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Explore the significant developments in higher education in Europe, including the Bologna Process, Praha, Berlin, and Bergen main points, focusing on democratization, cultural diversity, quality assurance, and mobility.
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HIGHER EDUCATION IN EUROPE – AN OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS Sjur Bergan Head, Dept. of Higher Education and History Teaching Council of Europe
MAIN PURPOSES OF HIGHER EDUCATION • Preparation for the labor market • Preparation for life as active citizens in democratic societies • Personal development • Development and maintenance of a broad, advanced knowledge base
SOME KEY CHARACTERISTICS • Development of common goals and policies: Bologna Process • Increased demands for relevance to society • No corresponding increase in public funding • Mission of HE: teaching, research and service to society • Division of labor between institutions • Emphasis on quality • HE not “once in a lifetime experience” • Equal opportunities
EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA • Process toward 2010 (Bologna Process) • Actors: • Ministries of Education (currently 45 countries) • Higher education institutions • Students • International organizations
MAIN POINTS BOLOGNA • Increase attractiveness • Increase transparency • Increase mobility • Facilitate recognition • Adapt HE to labor market • Reform degree system • Role of HE in democratic societies, especially SE Europe
MAIN POINTS PRAHA • Democratic values • Diversity of cultures and languages • Diversity of higher education systems • Higher education as a public good and public responsibility • Student participation • Lifelong learning • Quality assurance
MAIN POINTS BERLIN • New countries beyond EU framework • Change access criteria • Cultural Convention • Requirement: outline reform policies and commitment • Stock taking • Research • Qualifications framework
MAIN POINTS BERGEN • Overarching qualifications framework • Standards for quality assurance • Social dimension • External dimension • Stocktaking • Relationship HE policies/other areas of public policy • Emphasis on implementation • What about 2010?
TOWARD 2007: WORKING GROUPS • Stock taking • Qualifications framework • “External dimension” • Social dimension and academic mobility • [London communiqué drafting group] • Portability of student loans?
TOWARD 2007: NATIONAL LEVEL I • Qualifications framework • Elaborate national QF by 2010, launch work by 2007 • Quality assurance • Implement guidelines adopted in Bergen • Social dimension • Commitment to equal access • Mobility • Intensify efforts to lift obstacles
TOWARD 2007: NATIONAL LEVEL II • Recognition • Ensure full implementation of the principles of the Lisboa Convention • National action plan • Joint degrees • Stock taking • National report
THE CHALLENGE • Define goals for HE in Albania in view of developments in Europe and beyond • Take due account of the specific situation of Albania… • …but not as an excuse for inaction • Translate goals into legal provision and policies • Gain support of actors (HEIs, students) and public • Gain the confidence of international partners