By 2005, the Bologna Process was halfway to its goal of creating a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by 2010. The objectives that were originally outlined in the Bologna Declaration of 1999 had been reviewed and assessed twice – first in the Prague Communiqué in 2001, and again in the Berlin Communiqué in 2003. During the Berlin Summit, the Ministers of Higher Education directed that midterm reports in several key areas should be ready for review before the third scheduled assessment in Bergen, Norway.
The Bergen Conference
On May 19, 2005, European Ministers from 40 signatory countries met in Bergen to review progress in the Bologna Process since the 2003 Berlin Summit. To assist the Ministers in their review, a follow-up report (“From Berlin to Bergen”) was prepared and submitted to the Bergen Conference by the Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG).
The BFUG report (2005) noted that a broad outline of the EHEA was in effect. The EHEA, however, was “not a single, unified higher education system, but a group of more than forty national systems” formed according to principles agreed upon by the signatory countries.
Simplifying the Bologna Process Objectives
In 1999, the Bologna Declaration had recognized six educational objectives. By 2001, the Prague Summit had added three new objectives, followed by one additional objective and a stocktaking priority during the 2003 Berlin Summit.
The BFUG acknowledged that the 10 Bologna Process objectives had merged over time. To simplify matters, the European Ministers agreed that all objectives would be combined into four new areas as follows:
- Overarching Framework of Qualifications for EHEA: This area would join four Bologna Declaration objectives (standardizing degrees, two-cycle degree system, uniform credit system, European dimensions in higher education); one Prague Summit objective (lifelong learning, with its vocational training attribute); and one Berlin Summit objective (third-cycle doctoral degree).
- European Cooperation in Educational Quality Assurance:This area would join two Bologna Declaration objectives (setting standards and guidelines for quality assurance, European dimensions in higher education).
- Recognition of Degrees and Study Periods: This area would join elements of two Bologna Declaration objectives (standardizing degrees, academic mobility).
- Social Dimension of Higher Education:This area would join two Prague Summit objectives (role of students in higher education, promoting the attractiveness of EHEA).
The Bologna Process Midterm Report
At the Berlin Summit, the European Ministers had asked for a midterm report on three priority areas. Upon reviewing the BFUG report, substantial progress was confirmed in all areas:
- The Degree System: The two-degree system had been implemented widely, with “more than half of the students being enrolled in it in most [signatory] countries.” The European Ministers approved the new three-cycle degree system and requested a framework for an EHEA national qualification system by 2010, with work begun no later than 2007.
- Educational Quality Assurance: Although almost all signatory countries had created a quality assurance system based on the recommendations of the Berlin Communiqué, work remained in regard to “student involvement and international cooperation.” The European Ministers formally adopted the guidelines suggested by the European Network of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), and urged all signatory partners to do the same.
- Recognition of Degrees and Study Periods:The 1997 Lisbon Recognition Convention had established standards for degree recognition and study periods. The European Ministers noted with approval that 36 of the 45 attending countries had ratified the Convention, and urged all remaining countries to do so immediately. In addition, the Ministers affirmed that they would draw up “national action plans to improve the quality of the process associated with the recognition of foreign qualifications.” These action plans would be part of each country's national report before the next assessment.
Setting Future Priorities for the Bologna Process
At the Bergen Conference, the European Ministers agreed that the stocktaking process begun in Berlin should continue. By 2007, the Ministers directed that reports should be ready in several areas, which would summarize progress toward
- incorporating the ENQA guidelines for educational quality assurance;
- implementing national frameworks for degree qualification;
- recognizing and awarding joint degrees under the proposed three-cycle degree system; and
- creating “flexible learning paths in higher education,” which would include “procedures for the recognition of prior learning."
Finally, the European Ministers agreed to admit five new countries for membership: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and the Ukraine.
From Bergen to London
The results from the 2005 meeting were published as the Bergen Communiqué. By this time, 45 signatory countries had approved the principles of the Bologna Declaration.
The 2007 assessment of the Bologna Process was scheduled to be held in London.
References
Bergen Communiqué. "The European Higher Education Area – Achieving the Goals." Communiqué of the Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education. Bergen, 19–20 May, 2005. Bologna Process website.
Bergen Conference. "From Berlin to Bergen and Beyond. Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education." Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education. Bergen, 19–20 May, 2005.
Bologna Follow-Up Group. "General Report of the Bologna Follow-up Group to the Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education Bergen," 19–20 May 2005.
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