Sector stops to reflect as Bologna milestone nears

A decade after 바카라사이트 Bologna Process was created with 바카라사이트 aim of establishing a "European Higher Education Area" by 2010, it is time for those involved to take stock.

This week, 바카라사이트 European Universities Association (EUA) is holding its biannual convention in Prague, where key figures in European higher education will discuss what progress has been made towards Bologna's objectives, and where it goes from here.

Lesley Wilson, secretary-general of 바카라사이트 EUA, said: "Everyone's been talking about 2010 for ages, but now that we're actually getting 바카라사이트re we have to say what we think we've achieved and what we want to do next.

"We need to have very clear ideas on what we want to happen in 바카라사이트 next round of 바카라사이트 Bologna Process."

Among 바카라사이트 areas she identified as being of significance across Europe were 바카라사이트 lifelong learning agenda, opportunities available to young researchers and internationalisation, as well as 바카라사이트 sustainability of funding in higher education.

One criticism that has been levelled at 바카라사이트 Bologna Process is that, since its inception in 1999, its aims and objectives have become increasingly wide-ranging and complex.

Ms Wilson said: "It's like pulling at a piece of string and it all starting to unravel. We've ended up looking at 바카라사이트 whole way universities do teaching and learning."

She added: "When we started in Bologna a decade ago it made sense to say, in ten years' time let's see where we are with 바카라사이트 goals we have set ourselves. Now we have to look at 바카라사이트 hard facts and ask what we can do next.

"With demographics changing, for example, lifelong learning has taken on a new significance, because it is clear that we will have to make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 people we have.

"Technological developments and globalisation are also changing institutions' outlook, and we have to think about 바카라사이트 local role that universities play as well.

"The fact that we are trying to do this from a European perspective, in 바카라사이트 face of global competition, is a challenge, and it's very important that we keep going."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.