“Three Cycle System in the Framework of Bologna Process”, Summer School, Yerevan, Armenia, 2008 What have we learnt from Bologna? Algirdas Vaclovas Valiulis, Bologna expert, Lithuania

Bologna Basics How it started: Sorbonne 1998; Summits: Bologna, Prague, Berlin, Bergen, London; From 29 to 46; The stock-taking process; European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by 2010; Goals: Mobility, employability, competitiveness.

Bologna Basics Means: Transparent and comparable degree structure; Two/three cycles; Credit system, such as ECTS; Remove obstacles to mobility; Co-operation in quality assurance; European dimension.

Present status of Bologna Most countries have a two-cycle system in place. Bachelors: 3, 3½ or 4 years. Tendency to cram 4 into 3, 5 into 4 years; Some academics think 3 years are insufficient. Employability: labour market acceptance varies very much.

Who decides? started as a political process; academic side came on to scene; students have taken part actively during the last few years; So: a triangle of politics, universities and students start work. Employers? Trade unions?

Who decides? Is Bologna a failure or a success? Basically a success, but why? Not a top-down process, but voluntary participation among signatories. No treaties. The relationship to EU.

Bologna development Infrastructure in place, focus on contents; From degree structure to quality assurance; Quality assurance vs accreditation? European QA. Can one work with all “means” in parallel? Does Bologna stand for standardisation or harmonisation?

Lessons learnt Bologna as a lever or instrument for (other) reforms - is this acceptable or not? Don´t expect money from your government, at least not much. The importance of institutional strategies.

Lessons learnt Difficulties with: staff mobility; life-long learning; recognition of non-academic/non-formal education background; European universities want to co-operate within Europe, with Asia, North America, South America, etc?

Thank You for discussions