BFUG WORK PROGRAMME - 2005-2007
The Work Programme for 2005-2007 was agreed by BFUG in October 2005. It was agreed that it would comprise 5 working groups; (a further Working Group, ‘Portability of Grants and Loans’ was approved by BFUG in April 2006); 8 seminars; 2 projects; discussions at BFUG; and a number of priorities to be taken forward at national level. Details of each strand of the Work Programme are given below.
Key dates in the BFUG work schedule are:
Over and above the Work Programme, there will be a number of other events and activities that will contribute to the development of the European Higher Education Area. This includes EUA’s Trends V and the surveys being planned by ESIB, EURASHE and EI Pan European Structure. Details of all events and activities will be promoted on the Bologna website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bologna/
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Working Group |
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Subject |
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Other Members |
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Stocktaking |
Andrejs Rauhvargers Latvia |
Belgium (Flemish Community) Estonia Germany Greece Norway Romania Slovenia Turkey Bologna Secretariat rep.
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Terms of Ref (BFUG7 9)
In order to realise the objectives set by the Ministers, the Working Group shall:
1. Identify the key issues to be addressed through the stocktaking exercise as well as the methodology to be used in this exercise; 2. Collaborate with partner and other organisations in order to maximise the use of data sources; 3. Define, where appropriate, the structure of a separate questionnaire to be used in the stocktaking should this be required; 4. Prepare a structure for the national contributions to the stocktaking to be submitted by member States; and 5. Prepare a report for approval by the BFUG in advance of the London Conference in 2007.
The Working Group will be supported in its task by the Secretariat, and shall draw on expertise as it considers appropriate.
The Group shall submit reports to the BFUG, and shall make its draft reports and other relevant documents accessible for all BFUG members on the web.
EUA shall participate in the work for stocktaking through delegating an expert.
The working group can decide to select more organizations to participate as experts in its meetings
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Terms of Reference agreed by BFUG in October 2005.
The first meeting of the Working Group took place in Riga on 9 December 2005. Notes of the meeting are available on the Bologna website.
The second meeting of the Working Group took place in Brussels on 27 February 2006. Notes of the meeting will shortly be made available on the Bologna website.
The third meeting of the Working Group will take place in Helsinki on 11 October 2006. |
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Working Groups Continued |
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Elaborate and agree on a strategy for the external dimension. |
Toril Johansson, Norway
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Denmark France Germany Greece Holy See Malta Portugal Presidency Spain Sweden Bologna Secretariat rep.
Consultative members: EUA EU ESIB UNESCO Council of Europe EI - Pan European Structure ACA
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Terms of Reference (BFUG7 5d – revised)
The Working Group is responsible for developing a strategy document on the external dimension of the Bologna Process. Three seminars will be arranged during 2006 in order to give significant input to their work:
1. A seminar in April 2006 with focus on attractiveness of the EHEA, based on European cultural and historical identity and academic values, hosted by the Holy See 2. A seminar in June 2006 with focus on information about how the Bologna process operates and what has been achieved so far, the links and interaction with other areas of the world, hosted by Greece 3. A seminar in September 2006, discussing the draft report, with emphasis on areas that has not been focused on in the previous seminars, e.g. competitiveness and capacity building. The seminar is hosted by the Nordic countries.
An expert will, in collaboration with the Working Group, prepare a report to the Nordic seminar in September. This report will be available to seminar participants and BFUG in August 2006 at the latest.
Together with the outcomes from the three seminars, the report will found the basis for the strategy work of the Working Group.
The Working Group will report regularly to BFUG. Before it finalises its work, a draft strategy document shall be discussed in a full BFUG-meeting.
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Terms of Reference agreed by BFUG in November 2005.
The first meeting of the Working Group took place in Brussels on 9 February 2006. The second meeting took place on 7 April 2006 in Vienna
Further meetings proposed: 12 June 2006 in Vienna. 4 September 2006, Brussels. |
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Working Groups Continued |
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Subject |
Lead |
Other Members |
Notes |
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Social dimension and data on the mobility of staff and students in participating countries; report on comparable data on mobility of staff and students as well as on the social and economic situation of students, as the basis for future stocktaking.
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Annika Persson, Sweden |
Austria Bosnia Herzegovina Croatia France Ireland Luxembourg Ukraine UK Bologna Secretariat rep.
Consultative members:
EUA EI – Pan European Structure ESIB Eurostudent OECD Eurostat
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Terms of Reference
Mission statement:
1. To define the concept of social dimension based on the ministerial communiqués of the Bologna Process; 2. To present comparable data on the social and economic situation of students in participating countries; 3. To present comparable data on the mobility of staff and students; and 4. To prepare proposals as a basis for future stocktaking.
The Working Group will be led by a Steering Committee. The work will be organised along three broad projects and with subsequent subgroups working with a) and b) and c) will be the responsibility of the Steering Committee: a. Definition of the social dimension using the previous communiqués as a starting point for discussion; b. The collection and exploration of data with three strands: socio- and economic situation of the students based upon the definition, mobility of students and mobility of staff; and c. Recommendations on the scope of a future stocktaking exercise on the social dimension and on mobility, according to the definition emerging from subgroup (a) and the availability of comparable data as identified by subgroup (b).
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Terms of Reference agreed by BFUG in November 2005.
The first meeting of the working group took place in Brussels on 14-15 December 2005. Notes of the meeting are available on the Bologna website.
The second meeting took place in Stockholm on 19 January 2006.
The third meeting took place in Brussels on 9 March 2006.
The fourth meeting is due to take place in Vienna on 14 June 2006. The fifth meeting will take place in Stockholm on 11-12 September 2006. |
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London Communiqué drafting group |
Presidency (tbc) |
Membership to be based on same principles as previous Communiqué Drafting Working Group. |
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Autumn 2006 |
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Working Groups Continued |
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Report on implementation and further development of overarching qualifications framework |
Mogens Berg, Denmark |
Hungary Netherlands Russia Spain “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” Chair of the WG on Stocktaking Bologna Presidency (UK-AT-FI-GER) Bologna Secretariat rep. |
Terms of Reference (BFUG7 5c - revised)
In order to realise the objectives set by the Ministers, the Working Group shall:
1. Consider what further development of the framework may be required, particularly the linkage between national frameworks and the EHEA-framework; the Working Group may invite member countries to participate in pilot projects of self-certification of national frameworks; it may conduct a survey on how credit ranges and credits are defined in national legislation; 2. Support the Working Group on Stocktaking in the stocktaking exercise of implementation of national frameworks; 3. Monitor the development of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning with the aim of ensuring complementarity between that framework and the EHEA framework and advise BFUG on the matter; and 4. Provide assistance to member countries working to introduce national frameworks.
The Group will submit progress reports to BFUG and a final report of its findings to the London Conference through BFUG.
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Terms of Reference agreed by BFUG in October 2005
The first meeting of the Working Group took place in Copenhagen on 21 November 2005.
The second meeting took place in Budapest on 26 February 2006
A programme of 4 regional workshops is planned: -NW: The Hague, 20 June 2006. -NE: Budapest, 4 Sept 2006. -SE: Greece, 11-12 Sept 2006. SW: Madrid 18-19 Sept 2006. (Will include WG meeting on 19 September) |
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Working Groups Continued |
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Portability of Grants and Loans
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Aldrik In’t’Hout. The Nether- lands
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The working group should preferably consist of student support experts who should be closely linked to their BFUG-representatives..
18 countries / organisations have expressed an interest in participating in this group. Discussion will take place at the group’s first meeting in The Hague on 16 June 2006 as to how it can be organised most efficiently.
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Proposed terms of reference (as itemised in the paper: BFUG8 5)
To obtain a workable set of proposals including joint actions, it is important that realistic and achievable targets for practical outcomes are set for the working group. In this context the working group will seek to: · Define the elements of this issue in more detail (e.g. what is understood by ‘grants and loans’); · Describe the obstacles that countries encounter in making grants and loans portable; · Examine and provide information on relevant & applicable EU-law; · Collect good practices; · Provide a way to link the grant and/or loan authorities of different countries in order to exchange the necessary information; · Develop a set of tools to guide countries in making their grant and/or loan system portable; · Identify ways to facilitate each others portability systems (ranging from appropriate information about study programmes to the assistance in refunding the loans); · Define levels/ways for exchanging relevant information.
In the elaboration, the working group is to be aware of the different positions of the Bologna countries (for example EU and non-EU) and will take these into account. It could include Bologna countries that do not have a student support system or that do not wish (at this point) to make their system portable. For countries that do wish to make their grant and/or loan system portable, it will be of help to have a forum where they can exchange necessary information with countries that do not themselves have portability or that have another (or no) student support system. It will be advantageous for this group to maintain close contact with the ‘Social dimension and data on mobility’ working group in order to build on complementary activities and to benefit from each others findings
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Further elaboration of the final Terms of Reference, organisation of work, time schedule, resources and the list of membership will be discussed at the first meeting of the group in The Hague on 16 June 2006.
The second meeting will take place 7-8 September, Glasgow.
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Seminars |
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Subject |
Lead |
Notes |
Start |
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External dimension: Attractiveness of the EHEA |
Holy See |
Theme – cultural heritage and academic values of European universities and the attractiveness of the EHEA. Aims to elaborate and agree on a strategy for the external dimension to strengthen the attractiveness of the EHEA. Outcomes to clarify the concept of the external dimension and seek to identify the strategies necessary to strengthen it within the Bologna Process. |
30 March – 1 April 2006 Rome |
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External dimension: Putting the European Higher Education Area on the Map: Developing Strategies for Attractiveness. |
Greece |
The seminar will present information about the Bologna Process to an external audience. It will focus on information about how the Bologna process operates and what has been achieved so far, the links and interaction with other areas of the world. |
25 -26 June 2006 Athens |
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Preparing students for the labour market and lifelong learning – promoting employability of graduates with bachelor qualifications? |
United Kingdom/ Wales |
ESIB, EURASHE and UNICE would like to contribute to the seminar. Note EURASHE doing a survey on employability of Bachelor graduates.
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12-14 July 2006 Swansea
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Joint degrees – a hallmark of EHEA |
Germany |
The seminar aims to discuss recent developments as well as the future potential of joint degree programmes. It will introduce findings of a study carried out in 2006; present examples of good practice and discuss possible solutions for existing problems with practitioners and decision makers. |
21-22 September 2006 Berlin |
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External dimension: competitiveness and capacity building
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Norway |
The Nordic seminar will be opened by the Norwegian Minister of Education and Research and closed by the Swedish Minister of Education, Research and Culture. Emphasis will be on areas not focused on in previous seminars eg competitiveness and capacity building. |
28 - 29 September 2006 Oslo |
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Seminar on European doctoral studies in transition
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EUA France with Austria |
Part of work on 3rd cycle
Further information about the EUA’s Doctoral Programmes Project is available on: |
7-9 December 2006. Nice. France |
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Recognition of prior learning and recognition of European degrees outside Europe |
Latvia/CofE with ESIB |
Poland, ESIB and Belgium (Flemish Community) interested in helping to organise. Link with event under consideration by the Netherlands.
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January 25-26 2007 Riga |
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Making Bologna a reality – staff mobility |
EI Pan European Structure |
EI Pan European Structure Higher Education and Research Standing Committee will finalise the project mid-March
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Early 2007 |
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Discussion At BFUG |
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Subject |
Notes |
Comments |
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Share expertise to build capacity at institutional and government level
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Initial discussion at BFUG, October 2005; agreed Council of Europe and others would continue to offer support as appropriate. |
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Assisting the new participating countries to implement the goals of the Process
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Initial discussion at BFUG, October 2005; Austria and Council of Europe organised an induction meeting for the new member countries in January 2006; report back was given at BFUG, April 2006. |
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Portability of grants and loans |
Proposed by Netherlands |
Initial discussion at BFUG 7, October 2005: it was agreed that the Netherlands, in conjunction with other interested parties, would prepare a proposal for further discussion. It was later agreed at BFUG 8 in April 2006 to form a Working Group. First meeting 16 June 2006 The Hague, 2nd meeting 7-8 September 2006 Glasgow.
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Awarding professional and academic titles – using new three cycle degree system
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Proposed by Slovenia |
Slovenia to be invited to prepare a paper and lead discussion at a BFUG taking place between October 2006 and May 2007. |
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Future development of EHEA post 2010 – global and European competition/co-operation, academic mobility etc?
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Proposed by UNESCO-CEPES |
Link to discussion on arrangements for supporting Bologna Process in the future; preferably to take place at October 2006 or alternatively at March 2007 BFUG. |
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Social dimension |
Proposed by France & Germany
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Link to discussion of proposals from Working Group on social dimension and data on the mobility of staff and students in participating countries.
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European dimension (including joint degrees)
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Proposed by France |
Germany, with France, to prepare a paper and lead discussion, including outcomes from German seminar on joint degrees, at October 2006 BFUG.
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Staff mobility |
Proposed by EI - Pan European Structure |
Link to discussion of proposals from Working Group on social dimension and data on the mobility of staff and students in participating countries.
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Mobility |
Proposed by ESIB and Germany |
Link to discussion of proposals from Working Group on social dimension and data on the mobility of staff and students in participating countries. |
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Discussion At BFUG Continued |
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Subject |
Notes |
Comments |
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Implementation of Quality Assurance standards and guidelines
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Proposed by Germany |
Link to update from ENQA on European Consultative Forum |
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Implementation of National Qualifications Frameworks |
Proposed by Germany |
Link to the report on implementation and further development of overarching qualifications framework.
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Exploration of arrangements to support the Process in the future.
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Link to discussion on future development of EHEA post 2010; preferably to take place at October 2006 or at March 2007 BFUG. |
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External relations - feedback from international events |
Proposed by Austria |
Include on BFUG agendas as and when required |
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Projects |
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Subject |
Lead |
Notes |
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Report on practicalities of implementing a European register of quality assurance agencies – by ENQA in co-operation with EUA, EURASHE and ESIB.
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ENQA |
Terms of Reference (BFUG7 5b)
1. E4 group to develop the Register in accordance with the proposals contained in the ENQA Report and endorsed in the Bergen communiqué, subject to the outcome of further analysis by E4 into the purposes and value of the Register; 2. ENQA, on behalf of E4 Group, informed BFUG of the results and subsequent timetable at the April 2006 BFUG meeting.
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Terms of Reference agreed by BFUG in October 2005.
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Preparation of report on further development of the basic principles for doctoral programmes – EUA, with other interested partners
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EUA with Austria France ESIB EuroDoc
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Terms of Reference (BFUG7 5a Annex B)
1. To prepare a report on the further development of the (agreed) basic principles for doctoral programmes to be presented to Ministers in 2007; 2. Thus to continue work on the basis of the 10 Salzburg Seminar Recommendations and taking specific account of the issues mentioned in the relevant § of the Bergen Communiqué; 3. Thereby taking account of the results achieved and the good practice identified by the 49 Universities participating in the EUA Doctorates Programme project that provided the input for the Salzburg Seminar; and 4. To prepare recommendations for the London Communiqué as an integral part of the report.
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Terms of Reference agreed by BFUG in October 2005.
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National & Stocktaking Priorities
Bologna Secretariat
May 2006