Credits & Permeability – an empirical typology of European permeability mechanisms

With regard to the number and type of permeability mechanisms, the basic features of the education systems are reflected; for example, in the Scandinavian countries with their liberal tradition there are rather few mechanisms that can be used individually on a broad basis, whereas in Central Europe with its corporatist tradition there are many mechanisms related to specific groups.

Irrespective of the respective educational traditions, one focus of the mechanisms lies at the threshold between vocational and higher education qualifications; despite the equivalence established in many places (in the sense of national qualifications frameworks), excessive expectations bow to reality when it comes to the question of sameness; instead of aiming for the highest possible level of credit, more and more programmes are being developed that combine the strengths of both educational sectors.