Bologna Process Information Briefing Tbilisi Georgia 22 July
Bologna Process Information Briefing Tbilisi, Georgia 22 July 2008 § Cynthia Deane § Ireland (With thanks to Prof Andejs Rauhvergers, Chairman of Stocktaking working group)
Bologna Process: background § 1999 Bologna Declaration signed: action lines agreed § Goal: establish world-class EHEA by 2010 § 2001 Ministerial conference Prague (30 countries) § 2003 Ministerial conference Berlin (33 countries) § 2005 Ministerial conference Bergen: first stocktaking (41 countries) Georgia joined § 2007 Ministerial conference London: second stocktaking (46 countries) § 2009 Ministerial conference Louvain: third stocktaking § 2010 Date for completion of all action lines
Priority action lines since Berlin § Degree system (three cycles) § Quality assurance § Recognition of degrees and study periods Other themes (since Bergen) § Higher education and research; employability § Lifelong learning § Joint degrees § Social dimension § Global dimension; attractiveness of the EHEA § Partnership at institutional and national levels
Assessing progress up to 2007 Good progress overall Best progress in implementation of: ▪ Degree system ▪ External quality assurance ▪ Transparency tools: Diploma Supplement and ECTS More work to do in: ▪ Qualifications frameworks ▪ Establishing quality improvement culture ▪ Recognition of degrees; credit systems
Quantifiable indicators Greatest improvement since 2005 • Students in QA • Access • Two cycles • External QA
Stocktaking on the Degree System 2 cycles - good progress and - good potential for completion GEORGIA = light green Access - Fewer legal obstacles - Bridging courses - 2 levels of bachelors GEORGIA= green
National Qualifications frameworks: §still a lot to be Almost all have at least started, put in place done working groups § Most countries in green category had started long before 2005 § GEORGIA = orange § Developing NQFs should be dealt with in a more integrated way with other strands linked to learning outcomes approach: – QA, in particular internal quality culture; – ECTS; – recognition and in particular recognition of prior
Quality assurance External QA: good progress GEORGIA = orange Student participation: greatest growth since 2005 GEORGIA = yellow International participation: more to be done GEORGIA = orange
Implementation of ESG in Quality Assurance 4 1 The indicator shows that 17 26 0 § in one-third of countries QA system is line with the ESG, § all others have started work on implementing ESG GEORGIA = light green Conclusions on QA § formal structures for QA are in place, § there is still a lot to be done to properly implement ESG ‘Things to do’ – implement a genuine quality culture in
Diploma Supplement: - good progress, - GEORGIA = green ECTS - used for transfer AND accumulation - link of credits to learning outcomes should be
Implementation of the Lisbon Recognition Convention 31 5 1 3 6 § Many have amended legislation to implement LRC principles § Some countries that have not ratified LRC have already started implementing the principles § Recognition procedures, legal setup & terminology differ greatly GEORGIA = green Needs to be done: § Ensure implementation of the Convention in the autonomous HEIs § Ensure coherence in the treatment of foreign degrees across EHEA
Establishment and recognition of JDs 32 16 0 0 0 A number of countries have recently changed legislation to encourage JDs Little information on the number of joint programmes at national level GEORGIA = light green
Flexible learning paths § Some arrangements everywhere but mainly concern timing: studies in the evening, weekend, correspondence § Some admitted to HE without the typical entry qualifications § E-learning seems to be developing nearly everywhere Recognition of prior § Few countries have truly flexible learning paths with established credit allocation for LOs acquired learning § Answers demonstrate lack of clarity of the issue outside overall. § RPL at an early stage of development in the majority of countries GEORGIA = yellow
Conclusion 1: There has been good progress Best progress: ▪ Introduction of 3 cycles ▪ Access involvement ▪ External QA ▪ Student Diploma Supplement ▪ ECTS Conclusion 2: ▪Outlook for achieving the goals is good, Work to do: but ▪ Qualifications frameworks there are some challenges culture ▪ Establishing quality improvement ▪ International participation in QA ▪ Recognition practices of degrees and credits Approach to use: ▪ Linking the different action lines
Conclusion 3 Stocktaking works well as an integral part of the Bologna Process strategy § § Stocktaking recommended also for the next period Combination of quantifiable indicators and qualitative analysis works well Analytical part to be further strengthened Stocktaking works better if the goals and achievements are clearly formulated
What can we expect by 2010? Learners in all participating countries can expect that § Three cycle system of all countries is easily understood § Quality of higher education is assured § Higher education qualifications awarded in all countries are recognised by other countries for access to education, employment and research opportunities § Higher education provides flexible learning paths that are part of lifelong learning continuum § Higher education is accessible to everyone
Challenges for Georgia at the moment § Strengthen quality assurance frameworks at national and institutional levels § Promote shared responsibility for quality of HE among all partners: government, HEI governing bodies, rectors, academic community, students, employers § Build capacity in the system to support student and international participation in QA § Develop and implement national qualifications framework
Challenges for Bologna/EHEA 2010 and beyond § Moving from POLICY to PRACTICE § Ensuring real implementation at institutional level § Building effective and sustainable partnership for progress: policy makers, institutions, social partners, students § Unknown/ unpredictable impact of external factors: political, economic, social, technological § Making EHEA a world leader; focus on competing OR collaborating with others? ? ?
- Slides: 18