REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR JOINING THE BOLOGNA PROCESS

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1 towards the european higher education area bologna process BFUG B3 7 fin 6 July 2004 REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR JOINING THE BOLOGNA PROCESS The criteria for admission of new members to the Bologna Process at the Ministerial Conference in Bergen have been set by the Berlin Communiqué: Countries party to the European Cultural Convention shall be eligible for membership of the European Higher Education Area provided that they at the same time declare their willingness to pursue and implement the objectives of the Bologna Process in their own systems of higher education. Their applications should contain information on how they will implement the principles and objectives of the declaration. Applicant countries have sought guidance on the procedures and requirements for membership of the Bologna Process. The purpose of this document is to meet this objective in a fair and transparent manner. It also consolidates both principles and action lines of the Bologna Process into a single document. 1. PRINCIPLES While the 10 actions lines are the main focus of members, it is equally important to note the underlying principles of the Bologna Process. The realisation of the European Higher Education Area can only be achieved by incorporating their philosophy within the higher education system of each country. These principles, which all come from the Bologna Declaration and/or from the Prague and Berlin Communiqués, are elaborated below: - International mobility of students and staff; - Autonomous universities; - Student participation in the governance of higher education; - Public responsibility for higher education; - The social dimension of the Bologna Process. Applicant States are requested to confirm their adherence to these principles in their applications International mobility of students and staff Promotion of mobility by overcoming obstacles to the effective exercise of free movement (Bologna declaration). Ministers reaffirmed that efforts to promote mobility must be continued to enable students, teachers, researchers and administrative staff to benefit from the richness of the European Higher Education Area including its democratic values, diversity of cultures and languages and the diversity of the higher education systems. (Prague Communiqué)

2 1.2. Autonomous universities European higher education institutions, for their part, have accepted the challenge and taken up a main role in constructing the European area of higher education, also in the wake of the fundamental principles laid down in the Bologna Magna Charta Universitatum of This is of the highest importance, given that Universities' independence and autonomy ensure that higher education and research systems continuously adapt to changing needs, society's demands and advances in scientific knowledge. (Bologna Declaration) Ministers accept that institutions need to be empowered to take decisions on their internal organisation and administration. (Berlin Communiqué) 1.3. Student participation in the governance of higher education Ministers affirmed that students should participate in and influence the organisation and content of education at universities and other higher education institutions. (Prague Communiqué) Ministers note the constructive participation of student organisations in the Bologna Process and underline the necessity to include the students continuously and at an early stage in further activities. Students are full partners in higher education governance. Ministers note that national legal measures for ensuring student participation are largely in place throughout the European Higher Education Area. They also call on institutions and student organisations to identify ways of increasing actual student involvement in higher education governance. (Berlin Communiqué) 1.4. Higher education as a public responsibility They [the Ministers] supported the idea that higher education should be considered a public good and is and will remain a public responsibility (Prague Communiqué) 1.5. The social dimension of the Bologna Process Ministers reaffirm the importance of the social dimension of the Bologna Process. The need to increase competitiveness must be balanced with the objective of improving the social characteristics of the European Higher Education Area, aiming at strengthening social cohesion and reducing social and gender inequalities both at national and at European level. (Berlin Communiqué) 2. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the Bologna Process are summarised in its 10 action lines. In common with all members, applicants are equally obliged to reach the common goals by 2010 as defined in the Bologna Declaration supplemented by the Prague and Berlin Communiqués. Three intermediate goals for 2005 were defined in the Berlin Communiqué. 1 The university is an autonomous institution at the heart of societies differently organized because of geography and historical heritage; it produces, examines, appraises and hands down culture by research and teaching. 2

3 2.1. The Bologna Action Lines Six action lines were introduced in the Bologna Declaration: 1. Adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees; 2. Adoption of a system essentially based on two cycles; 3. Establishment of a system of credits; 4. Promotion of mobility; 5. Promotion of European co-operation in quality assurance; 6. Promotion of the European dimension in higher education. Three more were introduced in the Prague Communiqué: 7. Lifelong learning; 8. Higher education institutions and students; 9. Promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). A tenth action line was introduced in the Berlin Communiqué: 10. Doctoral studies and the synergy between the EHEA and the ERA (European Research Area). The various action lines of the Bologna Process are reflected in the BFUG Work Programme The social dimension of the Bologna Process might be seen as an overarching or transversal action line. 3. REPORTS FROM POTENTIAL NEW MEMBERS All members of the Bologna Process will be asked to produce a national report before the Bergen Ministerial Conference. Potential members will be asked to produce a report in a similar format. In Berlin, Ministers defined three intermediate priorities: quality assurance, the two-cycle degree system and recognition of degrees and periods of studies. The achievement of these goals by the 40 members States will be the subject of a Stocktaking exercise, and while potential members will not be part of the stocktaking, they will be required to indicate the extent to which existing (or planned) reforms of their higher education systems meet the same goals. The specific targets are as follows: 3.1. Quality assurance The primary responsibility for quality assurance should lie with the institutions. The national quality assurance system should include: o A definition of the responsibilities of the bodies and institutions involved; o Evaluation of programmes or institutions, including internal assessment, external review, participation of students and the publication of results; o A system of accreditation, certification or comparable procedures. 3

4 3.2. Two-cycle degree system A national degree system for higher education based on two main cycles should have been introduced. Access to the second cycle shall require successful completion of first cycle studies lasting a minimum of three years. The degree awarded after the first cycle should also be relevant to the labour market. The second cycle should lead to the master s and/or doctoral degree. Members of the Bologna Process are committed to having started the implementation of the two-cycle system by Recognition of degrees and periods of studies In terms of the adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees, members are encouraged to ratify the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Allied to this, members are committed that every student graduating should receive the Diploma Supplement automatically and free of charge, in a widely spoken European language. 4. PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION The decision to accept new members to the Bologna Process will be taken by the next Ministerial Conference (Bergen, May 2005). The role of the BFUG is to make a recommendation, having satisfied itself of the credentials and commitment of the applicants. Potential members should send an application for membership to the Minister responsible for Higher Education in the Host Country of the next Ministerial Conference 2, with a copy to the BFUG Chair 3. The application, which should be signed by the (national) Minister responsible for higher education, should declare their commitment to pursue and implement the principles and objectives of the Bologna Process in their own systems of higher education. The application should be complemented by a report, detailing the current higher education policies of the country in the light of the Bologna Process and outlining what reforms they plan to undertake to meet the goals of the Process. The attached template identifies headlines and key questions which should be addressed in the context of this report. The report should be sent to the BFUG Chair and Secretariat 4, in English, before 31 December This is also the final deadline for applications. When an application is received, the BFUG Chair and Secretariat will verify that it satisfies the prescribed procedures. A confirmation of receipt will be sent to the applicant country. At the same time, the BFUG will be informed of the application. The applicant country will then be invited to seminars and other events in the Bologna Process. Further procedures regarding the processing and assessment of applications will be decided by the BFUG meeting on October Minister Kristin Clemet, Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, Postboks 8119 Dep, NO-0032 Oslo 3 m.e.leegwater@minocw.nl 4 bologna@ufd.dep.no 4

5 Decisions regarding membership will be taken by the Ministerial Conference on May SUMMARY Applications for membership of the Bologna Process should be signed by the Minister responsible for higher education. They should be addressed to the Norwegian Minister of Education, as host of the next Ministerial Conference, with a copy to the Dutch Minister of Education as Chair of the Bologna Process in the autumn of Applications should be accompanied by or followed by a national report in English elaborated in accordance with the guidelines in the appendix. The deadline for submitting applications as well as national reports is 31 December The Bologna Secretariat may be contacted for further information. All about the Bologna Process at: BFUGB3 7 Accessions final 5

European Higher Education in a Global Setting. A Strategy for the External Dimension of the Bologna Process. 1. Introduction

European Higher Education in a Global Setting. A Strategy for the External Dimension of the Bologna Process. 1. Introduction The Bologna Declaration (1999) sets out the objective of increasing the international