The Bologna Process represents a commitment by forty-five European countries to undertake a series of reforms in order to achieve greater consistency and portability across their higher education systems. The process will most likely have a profound effect on the development of higher education globally, as observers from other continents are taking a close interest in the reform process and beginning to consider how of their own systems might to respond to ‘Bologna’ thinking. Australia needs to consider how best to respond to these global developments if its own higher education system is to continue to be seen as being of high quality and relevant to international standards and requirements.
The Australian Response
The Department of Education, Science and Training, together with key Australian stakeholders, are currently engaged in consultations regarding the Bologna process.
The Bologna National Seminar was held on 7 September 2006 at the Australian National University. The opening address was given by the Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training and was attended by 130 participants. The keynote speaker was Professor Stephen Adam, who among his many credentials is a member of the European expert group advising on the creation of a European Qualification Framework and the UN National Dfes European Commission Bologna Promoter. Presentations made at the seminar can be found here.
This event was supported by two previous phases of consultation:
- The release of a discussion paper - The Bologna Process and Australia: Next Steps (pdf 625kb or rtf 1330kb) and an invitation to make submissions in response.
The paper was released by the Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training, on 4 April 2006 to stimulate discussion about the Bologna Process.
DEST received thirty-four Submissions from interested parties in response to the Next Steps paper.
Consultations occurred in:
- Melbourne – 21 July 2006
- Sydney – 24 July 2006
- Brisbane – 25 July 2006
- Canberra – 28 July 2006
- Perth – 2 August 2006
- Adelaide – 3 August 2006
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Below are a number of useful resources for understanding the Bologna Process and its global, regional and national implications.
Declarations and Communiqués
Sorbonne Joint Declaration (1998) (pdf 16kb)
The Sorbonne Declaration, which focussed on facilitating academic mobility and harmonising educational structures within Europe, was a precursor to the Bologna Process.
Bologna Declaration (1999) (pdf 23kb)
The Bologna Process was formally initiated in 1999 with the signing of the Bologna Declaration by 29 European countries. Since then, a series of meetings has been held to set objectives and review the Process. The following declarations and communiqués document the progress of the Bologna Process.
Prague Communiqué (2001) (pdf 76kb)
Berlin Communiqué (2003) (pdf 34kb)
Bergen Communiqué (2005) (pdf 44kb)
Salamanca Convention (2001) (pdf 20kb) and Graz Declaration (2003) (pdf 99kb)
The Salamanca Convention and the Graz Declaration, which were written by the European Universities Association (EUA), have also contributed to the Bologna Process. These documents were prepared for the Prague (2001) and Berlin (2003) meetings on the Bologna Process, and detail the goals, principles and priorities of over 300 European higher education institutions and peak bodies.
Lisbon Recognition Convention (1997) (pdf 142kb)
The Lisbon Recognition Convention, or the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, is the one legal instrument specifically acknowledged in the Bologna Process. Its ratification by all member countries is regarded as one of the necessary conditions for the success of the Process.
top
Reports and Stocktaking
A number of European institutions have published reports evaluating the progress of the Bologna Process.
Bologna Process Stocktaking (pdf 1030kb)
This report, written by the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG) Working Group, takes stock of the progress made in three priority action lines of the Bologna Process: quality assurance, the two-cycle degree system, and recognition of degrees and periods of study. It was prepared for the May 2005 Ministerial Meeting in Bergen.
From Berlin to Bergen: General Report of the Bologna Follow-up Group to the Conference of Higher Education (pdf 253kb)
This report was written by the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG) for the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Higher Education in Bergen (19 to 20 May 2005). It includes information on the progress of the Bologna action lines, its new members, the BFUG stocktaking report, and the future vision of the Bologna Process.
Trends IV: European Universities Implementing Bologna (pdf 515kb)
This report, written by the European University Association (EUA) in 2005, explores the ways in which European institutions are responding to the Bologna process, offers insight into the impact that the Process is having on overall institutional development, and looks at the levels of awareness and support for these changes among the various actors across Europe’s higher education academic community.
Focus on the Structure of Higher Education in Europe 2004-05: National Trends in the Bologna Process (pdf 2410kb)
This report, written by Eurydice, the information network on education in Europe, reviews the changes that were undertaken in the structure of higher education in Europe during the period of July to December 2004. It focuses on the three-cycle degree structure, the European credit system (ECTS), the Diploma Supplement and quality evaluation.
European Student Surveys on the Bologna Process (pdf 353kb)
This report by the Bologna Process Committee of the National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB) summarises the findings of six surveys conducted among ESIB’s members during 2003. The surveys focus on the social dimension, mobility, student involvement, degree structures, credit systems and general perceptions of the Bologna Process.
Tuning Educational Structures in Europe Pilot Project – Phase 1 (pdf 866kb)
In this publication the Socrates-Erasmus project Tuning Educational Structures in Europe presents a summary of its research outcomes from the period 2001-02. It deals with all issues mentioned in the Prague Communiqué of June 2001, including academic recognition, quality assurance, study programme compatibility, distance learning and lifelong learning.
top
Useful Links and Information
Guide to the Bologna Process (pdf 364kb) is a document published by the UK HE Europe Unit, which outlines the functions, historical development, actions lines and present developments of the Bologna Process. It also includes a number of useful links to other websites and research resources.
The Official Bologna Process website provides information and news about developments in the Bologna Process and about how the work programme will be developed prior to the next Ministerial Summit in London in May 2007. News and events updates are added to the website on an ongoing basis.
The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research website provides information and news about developments in the Bologna Process and about how the work programme was developed during the period January 2004 to June 2005. It was the official Bologna website for this period.
The Euractiv website provides basic information on the Bologna Process, as well as information on related issues, such as eLearning and lifelong learning.
The Europa website includes general information on the Bologna Process from the perspective of the European Commission.
The National Union of Students in Europe (ESIB) website releases documents on the effect of the Bologna reforms on students at the European level.
The Academic Co-operation Association (ACA) website focuses on European co-operation in education and training, by monitoring developments through publications, news and events.
The UK Europe Unit website contains comprehensive information on the Bologna and Bruges-Copenhagen Processes, including issues such as mobility and recognition of qualifications.
top
Speech to University of Sydney by Ján Figel’ - Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture, and Youth - The Future of Education - Bologna and Beyond (pdf 53kb)
top