Prototype Development of a Cross-Institutional Credit Transfer Information System for Community College Transfer Students

Abstract

Credit transfer information systems in higher education are not well studied. This article demonstrates the prototype development of a cross-institutional credit transfer information system (CICIS) for community college transfer (i.e., vertical transfer) students in an Asian educational context. It exhibits credit transfer guidelines and past credit transfer records to enhance the transparency and sustainability of credit transfer information and to facilitate the transfer process of prospective community college transfer students. It also ensures the sustainability of credit transfer information and its application. The four-phase life cycle of the prototyping model was adopted to guide the study. In this paper, we report the first three phases of this development: (1) Users’ needs assessment and pre-prototyping groundwork, (2) prototype development, and (3) unforeseen circumstances and expert review. Challenges and difficulties throughout the whole process are documented and discussed. Based on this prototype development experience, a solid foundation of strategies for future engineering and enhancement of credit transfer information systems can be developed.

Ontological approach for competency-based curriculum analysis

“…This innovation implies a significant simplification of administrative procedures, making participation in the Erasmus + program more accessible and less burdensome for all interested parties [ 17 ]. While administrative procedures are simplified, the translation of credits requires manual intervention [ 18 ]. In the context of automating credit translation, significant efforts have been made to develop and implement natural language processing applications.…”

Perceptions and Challenges of Engineering and Science Transfer Students From Community College to University in a Chinese Educational Context

“…It would be useful to have an integrated online platform listing the subject mapping between community college and university programs, providing information about the subject credit transfer criteria, requirements, and procedure (Cheung et al, 2021). The platform will be an open access system which transfer students or potential transfer students can access without restriction, to enhance the transparency of credit transfer subjects.…”

University Staff’s Perceptions of Community College Transfer Students’ Transition Experiences Within a “2+2” Pathway in an Asian Educational Context

“…Ishitani urged receiving institutions to evaluate their credit transfer process and granting mechanisms. For TSs, an organized cross-institutional credit transfer information online platform could enhance the ease of access to credit and program transfer information (Cheung et al, 2021), thus helping to minimize the credit loss and facilitate the study planning.…”