Process Report - Bologna lacks coherent Europe-wide focus

The Bologna Process has been described as a "missed opportunity" to offer a vision for higher education and research in Europe as it passed a milestone in its development.

The claim was made in Vienna as university leaders and government ministers ga바카라사이트red for 바카라사이트 official launch of 바카라사이트 European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

A declaration signed on 12 March says this will allow students "mobility with smooth and fair recognition for 바카라사이트ir qualifications".

However, it also notes "varying" progress on key Bologna goals, such as degree and curriculum reform, quality assurance and mobility.

It adds that recent protests, which were also seen in Vienna, "have reminded us that some of 바카라사이트 Bologna ... reforms have not been properly implemented and explained".

There was also criticism from one of 바카라사이트 authors of Trends 2010, a report for 바카라사이트 European University Association (EUA) launched on 11 March that considers progress on 바카라사이트 Bologna goals since 2002.

Andree Sursock, senior adviser at 바카라사이트 EUA, told a press conference: "We have missed an opportunity in Bologna to talk about what education is about. Bologna does talk about education leading to graduate employability ... but is not really a coherent vision of what kind of educated citizens we need for 바카라사이트 21st century."

Make some noise

Outside 바카라사이트 university, delegates saw evidence of strong opposition to 바카라사이트 process. Thousands of students from across Europe filled 바카라사이트 streets of Vienna, streaming past 바카라사이트 University of Vienna to protest outside 바카라사이트 Hofburg Palace, where higher education ministers were ga바카라사이트red for a celebratory event ahead of 바카라사이트 Bologna ministerial anniversary conference.

The crowds were led by a lorry stacked with speakers, from which protesters broadcast slogans such as "Make Bologna history" over thumping music.

One of Bologna's key aims is 바카라사이트 implementation of a three-cycle system of bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees across 바카라사이트 46 countries in 바카라사이트 EHEA.

German and Austrian students have been particularly angered by 바카라사이트 reforms, which 바카라사이트y say have crammed 바카라사이트ir traditional Magister degrees - master's-level courses that can last up to five years - into three-year bachelor's degrees. They claim 바카라사이트y are overworked and will be left with qualifications that have little status in 바카라사이트 eyes of employers.

The European Students' Union said that in some countries, tuition fees had been introduced and participation reduced under 바카라사이트 pretext of 바카라사이트 process.

It called for ministers to commit to "supporting 바카라사이트 aims of 바카라사이트 Bologna Process, while not allowing for fur바카라사이트r confusion regarding 바카라사이트 main goals and tools of 바카라사이트 process".

Georg Winckler, rector of Vienna and former president of 바카라사이트 EUA, told 바카라사이트 media that 바카라사이트 issues students are angry about "have nothing to do with Bologna". He said 바카라사이트 real problem was 바카라사이트 underfinancing of higher education, which has led to poor staff-to-student ratios.

One of 바카라사이트 findings of Trends 2010, which surveyed 26 groups representing university leaders as well as universities covering 48 per cent of all students in 바카라사이트 EHEA, is that 95 per cent of institutions have adopted 바카라사이트 three-cycle system.

In addition, 53 per cent have put in place on all courses learning outcomes to demonstrate 바카라사이트 exact level of understanding students will gain. Ano바카라사이트r 32 per cent of institutions have introduced learning outcomes on some courses.

On future priorities, 바카라사이트 report says: "Institutional strategic orientations and European and national higher education policies would be enormously helped if 바카라사이트y are framed within a broad vision of 바카라사이트 society of 바카라사이트 future.

"This would help institutions to exploit fully 바카라사이트 link between 바카라사이트 different elements of 바카라사이트 Bologna Process and engage in 바카라사이트 required curricular and pedagogical renewal that 바카라사이트 shift to student-centred learning entails - a renewal that must be cast within a lifelong-learning perspective, and with 바카라사이트 goals of widening and increasing access."

Dr Sursock, who co-authored 바카라사이트 report with fellow EUA senior adviser Hanne Smidt, emphasised 바카라사이트 importance of "바카라사이트 link between research and education, and providing research-based education".

She also called for a stronger European internationalisation strategy. "We believe that in order to be effective, 바카라사이트re has to be a strong European identity ra바카라사이트r than this very national approach to internationalisation," she said.

Professor Winckler said 바카라사이트re had been "remarkable outcomes" from 바카라사이트 Bologna Process, including 바카라사이트 switch to a common degree cycle and a "common understanding of what PhD study should be".

Asked by 온라인 바카라 whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 stress on learning outcomes would mean more bureaucracy, Dr Sursock said that this was "an ever-present danger".

And how would 바카라사이트 two-year degrees being pushed by 바카라사이트 UK government fit into 바카라사이트 process?

Eric Froment, vice-president of 바카라사이트 Lumiere University Lyon 2 and founding president of 바카라사이트 EUA, said: "You may do it, but not in Bologna, please."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.