1. www.wes.org THE CONTEXT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE BOLOGNA DEGREE IN THE US THE CONTEXT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE BOLOGNA DEGREE IN THE US 2005 EAIE Conference Krakow, Poland Mariam Assefa Executive Director World Education Services

2. www.wes.org 2 International Graduate Enrollment Today International students represent a significant portion of the graduate students in science and engineering in the US. 50% in engineering (Source: CGS) 50% in engineering 41% in physics sciences 26% biological sciences For the first time in 30 years the number of incoming international students declined in 2003/04. European numbers were down by 5% (Source: IIE) The number of graduate applications declined further in the spring of 2005 (CGS) World Education Services:

3. www.wes.org 3 Consequences for Graduate Schools US research universities are alarmed by the drop in the number of international graduate students Graduate deans are playing an active role in international enrollment issues Making US institutions attractive to international students is a priority The Bologna process is seen as a challenge both in terms of the changes in degree programs and by making European universities more competitive on the international market

4. www.wes.org 4 How does this Affect Degree Recognition? It is well known that international students have more options in choosing study destinations Graduate deans and university presidents are beginning to realize that the Bologna reforms represent a fundamental change in higher education across Europe and to consider their implications for US higher education One manifestation of that is to examine the fit between the two systems which necessarily leads to the comparison of outcomes or degrees

5. www.wes.org 5 The 3-year Degree Experience There are precedents: US institutions admit students with 3-year degrees from the UK, Israel, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong The majority ( 57%) of international students in the US are from Asia. India is the largest sender with 79,736 students enrolled in 2003/04. (Source: IIE) When US admissions officers speak of the three-year degree, it is usually in reference to the Indian degree which is not usually regarded as comparable to a US bachelors degree or sufficient for graduate admission. The Bologna process has reopened the debate

6. www.wes.org 6 Most Common Reasons for not Recognizing 3-year Degrees Three-year length as opposed to four years - as the US degree Absence of general education in most programs Do not represent 16 years of total education US undergraduate degree is 12 + 4

7. www.wes.org 7 The Bologna Factor The three-year degree will no longer be the exception but the norm in 40 countries after 2010 The US has a long tradition of exchanges with Europe The Bologna process has direct implications for Fulbright- the countrys most prestigious exchange program It requires us to review and update the admission and placement of students from participating countries

8. www.wes.org 8 Partial Knowledge of the Bologna Process In the US the term has become shorthand for three- year degree from Europe Key features of the process are not well known – most specifically quality assessment and the work done on degree definition and program content Information on quality assurance, program structure and content must be disseminated in the US to complete the picture and broaden the discussion

9. www.wes.org 9 Universities are Starting to Accept Three-year Degrees The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Carnegie Mellon University Columbia University Graduate School of Business Wake Forest University Graduate School of Management The issue will be discussed at the meeting of the graduate schools of the AAU (Association of American Universities) at their meeting in late September

10. www.wes.org 10 External Forces Make Change Likely The recognition of credentials is done in context and not in a vacuum As the competition for graduate students heats up, increased attention will be paid to recruitment and admission The decline in the number of students and the competitive environment makes the US situation ripe for change

11. www.wes.org 11 How to Promote Recognition Provide the necessary information Prepare literature adapted for non-European audiences that focuses on the content, structure and outcome of programs Make use of the some 300 Fulbright scholars present in Europe each year. Properly briefed, they could be valuable resources on the Bologna process when they return to their campuses.

12. www.wes.org 12 Your Partners in this Effort Fulbright commissions – they can provide you with the list of visiting scholars present in the country Graduate deans at major institutions Faculty and department heads responsible for graduate admission

13. www.wes.org 13 Conclusion The graduate admission landscape is changing Graduate admission is faculty driven: information must be addressed to them Information about program content is essential There is no doubt that the Bologna degree will be generally recognized for graduate admission in the US

14. www.wes.org 14 Useful links http://www.wes.org/ewenr/bolognaprocess.htm http://www.iienetwork.org/?p=50847 http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/commiss.htm http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/commiss.htm http://www.cgsnet.org/ http://www.gmac.com/gmac/NewsCenter/NewsComme ntary/BolognaTaskForceReleasesReport.htm http://www.gmac.com/gmac/NewsCenter/NewsComme ntary/BolognaTaskForceReleasesReport.htm http://www.csgs.org/Daniel%20Denecke's%20Powerpo int.ppt http://www.csgs.org/Daniel%20Denecke's%20Powerpo int.ppt