When it comes to studying abroad, one of the key documents you’ll need is a learning agreement. This agreement acts as a contract between you, your home university, and the host institution you’ll be attending. Its purpose is to ensure that your credits earned abroad will transfer back to your home university and count towards your degree.
One type of learning agreement that’s becoming more common is the HM Learning Agreement. HM stands for Hochschule München, a university in Germany that developed this template in collaboration with other European institutions. The goal of the HM Learning Agreement is to streamline the process of creating a learning agreement for student mobility within Europe.
So what sets the HM Learning Agreement apart from other types of learning agreements? First, it’s a standardized template that’s recognized by universities across Europe. This means that if you’re doing a semester exchange in Spain, for example, and your home university requires the HM Learning Agreement, you can use the same template that you would use if you were studying in Germany or Italy.
The HM Learning Agreement also includes a section for recognition of prior learning (RPL). This means that if you’ve already completed coursework that’s relevant to your study abroad program, you can get credit for it without having to repeat the same material. The RPL section of the HM Learning Agreement allows you and your academic advisor to map out which credits will transfer and how they’ll count towards your degree.
Finally, the HM Learning Agreement is designed to be flexible. It includes several different sections, such as a “To Do” list, a section for documenting changes to the agreement, and a section for signatures. This makes it easy for you and your academic advisor to tailor the agreement to your specific needs.
Overall, the HM Learning Agreement is a useful tool for students studying abroad in Europe. Its standardized format, recognition of prior learning section, and flexibility make it a valuable resource for navigating the process of credit transfer between universities. If you’re planning on studying abroad in Europe, be sure to ask your academic advisor if the HM Learning Agreement is right for you.