Website: Bologna Secretariat The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) from the perspective of CEE countries Ligia Deca Head of the 2010 – 2012 Bologna Secretariat

Website: Bologna Secretariat 2 Bucharest (2012) Bologna Process Bologna (1999) Prague (2001) Berlin (2003) Bergen (2005) London (2007) Leuven/Louvain-la Neuve (2009)

Website: Bologna Secretariat 3 Themes of the presentation Introduction of the EHEA Overview of official Bologna Process implementation progress Current Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG) debates

Website: Bologna Secretariat The EHEA unfolded Bologna action lines EHEA Objectives/ HE priorities 4 Pre-Leuven (as listed in the Work Plan) Post-Leuven (as listed in the 2009 – 2012 Work Plan) Mobility Degree structure Employability Recognition Qualifications frameworks Lifelong Learning Quality Assurance Third cycle Social dimension Global dimension Stocktaking Beyond 2010 Social dimension: equitable access and completion Lifelong Learning Employability Student centered learning and the teaching mission of higher education Education, research and innovation International openness Mobility Data collection Multidimensional transparency tools Funding (?)

Website: Bologna Secretariat BFUG Workplan Working groups:  International openness: The European Higher Education Area in a Global Context  Mobility  Qualification frameworks  Recognition  Reporting on the implementation of the Bologna Process  Social dimension  Transparency tools 5

Website: Bologna Secretariat BFUG Workplan Networks:  EHEA Information and Promotion Network  Network of NQF (National Qualifications Framework) Correspondents  NESSIE (Network for Experts of Student Support in Europe)  Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) network 6

Website: Bologna Secretariat The Bologna Secretariat Main role: “...to provide neutral support to further the consolidation of the European Higher Education Area under the exclusive authority of the BFUG and its Chairs and Vice-Chairs.” Bologna Process Secretariat’s Terms of Reference 7

Website: Bologna Secretariat The Bologna Secretariat Functions:  Administrative and operational support for BFUG, its sub- structures (WG and networks) and the Board (minute-taking, background documents drafting, assisting chairs in planning the meeting, communication etc.);  Create and maintain the EHEA permanent website and electronic archives;  Act as an internal and external contact point for the EHEA, while ensuring external representation on behalf of the Chairs or based on direct requests. 8 Bologna Process Secretariat’s Terms of Reference

Website: Bologna Secretariat 9 Themes of the presentation Introduction of the EHEA Overview of official Bologna Process implementation progress Current BFUG debates

Website: Bologna Secretariat 10 Bologna Stocktaking Report 2009

Website: Bologna Secretariat 11 Bologna Process Independent Assessment 2010 The European HE landscape has visibly changed, perhaps with the exception of Social Dimension; 17 countries have joined the Bologna Process between , mostly from the East and South-East of Europe “two-speed Bologna”; No real high-performers on all Bologna Action Lines, which resulted in a second Bologna decade, aimed at “full and proper implementation of the agreed objectives and the agenda for the next decade set by the Leuven/ Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué” (Budapest and Vienna Ministerial Declaration, 2010). Stakeholder participation as a main factor in advancing Bologna Process reforms. A balanced mixture of supporting policy mechanisms (funding, regulation, policies in other areas, communication and information exchange) appeared to be crucial to the successful implementation of Bologna reforms

Website: Bologna Secretariat 12 Bologna Process Independent Assessment 2010 Main features leading to differentiation of the BP implemention at national level:  Different challenges in national HE systems:  inefficiencies (e.g. high drop-out rates, low participation rates across a variety of dimensions)  limited systemic flexibility, and upgrading quality during rapid expansion;  Different management and governance arrangements, meant that the implementation of national reforms deviated from Bologna intentions. Divergence has been strengthened by the fact that key actors in different countries interpreted elements of the Bologna reform agenda differently.

Website: Bologna Secretariat 13 Themes of the presentation Introduction of the EHEA Overview of official Bologna Process implementation progress Current BFUG debates

Website: Bologna Secretariat 14 Current BFUG debates  BFUG decision-making and communication procedures;  EHEA membership accession criteria;  Possible additional working methods: peer learning; couching/ job-shadowing; strengthening the link between National Bologna Experts and the national BFUG representatives; setting up national BFUGs; thematic BFUG sessions. The transition from Bologna Process to the EHEA.

Website: Bologna Secretariat 15 Personal reflections on the CEE countries involvement in the Bologna Process  Bologna reforms are sometimes confused with EU recommendations and even with the “acquis communautaire”;  Little tradition in stakeholder involvement and resistance to the national BFUG approach;  Complicated procedures in obtaining a mandate for the BFUG representatives, which sometimes results in low participation in the BFUG debates;  Insufficient data collection;  Mimetism of HE reforms seen in other national contexts;  Insufficient funding allotted to Bologna Process implementation and little possibility for accessing EU funds.

Website: Bologna Secretariat Thank you! Questions… 29 th of November 2010www.ehea.info16