Conference of European Education Ministers, Leuven/Louvain 28 April 2009 Higher Education in Europe 2009: Developments in the Bologna Process David Crosier, Eurydice, EACEA

SCOPE OF THE REPORT Selection of key topics: Ba/Ma cycles; ECTS; DS; NQF; Mobility and Portability Focus on national policy/action No « judgement » just « reflection »

KEY FINDINGS: BA/MA CYCLES All countries have introduced Bologna cycles, but… Main models vary considerably Vocational education & certain disciplines remain outside Bologna reform in some countries -> Implications for LLL & knowedge society

Two-cycle structure models most commonly implemented, 2008/ ECTS ECTS ECTS Various combinations No Master programmes Not available Source: Eurydice

KEY FINDINGS: ECTS System in place in most countries But different understandings / stages of development of « the ECTS system »

Level of Implementation of ECTS % + using ECTS based on learning outcomes and student workload 75 % + using ECTS based on student workload 75 % + using ECTS based on contact hours, or contact hours & student workload 75 % or less using ECTS with variety of credit definitions National credit systems in parallel. ECTS mainly used for transfer Source: Eurydice 75 % + using ECTS based on learning outcomes and student workload 75 % + using ECTS based on student workload 75 % + using ECTS based on contact hours, or contact hours & student workload 75 % or less using ECTS with variety of credit definitions National credit systems in parallel. ECTS mainly used for transfer Source: Eurydice

KEY FINDINGS: DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT Not only question, has DS been introduced? but is it useful? Very few countries have undertaken any monitoring to find out… For those that have, mixed outcomes: -> Benefits of tool not being fully realised

DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT: MONITORING National monitoring has been undertaken or is planned No national monitoring DS not introduced

STUDENT MOBILITY: KEY ISSUES Lack of data still a problem Impact of Bologna reforms impossible to know Generally low levels of mobility Interesting country issues regarding mobility flows

STUDENT MOBILITY Incoming student mobility Outgoing student mobility Less than 1 % 1-3 % 3-6 % 6-10 % 10 % + Data not available

MOBILITY AND PORTABILITY Wide variety of national practice, & little progress Impact of portability of student funding on mobility difficult to know…but lack of funding correlates with low mobility Many countries impose additional conditions to access mobility funding, with potential detrimental impact

OVERALL CONCLUSION -> Considerable progress, but… -> Diversity of understanding and implementation of Bologna reforms raises questions about how open and inclusive the EHEA will be -> Far from reaching the end of Bologna history, the need for intensified European cooperation is becoming ever more clear