The main intergovernmental meetings are organised on the basis of initiatives, meetings and intermediate conferences involving all the parties involved in the Bologna Process.
2001 Prague Summit
In march during a meeting in Salamanca, before the meeting in Prague on 19 May 2001, the European universities created the European University Association (EUA) and signed a document based on certain principles and key issues. The principles sanctioned were: autonomy with accountability, education as a public responsibility, research-based higher education and organisational diversity.
The key issues were: quality as a fundamental building stone of the project; "trust building", in other words the creation of a climate of trust in the definition of the European mechanisms for the mutual acceptance of quality assurance, with accreditation as one possible option; free mobility of students, lecturers, technical and administrative staff and graduates; compatible qualifications at graduate and undergraduate levels; attractiveness of European universities.
The Prague Communiqué, resulting from the meeting of European Ministers in charge of higher education, defined the actions to be carried out to achieve the six objectives of the Bologna Process and Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to "the objective of establishing the European Higher Education Area by 2010" and set out three new objectives.
In the meantime the number of signatory countries of the Bologna Process had risen to 34.
The "Bologna Follow-up Group" was also established, composed of representatives of all signatories and the European Commission. The group also includes the following representatives with the role of observers: European University Association (EUA), European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE), National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB) e del Council of Europe.
In view of the Bologna Follow-up Conference in Prague and of the conference in Berlin on 18 and 19 September 2003 seminars, conventions, and debates were organised by government and university bodies, both national, inter-governmental and European.
It can be said that the initiative taken in May 1998 by a group of only four ministers has been successful, and in the last five years it has involved all the interested parties in a large number of European countries. Furthermore the principles and objectives of the Bologna Declaration are now among the priorities of the European agenda. Special units or discussion forums have been set up in all the countries involved to explain the contents and implications of the Bologna Declaration.
The three additional objectives of the Prague Summit
- Lifelong learning
"Lifelong learning" is an essential element of the European Higher Education Area. In the future Europe, built upon a knowledge-based society and economy, lifelong learning strategies are necessary to face the challenges of competitiveness and the use of new technologies and to improve social cohesion, equal opportunities and the quality of life.
- Higher education institutions and students
Ministers stressed that the involvement of universities and other higher education institutions and of students in the establishment and shaping of a European Higher Education Area is needed and welcomed.
- Promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area
Ministers agreed on the importance of enhancing the attractiveness of European higher education to students from non-European Union countries.
2003 Berlin Conference
The key issue of the Conference in Berlin on 19 September 2003 was higher education as a public good. The social aspect of the Bologna Process was reaffirmed. Ministers emphasised the fact that in international academic cooperation, academic values should prevail. Ministers agreed that efforts should be made to secure closer links and synergies between the European Higher Education area and the European research area in each country to strengthen the basis of the Europe of Knowledge. The conference dealt with several issues: progress was registered and future prospects were outlined.
Objectives of the 2003 Berlin Conference
The main objectives summarised in the final communiqué of the Berlin Conference were:
- the realisation by 2005 of national Quality Assurance systems
- the adoption in all European Union countries of the two cycle system
- promotion of mobility and of the portability of national grants
- ensuring that ECTS credits become not merely a transfer system, but also an accumulation system
- students graduating as from 2005 should receive the Diploma Supplement automatically and free of charge
- student participation at different decision levels and appropriate studying and living conditions for students
- promotion of the European dimension in higher education in order to promote the development of integrated study programmes and joint degrees at first, second and third level
- promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area for non-European students (also though scholarships)
- Implementing Lifelong Learning programmes
As can be seen there are a lot of issues to tackle and despite the progress registered the obstacles to the achievement of the objectives fixed in the declaration in 1999 are often difficult to overcome. For this reason there is a need for constant monitoring and unremitting efforts to achieve the scheduled goal of 2010.
The next meeting will be in Bergen in 2005.
The journey begun in Bologna some years ago continues.