The Bologna University Initiative Engenders Concern in Britain. (July 5, 2007)

    The Bologna Process represents a commitment by forty-five European countries to undertake a series of reforms in order to achieve greater consistency and portability across their higher education systems.

Australia's Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, has evinced serious interest in the Bologna Process and her department has devoted and an extensive web presence to it.

In September last year Ms Bishop devoted a major address to it. She said in part:

...I’m aware that there is not universal agreement about the implications of the Bologna Process for Australia, but I believe it would be foolish to ignore its development and I think there is sufficient interest or concern to warrant ongoing discussion about the issue.

 

Bologna is part of a response from Europe to increase the perceived value and benefits of a European education.

The process is still evolving and there will be an important Ministerial conference next year that could result in emerging issues such as the content of research degrees becoming quite important.

 

I am aware of some concerns in the sector about aligning too closely to Bologna. Let me state at the outset that it is not my intention or wish to see a Bologna style approach grafted onto the entire system in Australia.

 

The Bologna Process is driving efforts towards the development of a European Qualifications Framework as well as consistent approaches to quality assurance amongst signatory countries.

 

Bologna is shifting and evolving even as it is being implemented and it is important that we continue to stay abreast of developments.
 

If Bologna does no more than prompt us to scan our own horizons, I believe it will have been of value. But I am more hopeful than this. I think that, through these discussions and our consideration of the challenges and opportunities that Bologna presents, we will be able to achieve some tangible improvements for quality, and diversity and mobility to help ensure that an Australian education continues to be regarded, both at home and abroad, as a significant investment in the future.

A UK report issued earlier this week by the education and skills committee on the Bologna Process said there was a need for improved awareness and understanding by the universities and the British government now admits according to The Guardians Anthea Lipsett that "more must be done to make universities aware that the process is not about 'standardisation or harmonisation' of European higher education systems, but rather, 'comparability and compatibility'. The government said it was clear that the process should not become a 'top-down imposed set of rules'. It said it had emphasised this point in May's summit meeting."

It went on to explain that it "had fallen short on tackling the barriers to getting students to study abroad, such as a lack of recognition in their home universities of the value of studying abroad, the inability to speak foreign languages, and perceived financial concerns."

And the response claims that the UK government is examining alternatives for financing students studying abroad. According to Ms Lipsett this means that among other avenues universities should look to use some of the money they get from tuition fees towards student mobility.

Clearly just how the Bologna Process will effect higher education in Australia is problematic.