The Bologna Process .. ‘posturing for politicians' or 'actions for academics'?

1. The Bologna Process .. ‘posturing for politicians' or 'actions for academics'? Nick Harris Development and Enhancement Group QAA

2. The Bologna Process .. what is it? started June 1999 .. 29 education minister ‘signed up’ Main aims: • to create a European Higher Education Area (by 2010) • to promote European system of HE world wide Broad objectives: • remove barriers to student mobility • enhance attractiveness of European higher education • establish a common structure for HE systems across Europe decision making takes place outside of the formal European Union structure …. but the European Commission has a key role now includes 45 countries … and 10 ‘action lines’ … but is any of it ‘legally binding’??

3. The Bologna Process .. who does it involve? LOTS of acronyms ! some of the key players (‘actors’) ENQA . European Association for quality assurance in HE (was ‘network’) ECA .. European Consortium for Accreditation .. EUA .. European Universities Association ESIB .. National Unions of Students in Europe .. (was European Student Information Bureau) EC .. European Commission … provides the funds EURASHE .. European Association of Institutions in HE UNICE .. Confederation of European Business CEEP .. [for public sector organisations at European level] ETUC .. European Trade Union Confederation ETUI – REHS .. European Trade Union Institute for Research, Education and Health and Safety

4. The Bologna Process .. what does it involve? the action lines from Bologna (1999) • adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees • adoption of a system essentially based on two cycles • establishment of a system of credits • promotion of mobility • promotion of European co-operation in quality assurance • promotion of the European dimension in higher education added in Prague (2001) • focus on lifelong learning • inclusion of higher education institutions and students • promotion of the attractiveness of European higher education added in Berlin (2003) • doctoral studies and synergy between the EHEA and the ERA(research) 2005 Bergen (the FQ-EHEA + ‘the standards and guidelines) … 2007 London ??

5. Some ‘flesh’ on the action lines • adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees • Framework for Qualifications of the EHEA • formally accepted by ministers (Bergen 2005) with: • generic cycle descriptors (the Dublin descriptors) included • associated guidance on ECTS • adoption of a system essentially based on two cycles (now 3) • 1st cycle is approx equivalent to ‘Bachelors’ .. • but which one?! (the Irish / Scottish ‘solution’!) • 2nd cycle is approx equivalent to ‘Masters’ • but many though not all assume 2 years (national award issue) • 3rd cycle for doctorates (Berlin 2003)

6. Some ‘flesh’ on the action lines • establishment of a system of credits • ECTS .. 60 credits per year .. .. so just 1:2 UK credits .. EASY .. ? • unfortunately NO .. • 60 credits for both u/g and p/g years .. cf UK 120/180 • Tuning surveys put 25 – 30 hours/ credit (cf 10 hrs in UK) • ECTS has a grading system but no ‘level’ to credit • but … Burgess Group Credit recommendations .. • England to ‘stick’ with UK credit • promotion of mobility • during study • lots of ‘schemes’ (Socrates / Erasmus) .. mostly for students • after award • wider recognitions of qualifications (links in to ‘Lisbon’) • role of diploma supplement

7. Some ‘flesh’ on the action lines • promotion of European co-operation in quality assurance • the ‘bureaucracy’ (‘top down’) • the Standards and Guidelines (Bergen) • the European Register (of QA agencies) (Bergen) • mutual recognition of accreditation decisions (ECA) • quality labels … various .. e.g. EURACE ; EuroBach (Chem) • the ‘projects’ (‘bottom up’) • TEEP I … Comparison of .. single programmes • history, vet sci, physics • TEEP II … of .. trans-national joint programmes .. • Cultural / communication studies; law & economics; water management • QCS .. shared language (English) common words different uses !!?? • various • DK/ UK Chemistry project (involved Bristol)

8. Some ‘flesh’ on the action lines 2001 (Prague ministerial meeting) added • focus on lifelong learning • … • inclusion of higher education institutions and students • ‘polytechnic sector’ .. ‘professional education’ at 1st and 2nd cycles • student voice included .. ‘equality’ issues as well as mobility • promotion of the attractiveness of European higher education • Erasmus Mundus etc / Tuning ‘global’ 2003 (Berlin) added • doctoral studies and synergy between the EHEA and the ERA(research) 2005 Bergen (the FQEHEA and ‘the standards and guidelines) … 2007 London ??

9. So we’re ok then ! In quite a lot but there are some significant differences .. • the nature of awards .. we don’t have ‘national degrees’ • requirements for awards .. particularly Masters • the detail of quality assurance .. method; criteria; decisions • roles of governments, employers, students, .. • students .. • rights, funding, .. • credit system (??!!) • [ the transcript / diploma supplement .. getting ‘sorted’ but .. ]

10. The Bologna Processkey features for people in HEIs • for academics .. things to get involved in • discipline networks .. and mobility opportunities • joint programmes .. new opportunities .. but • for administrators .. things to ‘watch out’ for • the standards and guidelines • internal QA for HEIs • external QA for HEIs • (external) QA for QA agencies • the FQ - EHEA • for students .. better information, more ‘say’ • Diploma supplement • mobility opportunities

11. The Bologna Promoters UK has 14 Bologna Promoter • job is to help inform UK HEIs about the Bologna reforms – • appointed by the UK Socrates Erasmus Council • are approved and trained by the European Commission Current key themes • the promotion and development of staff and student mobility • implementation of ECTS • implementation of the Diploma Supplement • the importance of quality issues relating to mobility, quality assurance and the diploma supplement The names are listed on Europe Unit website

12. The Bologna Process .. .. the current presidency (Germany .. from 01/01/07) The German Presidency of the European Union the main educational priorities of the new Presidency are: • the launch of the new European Lifelong Learning Programme which will run until 2013 and will support cooperation between educational institutions and promote teacher and learner mobility. • taking forward developments linked to the Bologna Process to create a common European space for higher education by 2010. • increasing the mobility of young people by implementing the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF). • taking forward the consultation on the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET). • work on the interim report on the implementation of the Commission’s ‘Education and Training 2010’ work programme. The interim report will define the process’s direction beyond 2010.

13. The Bologna Process .. .. now just part of some bigger and ‘nasty(?)’ plan? [ the conspiracy theory slides ] Implementing the Community Lisbon ProgrammeProposal for a RECOMMENDATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTAND OF THE COUNCIL on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) for lifelong learning the legal basis The EQF is proposed under both Articles 149 and 150 because it has a dual purpose, comprising components and encompassing objectives for both education and vocational training which are of equal importance within the EQF’s lifelong learning perspective.

14. The Bologna Processfurther reading What is it? http://www.europeunit.ac.uk/bologna_process/index.cfm Who / what are the acronyms? EUA .. very good indeed .. www.eua.be including: the golden rules for joint programmes ENQA .. very ‘thorough’ .. www.enqa.eu including: the standards and guidelines ECA .. .. ecaconsortium.net the ‘web’ of European Commission activities in (higher) education .. http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/introduction_en.html !!!!! the European Qualifications Framework and ECVET currently 1 of 17 ‘live’ DfES consultations .. dfes.gov.uk and ‘consultations’