On EurActiv Prof. Maria Helena Nazaré, president
of the European University Association (EUA), followed up on the recent conference on
the Bologna process with the following essay:
Much to be done
"Last month's Bologna Process Ministerial Conference in
Bucharest brought together ministers responsible for higher
education from the 47 European countries that now participate in
this voluntary process, together with key stakeholder organisations
including the European University Association (EUA).
The Bologna Ministerial Conferences (seven have been held since
the launch of the Bologna Process in 1999) are designed to take
stock of progress towards the "Bologna" objectives and to set goals
for the future development of a European Higher Education Area.
EUA's work has shown that over the last decade, universities across
Europe have implemented the overwhelming majority of structural
reform elements agreed under Bologna - such as a common three-cycle
degree system (bachelor, master, and doctorate), credit transfer
systems, and the European diploma supplement. With the launch of
the European Higher Education Area (in 2010), the second
decade now aims to build on these reforms in order to achieve the
underlying aims such as increasing mobility and employability of
graduates, improving quality of teaching and learning, and
developing lifelong learning.
Universities as strategic motors of regional
development
It is clear however, that the economic climate that prevailed
during the first years of this higher education reform process has
changed radically in recent years with the onset on the economic
and financial crisis. This is why a key aspect of the conference in
Bucharest was also to underline the critical role of higher
education in helping Europe out of the present crisis and in
enhancing the employability of Europe's graduates.
Europe's strength is that it has a large number of universities
and other higher education institutions (over 4,000) with different
traditions, missions and specific profiles. This is a competitive
advantage and gives universities the opportunity to become
strategic motors of local and regional development. This is why EUA
stressed to Ministers that more than ever in the present
challenging times that renewed efforts by all partners are needed
to make sure that a strong European Higher Education Area (EHEA)
becomes a reality for students, teachers and administrators in
universities across Europe.
HE is an investment in Europe's future
In particular, EUA, together with a number of other
stakeholders, argued strongly for a firm commitment in the final
communiqué (the political roadmap adopted at the end of each
ministerial conference) to recognition of the crucial role of
sustainable public funding for European higher education.
Therefore, we are pleased that this document stresses that higher
education should be at the "heart of our efforts to overcome the
crisis" and we urge governments now to follow up on the commitment
"to securing the highest possible level of public funding for
higher education and drawing on other appropriate sources, as an
investment in our future".
Funding of higher education should not be seen by European
governments as expenditure but as an investment for Europe's
future. It is also important for the future of the European
knowledge economy that higher education should not only be seen in
terms of providing employability skills for graduates but also in
terms of its key role in providing research-based teaching and
learning in a supportive environment that promotes critical and
independent thinking.
The Bucharest Communiqué also underlines that further efforts
are required to widen overall access to higher education, raise
completion rates, strengthen the link between teaching and
research, and to improve mobility.
Support mobility financially
EUA and other stakeholders have actively called for efforts to
improve mobility (for both students and staff) in Europe and we are
pleased that ministers in Bucharest also adopted a separate
mobility strategy for the European Higher Education Area. This
elaborates on the target agreed at the 2009 ministerial conference,
whereby at least 20% of those graduating in Europe in 2020 should
have spent a study or training period abroad.
In moving to implementation of this strategy, universities will
play a key role in driving mobility but increased governmental
support will also be required in terms of funding (for mobility
programmes) and in terms of removing the barriers that currently
prevent many staff and students in Europe from becoming more mobile
(such as portability of loans/pensions).
The Bologna Process has been one of the success stories in
higher education over the last decade, and the European Higher
Education Area which has been created is increasingly recognised
and taken as an example in other world regions. However, it is
crucial now that we look forward as there is still much unfinished
business. This is why it is crucial there is a renewed effort from
all stakeholders, and particularly from governments, to support the
continued development of a strong European Higher Education
Area."