Analytic Quality Glossary

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Citation reference: Harvey, L., 2004–8, Analytic Quality Glossary, Quality Research International, http://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/

This is a dynamic glossary and the author would welcome any e-mail suggestions for amendments or additions.

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Bologna Process

core definition

The Bologna Process is an ongoing process of integration and harmonisation of higher education systems within Europe.

explanatory context

The Bologna Process is integral to the development of the European Higher Education Area.

Note: as describe below in associated issues, a separate OECD initiative linked to SMEs has also been launched with the title the Bologna Process, this is not otherwise covered in this entry.

analytical review

According to the Council of Europe (2005)

The Bologna Process is a European reform process aiming at establishing a European Higher Education Area by 2010. It is an unusual process in that it is loosely structured and driven by the 40 countries participating in it in cooperation with a number of international organisations, including the Council of Europe…. By 2010 higher education systems in European countries should be organised in such a way that:

· it is easy to move from one country to the other (within the European Higher Education Area) – for the purpose of further study or employment;

· the attractiveness of European higher education is increased so many people from non-European countries also come to study and/or work in Europe;

· the European Higher Education Area provides Europe with a broad, high quality and advanced knowledge base, and ensures the further development of Europe as a stable, peaceful and tolerant community.

The New York-based World Education Services, 2004, states:

Bologna Process: The ongoing process of working towards the creation of a European Higher Education Area (EHEA), to be completed by 2010.

Wikipedia, Answers.com (undated)states:

The purpose of the Bologna process is to create the European higher education area by harmonising academic degree standards and quality assurance standards throughout Europe. The name comes because the process was proposed at the University of Bologna with the signing, in 1999, of the Bologna declaration by ministers of education from 29 European countries in the Italian city of Bologna. This was opened up to other countries, and further governmental meetings have been held in Prague (2001) and Berlin (2003); the next meeting will take place in Bergen, Norway in spring 2005.

Before the signing of the Bologna declaration, the Magna Carta Universitatum had been issued at a meeting of university rectors celebrating the 900th anniversary of the University of Bologna - and thus of European universities - in 1988. One year before the Bologna declaration, education ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the UK signed the Sorbonne declaration in Paris 1998, committing themselves to "harmonising the architecture of the European Higher Education system". French officials in particular therefore often refer to the La Sorbonne/Bologna process.

Similarly, the ENIC-NARIC (2005) website states:

The Bologna Process is the commitment by 40 countries to reform their higher education systems in order to create convergence at the European level. It is the most important and wide ranging reform of higher education in Europe since the immediate aftermath of 1968.

The ultimate aim of the Process is to establish a European Higher Education Area by 2010 in which academic staff and students could move with ease and have quick fair recognition of their qualifications.

According to the University of Bologna (2005):

The Bologna process is an important process of harmonizing various systems of European higher education that has the objective to create a European Area of Higher Education and to promote the European system of higher education on a worldwide scale in order to increase its international competitiveness.