how the paper is conceived and structured, and how the group proceeded to prepare and complete it. It must be clarified how substantial the contributions of each of the group members were.

The final section, with general reflections and conclusions, is a reflection on the whole content of what is presented in the chapters and it tries to grasp some basic insights that are relevant for the further development of adult education in Europe and in each of the countries represented in the study group.

The format of the paper has to correspond to the following requirements:

• written in English;
• produced by means of a computer or a typewriter;
• in total 14,000 to 18,000 words, references and bibliography not included;
• the introduction and the general reflections and conclusions count at maximum 1,000 and 3,000 words;

• 5 copies for the group of co-ordinators and the programme administration.

characteristics of the paper are:

• clear and well defined questions or problems to start with; covering the modules of the intensive programme;
• logical and systematic development of insights, ideas and experiences;
• use of relevant concepts and theories;
• relevance for and links with adult education practices and/or educational policy in different European countries;
• conclusions and critical questions for further reflection and/or innovation in adult education.

The qualities required are:

The assessment starts with the reading of the paper by two co-ordinators, followed by a presentation of the paper by the authors to the audience of participants and co-ordinators.

Then follows a feedback session with each of the intercultural study groups and the two co-ordinators-assessors of the paper.

Marks will be given according to the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) that has been adopted by the SOCRATES-ERASMUS-partners.

A EXCELLENT outstanding performance with only minor errors

B above the average standard but with some errors

C generally sound work with a number of notable errors

D fair but with significant shortcomings

E performance meets he minimum criteria

FX some more work required before the credit can be awarded

Presentation of the system for assessment and certification: introduction-module, February, 8-13^th;

Building study groups and planning in each group (for instance allocation of tasks, places and hours for group meetings, writing first drafts and rewriting or adaptations);

Preparing and writing the chapters: group work on Friday at the end of each module and reviewing the first draft of the chapter during the following week;

Preparing the introduction and the general reflections and conclusions: week 12, april, 26^th - April, 30^th;

Delivering 5 copies to the programme co-ordinator on April, 30^th at 16.00 hours;

Presentations and assessment: week 13, may, 3-8^th.

Instructions according to the Steering Committee of the IP Adult Education in Europe, meeting Leuven, September, 19-20^th, 1998.