The EU’s “Bologna Process” Compliant Degrees

Prepared by John V. Richardson Jr.

Associate Dean, UCLA Graduate Division

Historical Background

1999, creation of EU Higher Education Area in Bologna (hence, the Bologna Process)

Not a binding process; yet, legislated date for achieving EHEA results by 2010

Notable Features

1) 3+2+3 year cycles for a BA/MA/PhD degree:

Most of the discussion revolves around BA/MA (illustrating, the twin concepts of consecutive and continuity); goal is MA degree

Specialization from the start: no general education; no core education; no liberal arts; no canonical subjects

Risk of the “Bonsai effect,” reducing five years into three years

Work in a specialization you don’t love

2) European Credit Transfer System

Most EU universities did not have a credit system in place until 1989 when ECTS was introduced in the ERASMUS program

In Bergen 2005, adopted as a qualitative assessment of effort and a quantitative measure of workload

Focusing on learning outcomes and competencies

“60 credits feature the workload of a full-time student during one academic year; it amounts to around 1500-1800 hours per year, which corresponds to 25-30 students work hours per credit.”

Grade distributions: 10% A, 25% B, 30% C, 25% D and 10% E; F is fail

3) Diploma Supplement

Adopted in Lisbon, 1997

Too late to be useful to American universities

4) ERASMUS MUNDUS

The European study abroad program.

Well documented in "L'Auberge Espagnole" [The Spanish Apartment, 2002] (see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283900/)

5) References for Further Reading:

The most recent symposium on the Bologna Process was held in Amsterdam in March 2007, jointly sponsored by NAFSA and EAIE; the presentations are available at http://www.nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec/recruitment_admissions/bologna_process_network/practice_resources_25/what_is_bologna_2/bologna_symposium.

Otherwise, my search of ERIC reveals 48 articles and a Google search lists 561,000 links in March 2007. Here’s my selection:

— Australian Vice Chancellors’ Response to “The Bologna Process and Australia: The Next Steps” at http://www.avcc.edu.au/documents/publications/policy/submissions/AVCC-response-to-Bologna-Process.pdf

— Margit A. Schatzman, “The Bologna Process: Impact on Transatlantic Exchange from the North American Credential Review and Admission Perspective”
in the “Atlas of Student Mobility,” at http://www.atlas.iienetwork.org/?p=41527

— Hans de Wit, New Century Scholar at http://www.cies.org/NCS/2005_2006/ncs_hdewit.htm

— “The Bologna Process” at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna_process

— Mariam Assefa, “Evaluating International Credentials in the New Environment” at http://www.cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/mtg_am06Assefa.pdf

— Susan Feinberg, “Ripples of Change in US Graduate Education, Courtesy of Bologna,” Greentree Gazette, March 2007 at http://www.greentreegazette.com/

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