2. HARMONIZING HIGHER EDUCATION: “STANDARD” PERSPECTIVES IN SUPPORT OF THE BOLOGNA PROCESS Standards.

3. ABSTRACT: This paper will put into perspective how standardization efforts can help solve the challenging interoperability problems paving the road toward the harmonization of Higher Education at international level. it will focus on providing a context for understanding international standardization activities such as identify the standard-making bodies and describe the life-cycle of standards. It will also expand on issues such as the critical “adoption dilemma” as well as key success factors like “bridging the gap” between standardization authorities and the implementation community. In conclusion it will showcase real ongoing projects and their expected impact on Bologna Process while providing references for further investigation and opportunities for direct involvement.Bla bla bla bla

6. Bologna Process, European Higher Education Area, Standards, Europass, standardization authorities, implementation communities, MLO (Metadata Learning Opportunity), ELM (European Learners Mobility), transparency, interoperability, harmonization of Higher Education, “adoption dilemma”, “bridging the gap”

7. BOLOGNA PROCESS. EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA. One Framework. One Aim.

8. Context. Approaches. Actors. Types. Dilemmas. Gaps.

9. Actors Formal Standards Long development time Focus on conformance Restricted membership Complex governance Requires endorsement e.g. ISO, CEN Consortium Specifications Medium development time Focus on adoption Restricted membership Commercial-style governance Requires money e.g. IMS, OASIS Community Specifications Short development time Focus on interoperability Open membership Lightweight governance Requires geekiness e.g. OpenID, microformats

10. Types Validation: one or more implementations exist, but are not recognized by governments (ISO OOXML) Harmonization: Multiple specifications Exist, but have enough commonality to be standardized (MLO-AD, W3C Widgets) Anticipatory: Potential for new implementations if enabled by a common Spec. (HTML, Bluetooth)

11. Approaches TRADITIONAL MODEL. Sequential Process

12. Approaches Implementation-Driven Model. Synergies De-facto Standard Implementation Community Standards Body Standards Body Formal Standards Formal Standards

13. The Adoption Dilemma …everything else is mere specifications.

14. Meet the neighbors.. RS3G (Rome Student Systems and Standards Group) is group of software implementers and stakeholders in the European Higher Education domain focused to the definition and adoption of standards for the exchange of student data. Hello, I am Joe the Plumber !

15. Meet the neighbors.. CEN (European Committee for Standardization) is the official standardization authority in Europe. It contributes to the development of standards for learning technologies for Europe through its WLST (Workshop Learning Technologies) …and I am Bill the Lawyer!

16. The “Standard” Gap Bottom-up & Practical Top-down & Abstract but complementary NEED Cooperation & Synergy Implementers i.e. R3SG Standardization authorities i.e. CEN

17. Getting Real The collaboration between Bill and Joe produced Metadata for Learning Opportunity and European Learner Mobility Implementation community Standardization authorities

18. Getting Real Metadata for Learning Opportunity. specifications for the discovery and exchange of information about courses and other learning and training opportunities.

19. Getting Real European Learners Mobility. Consolidation and adoption of e-transparency documents: Diploma Supplement, Certificate Supplement, Curriculum Vitae, Language Portfolio, Mobility Passport

20. Standards. Problem Solvers