REFORMING HIGHER EDUCATION IN REFORMING HIGHER EDUCATION IN EUROPE – CONTEXT AND EUROPE – CONTEXT AND

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Sjur BerganSjur Bergan

Head, Dept. of Higher Education and Head, Dept. of Higher Education and History TeachingHistory Teaching

Council of EuropeCouncil of Europe

MAIN PURPOSES OF HIGHER MAIN PURPOSES OF HIGHER EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Preparation for the labor marketPreparation for the labor market Preparation for life as active citizens in Preparation for life as active citizens in

democratic societiesdemocratic societies Personal developmentPersonal development Development and maintenance of a broad, Development and maintenance of a broad,

advanced knowledge baseadvanced knowledge base

SOME KEY CHARACTERISTICSSOME KEY CHARACTERISTICS

Development of common goals and policies: Development of common goals and policies: Bologna ProcessBologna Process

Increased demands for relevance to societyIncreased demands for relevance to society No corresponding increase in public fundingNo corresponding increase in public funding Mission of HE: teaching, research and service to Mission of HE: teaching, research and service to

society society Division of labor between institutionsDivision of labor between institutions Emphasis on qualityEmphasis on quality HE not “once in a lifetime experience”HE not “once in a lifetime experience” Equal opportunities and social cohesionEqual opportunities and social cohesion

EUROPEAN HIGHER EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREAEDUCATION AREA

Process toward 2010 (Bologna Process)Process toward 2010 (Bologna Process) Same target date for all members Same target date for all members

regardless of when they joined the Processregardless of when they joined the Process Actors:Actors:

– Ministries of Education (currently 45 countries)Ministries of Education (currently 45 countries)– Higher education institutionsHigher education institutions– StudentsStudents– International organizationsInternational organizations

MAIN POINTS BOLOGNAMAIN POINTS BOLOGNA

Increase attractivenessIncrease attractiveness Increase transparencyIncrease transparency Increase mobilityIncrease mobility Facilitate recognitionFacilitate recognition Adapt HE to labor marketAdapt HE to labor market Reform degree systemReform degree system Role of HE in democratic societies, Role of HE in democratic societies,

especially SE Europeespecially SE Europe

MAIN POINTS PRAHAMAIN POINTS PRAHA

Democratic valuesDemocratic values Diversity of cultures and languages Diversity of cultures and languages Diversity of higher education systemsDiversity of higher education systems Higher education as a public good and Higher education as a public good and

public responsibilitypublic responsibility Student participationStudent participation Lifelong learningLifelong learning Quality assuranceQuality assurance

MAIN POINTS BERLINMAIN POINTS BERLIN

New countries beyond EU frameworkNew countries beyond EU framework Change access criteriaChange access criteria

– Cultural Convention Cultural Convention – Requirement: outline reform policies and Requirement: outline reform policies and

commitmentcommitment

Stock takingStock taking ResearchResearch Qualifications frameworkQualifications framework

MAIN POINTS BERGENMAIN POINTS BERGEN

Truly pan-European process with 45 countriesTruly pan-European process with 45 countries Overarching qualifications frameworkOverarching qualifications framework Standards for quality assuranceStandards for quality assurance Social dimensionSocial dimension External dimensionExternal dimension StocktakingStocktaking Relationship HE policies/other areas of public Relationship HE policies/other areas of public

policypolicy Emphasis on implementationEmphasis on implementation

TOWARD 2007: WORKING TOWARD 2007: WORKING GROUPSGROUPS

Stock takingStock taking Qualifications frameworkQualifications framework ““External dimension”External dimension” Social dimension and academic mobilitySocial dimension and academic mobility [London communiqué drafting group][London communiqué drafting group] Portability of student loans?Portability of student loans?

TOWARD 2007: NATIONAL LEVEL TOWARD 2007: NATIONAL LEVEL II

Qualifications frameworkQualifications framework– Elaborate national QF by 2010, launch work by Elaborate national QF by 2010, launch work by

20072007 Quality assuranceQuality assurance

– Implement guidelines adopted in BergenImplement guidelines adopted in Bergen Social dimensionSocial dimension

– Commitment to equal accessCommitment to equal access MobilityMobility

– Intensify efforts to lift obstaclesIntensify efforts to lift obstacles

TOWARD 2007: NATIONAL LEVEL TOWARD 2007: NATIONAL LEVEL IIII

RecognitionRecognition– Ensure full implementation of the principles of Ensure full implementation of the principles of

the Lisboa Conventionthe Lisboa Convention– National action planNational action plan– Joint degreesJoint degrees

Stock takingStock taking– National reportNational report

SOME ISSUES FOR LONDON AND SOME ISSUES FOR LONDON AND BEYONDBEYOND

The EHEA after 2010: what do we want it to be The EHEA after 2010: what do we want it to be like?like?

Quality development and the role of institutionsQuality development and the role of institutions Higher education governanceHigher education governance First degree in the labor marketFirst degree in the labor market Second degree: variety and coherenceSecond degree: variety and coherence MobilityMobility HE policies and other public policiesHE policies and other public policies

ULTIMATE CHALLENGEULTIMATE CHALLENGE

How can higher education help develop How can higher education help develop sustainable societies?sustainable societies?– Social/societal sustainabilitySocial/societal sustainability– Economic sustainabilityEconomic sustainability– Environmental sustainabilityEnvironmental sustainability

How can higher education reform help this How can higher education reform help this goal?goal?