Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Objectives of This Session
 What we won’t do
• Be the expert on all things Bologna
• Provide detailed training on the Bologna Process and
its tools
 What we will do
• Give you an overview of the Bologna Process and
the status of development
• Point out resources you can use/follow to learn more
• Help you plan for a wider campus dialogue
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
NAFSA’s Role
 Objectives for 2008
• Inform and educate international educators
• Encourage on-campus dialogue
 Activities in pursuit of those objectives
• Joint Symposium with European Association for
International Education (EAIE) in Amsterdam 2007,
out of which came the Bologna Supplement.
• Bologna Supplement sent to all Members with
Oct/Nov 2007 International Educator Magazine.
[ URL on handout]
• Annual Conference presentations
• Regional Conference presentations
More….
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
NAFSA’s Role
 Activities in pursuit of those objectives
• February 2008 Webinar “The Impact of the Bologna
Process on U.S. Higher Education”
[ URL on handout] provided updated information
about:
▫ How Europeans see the future of trans-Atlantic
exchange
▫ European study abroad trends vis-à-vis studying
in the U.S. versus other options available to them
▫ Knowledge exchange between Europe and U.S.
– at the faculty and research level
– In terms of graduate student enrollment
» Direct Enrollment
» Joint and Dual Degrees
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Why is the Bologna Process Important?
 Encompasses 46 countries in the European Higher
Education Area (EHEA)
• Western, Central and Eastern Europe (except
Belarus)
• Also Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia
 More than 49,000 EHEA graduate students and nearly
34,000 undergraduate students in the U.S.
• Collectively represents second largest group outside
of India (83,833) [Open Doors 2007]
More….
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Why is the Bologna Process Important?
 Presents challenges and opportunities for U.S.
campuses and their enrollment strategy
• Admissions and credential evaluation
• Graduate deans and faculty
• Education abroad
• Joint and dual degrees
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
The Larger European Context
 Bologna Process is part of a larger European agenda
 Changes in the past 15 years
• European Economic Community  European
Community
• Common currency  €
• Schengen Agreement  open borders
• Social programs  European Community
 Underpinning philosophy
• Harmonization not homogenization
• Respect for and celebration of diversity of Europe
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Bologna Process Objectives
 “19 June 1999: 29 European Ministers in charge of
higher education sign a Bologna Declaration,
establishing the European Area of Higher Education by
2010, and promoting the European System of higher
education world-wide, affirming their intention to:
• Adopt a system of easily readable and
comparable degrees
• Adopt a system with two main cycles
• Establish a system of credits
• Promote mobility by overcoming obstacles
• Promote European cooperation in quality assurance
• Promote European dimensions in higher education”
  resource: www.bologna-bergen2005.no
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Elements of the Bologna Process
 Bologna-compliant degrees
• No Bologna degrees
• Tools designed to interpret and convert work in one
country to work in another
 The tools
• The three-cycle system: Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
• European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
• Diploma Supplement
• Quality assurance
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Three-Cycle System:
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
 First degree and second degree, commonly called
bachelor and master
• Names not mandated; many countries have opted for
the bachelor/master terminology
• Ultimately a third cycle, doctorate, will be added
 Degrees designed to lead from one tier to another
• Based on credit accumulation
• Length of the degrees not individually mandated
▫ However, first degree must be at least 3 years
▫ The first two tiers generally add up to 5 years
▫ Variations: 3+1, 4+1, 3+2, 4+2
▫ Russia, Spain and Turkey have four-year
degrees
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
European Credit Transfer System
 ECTS = European Credit Transfer System
 Originally created for Erasmus program in 1989; familiar
and already in use
• Baseline for ECTS is 60 credits per year as full load
• Actual definition of ECTS is a measure of student
workload
• Includes an optional grading scheme
 First degree (bachelor) = 180 ECTS
 Second degree (master) = 120 ECTS (300 cumulatively)
 Implications for education abroad
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Diploma Supplement
 Not a transcript, but an addendum to the degree
• Shows program of study, courses taken, grades
received, ECTS credit values, and grading scale
• Includes educational system of the country
• Provides all information in English and local
language
 Not issued until conclusion of degree program(s)
• Issued when degree awarded
• Presents a challenge for application to U.S.
graduate schools
• Also will present a challenge to our European
colleagues!
Bologna Task Force 2007
 See diploma supplement samples on NAFSA Bologna
Network. [ URL on handout]
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Quality Assurance
 Qualifications Framework for the EHEA
 European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning
(EQF)
 European Standards and Guidelines (ESG)
 European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR)
 Most institutions in signatory countries have some form
of quality assurance built in at the programmatic level
 All signatory countries have at least ONE (several have
more than one) national quality assurance body
 Coordination between national QA bodies and schools is
not fully established yet
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Status of Implementation—2006
 82% of institutions have three-cycle structure in place;
only 2% report no plans to move to three cycles
 75% use ECTS for credit transfer; 66% use it for
credit accumulation
 49% issue Diploma Supplements to all graduating
students
• Additional 11% issue to students who request it
• Additional 38% (for total of 98%) plan to issue it
 95% conduct internal quality assurance evaluations
 At least one independent national body for quality
assurance exists in two-thirds of the Bologna signatory
countries
Bologna Task Force 2007
Source: EUA survey, 908 institutions responded–most recent data
available [ URL on handout]
October/November 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
What’s Coming: Priorities for 2009
 May 2007 meeting of Ministers of Higher Education
in London
• Reaffirmed commitment to increasing the
compatibility and comparability of European higher
education systems while respecting their diversity
• Set priority themes for 2009 ministerial conference
▫ Stocktaking of the overall implementation
▫ Dialogue with the world academic community
▫ Design the evaluation of the newly established
European Register of Quality Assurance
Agencies
▫ Articulate future process after 2010
• Next Ministerial Conference Leuven/Louvain-laNeuve, April 2009
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Frequently Asked Questions
 Are all Bologna-compliant degrees 3 years?
 Are all Bologna-compliant degrees equal?
 To what extent are U.S. schools “accepting” Bolognacompliant degrees?
 Why should study abroad folks care about Bologna?
 To whom should we turn to get advice about what to do
regarding Bologna?
 More?  www.nafsa.org/bologna discussion forum
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Competitive Positioning
 Bologna impact on U.S. competitiveness
• Bologna promotes educational and employment
mobility within Europe
• Bologna enhances Europe as a study and work
destination worldwide
 The Bologna model vs. the U.S. model
• Australia ministry white paper
• China a keen observer
• South America moving toward Bologna model
  resource: Bologna Supplement, pg. 16
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Joint/Dual Degrees
 Joint/dual degrees: more common in Europe and
growing
• Increased funds for mobility will further degrees
• Atlantis/FIPSE and PIRE grants
 U.S. master’s degrees provide opportunities for U.S.European collaborations
• Master's degrees are better developed in the U.S.
• Often easier to study abroad at the master's level
with 3-year first degrees
 What financial issues must be considered?
• Different approaches to tuition
• Teaching/research assistantships
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Graduate Admissions Considerations
 Review graduate admissions policies in light of many
factors: recruitment, applicant quality, departmental
needs, readiness for graduate study, and program
compatibility
 Bring more key players across campus into the
admissions process: deans, graduate department
advisors, individual faculty, etc.
 Use your own sources of information on the EHEA to
render a comprehensive judgment of what these reforms
mean to individual institutions
• Exchange partner institutions
• Visiting international faculty
• EducationUSA offices
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Study Abroad Considerations
 How to ensure accurate, objective, consistent,
transparent transfer of academic credit?
 U.S. and European institutions agree on key issues
• Syllabus content
• Time in class
• Classroom activities
• Independent learning
• Outcomes assessment
 ECTS creates a common European credit system
 U.S. study abroad professionals need to stay informed
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Undergraduate Admissions
Considerations
 How will transfer credit be handled?
• Recognition of institution by Ministry of Education or
other body?
• Use of ECTS, grade conversions
 What are admitting institution’s policies regarding
degree requirements?
• Number of credits to be done at institution
• Number of credits to be done in major field
• Completion of general education requirements
 How will 3-year degree holders be regarded when they
apply for a second undergraduate degree?
Bologna Task Force 2007
• Implications for degree requirements and financial
aid
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Getting Colleagues Involved—Who?
 Graduate admissions
 Graduate deans
 Senior international officers
 Joint/dual degree programs
 Study abroad
 Undergraduate admissions
 Registrars
 Research offices
 Others?
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Getting Colleagues Involved—
Resources
 Bologna Supplement PDF [URL on handout]
 Bologna Special Focus Network—Open to Members
and Non-Members
•  www.nafsa.org/bologna
• Practice Resources
▫ Bologna Process—general description
▫ Tools of the Bologna Process
▫ Country-by-country implementation information
▫ Implications for U.S. higher education
• Discussion forum
• Events and Training
 Your exchange partners in Europe!
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Getting Colleagues Involved — Actions
 Create a meeting
• Pass out the IE supplement PDF and lead a
discussion
 Give this presentation
• Download PPT [ URL on handout]
 Bologna Webinar CDs are available for purchase
• [ URL on handout]
• Good way to stimulate a continuation of discussion
on your campus
 Ask questions on the Bologna Discussion Forum –
Open to Members and Non-Members [ URL on
handout]
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007
Thank You!
 The 2007 NAFSA Bologna Process Task Force
• Diana Carlin, Chair, University of Kansas
• Hans de Wit, Windesheim Honours College
• Paul DeYoung, Reed College
• Rolf Hoffmann, German-American Fulbright
Commission
• Fiona Hunter, Università Carlo Cattaneo LIUC
• Patricia Parker, Iowa State University
• Ellen Silverman, The City University of New York
• Linda Tobash, Institute of International Education
• Robert Watkins, University of Texas-Austin
Bologna Task Force 2007
DRAFT OF 8/20/07
October/November 2007