Are the Bologna Process objectives for everyone? Annika Pontén Chair of the Bologna Process Working Group on the Social Dimension and Mobility of Staff and Students

The Bologna Process Main Objectives  Enhanced mobility  Strengthened employability  Increased competitiveness of European Higher Education 2010 European Higher Education Area

The Social Dimension  Since ministerial meeting in Prague 2001  Ministerial meeting in Bergen 2005 – Working Group appointed: WG on Social Dimension and Data on Mobility of Staff and Students in Participating Countries

Terms of reference – Social Dimension  to define the concept of social dimension based on the ministerial communiqués of the Process  to present comparable data on the social and economic situation of students in participating countries  to prepare proposals as a basis for future stocktaking

Social Dimension  No common understanding/definition  Large differences among participating countries  Advancing while respecting differences

Definition  Rationale: equal opportunities, societal development and quality of higher education  The process leading to participative equity in higher education  Strategic overall objective: ”the student body entering, participating in and completing higher education should reflect the diversity of our populations”

Core Areas of the Social Dimension  Measures to promote equal opportunities  Measures to widen access to and participation in higher education  Study environment that enhances the quality of the student experience  Student participation in the governance and organisation of higher education  Finances in order to start and complete studies

Employability  Close relation to the social dimension and its rationale  Equal opportunities to personal and professional development  Social, cultural and economic development of societies  Higher education – lower unemployment rates  Choices of fields of studies – opportunities on the labour market  Match skills and jobs

Data on the social and economic situation of students  No comprehensive survey  Important data gaps: not all Bologna countries covered no common deadline for surveys  Indicators need to be matched with data comparability and availability  Cross-sectoral statistics needed  Analysis of change needed

Ministerial meeting in London May 2007 SOCIAL DIMENSION  Overall objective  Report on national strategies  Data collection to measure progress towards the overall objective  Stocktaking

Ministerial meeting in London May 2007 EMPLOYABILITY  Consider how to improve employability in relation to all cycles  Stronger involvement of employers and other stakeholders  Cooperation with employers in curriculum innovation  Data collection on employability of graduates  Stocktaking

And now what?