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The Berlin Communiqué: A
substantial document with concrete priorities for 2005
The
Ministers in charge of Higher Education of almost all European states met in
Berlin on 18 and 19 September 2003 to exchange views on the progress made in
the Bologna Process and decide on where to go from there. Two preparatory
groups had met several times since the Prague Conference in 2001 and drafted
a Communiqué that was then discussed by the Ministers in Berlin.
The
final version of the Berlin Communiqué contains a few very specific and
important commitments. Ministers decided to give the Process further
momentum, by committing themselves to three intermediate priorities for the
next two years:
By
2005 they expect detailed reports on the progress achieved in each country
in these three areas.
As for
Quality Assurance, Ministers stressed that consistent with the principle of
institutional autonomy, the primary responsibility for quality assurance in
higher education lies with each institution itself. They agreed that by 2005
all national quality assurance systems should include:
-
A
definition of the responsibilities of the bodies and institutions
involved.
-
Evaluation of programmes or institutions, including internal assessment,
external review, participation of students and the publication of results.
-
A
system of accreditation, certification or comparable procedures.
-
International participation, co-operation and networking.
Moreover, Ministers called upon ENQA to develop an agreed set of standards,
procedures and guidelines on quality assurance and to prepare a report for
the Ministers Conference in 2005.
With
regard to the introduction of Bachelors/Master, Ministers they committed
themselves to having started the implementation of the two cycle system by
2005.
In
that context Ministers encouraged the elaboration of qualifications
frameworks at national but also at European level. Such qualifications
frameworks should describe qualifications in terms of workload, level,
learning outcomes, competences and profile.
In the
context of the recognition of degrees and periods of study, Ministers
underlined the importance of the Lisbon Recognition Convention, which should
be ratified by all countries participating in the Bologna Process as soon as
possible. At a very concrete level, they set the objective that “every
student graduating as from 2005 should receive the Diploma Supplement
automatically and free of charge” and that it should be issued in a widely
spoken European language.
Apart
from these three intermediate priorities, Ministers considered it useful to
promote closer links between the European Higher Education Area and the
European Research Area in a Europe of Knowledge. They therefore went beyond
the present focus on two main cycles of higher education and decided to
include the doctoral level as the third cycle in the Bologna Process.
Ministers decided to adapt the clause in the Prague Communiqué on
applications for membership. From now on countries party to the European
Cultural Convention shall be eligible for membership of the European Higher
Education Area “provided that they at the same time declare their
willingness to pursue and implement the objectives of the Bologna Process in
their own systems of higher education. “ Immediately afterwards Ministers
accepted the requests for membership of Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Holy See, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, and “the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”. This means that from now on the emerging
European Higher Education Areas consists of 40 countries.
The
overall steering of the Bologna Process and the preparation of the next
ministerial meeting will be taken care of, as in the past two years, by the
Bologna Follow-up Group. In Berlin it was decided that this group would from
now on have one additional consultative member, i.e. UNESCO-CEPES.
A
somewhat smaller Board, like the Follow-up Group to be chaired by the EU
Presidency, shall oversee the work between the meetings of the Follow-up
Group. Finally, the overall follow-up work will be supported by a
Secretariat provided by Norway, as it will host the next Ministerial
Conference: in May 2005 in Bergen.
The
Berlin Communiqué contains, as the Bologna Declaration and the Prague
Communiqué, references to and recommendations for all the other action
lines, such as Lifelong Learning, ECTS, the attractiveness of European
Higher Education etc. However, the Communiqué is not just more of what we
saw in the past: By defining three priorities for 2005 and deciding on a
stocktaking exercise, Ministers increased the commitment to and the speed of
the process. A process that is radiating to ever more countries, as was
witnessed by the various observers from Eastern Europe and Latin America
present in Berlin. Now the countdown for Bergen is running and no one active
in the process will find the twenty months to the next ministerial meeting
too long: Governments, institutions, quality assurance bodies and everyone
else will have to work hard to meet the obligations decided upon in Berlin.
14.10.2003
You
can download the Communiqué
here.
Trends III Report
The new Trends III Report is
now available as
full version and
summary version.
07.10.2003
EUA Convention in Graz
On
their convention in Graz (29th - 31st May 2003) the EUA had prepared a
declaration which was adopted in Leuven on 4th July 2003. You can download
its original wording
here.
01.08.2003
Spain to reform its
higher education system
On 14
February the Spanish Ministry of Education submitted to the University
Council a
framework document outlining the main features of the reform of higher
education system in accordance with the Bologna process. The document
proposes the replacement of the Spanish credit accumulation system, based on
the number of class hours, with the one based on the total duration of
studies, the implementation of 3+2 Bologna degree structure, the
introduction of diploma supplement, and measures to strengthen quality
assurance mechanisms. The report recommends gradual adoption of the new
system form 2004/2005 onwards and its full implementation in all higher
education institutions by 2010, the deadline stated in the Bologna
Declaration. (ACA-Newsletter, No. 27)
22.07.2003
Joint declaration of the
European University Networks
The Coimbra, Compostela,
Santander and UNICA networks, representing 176 universities within Europe,
have issued a joint declaration with regard to the Conference of European
Ministers responsible for Higher Education in Berlin.
01.07.2003
You can download the statement
here.
New Websites
In the framework of the Bologna
process,
Denmark und
Austria have as well set up their own website.
24.03.2003
Information on applications
to join the Bologna Process
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, the Holy See, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as well as
Serbia and Montenegro have already filed a formal application. Russia and the Ukraine have expressed their interest only informally so far.
24.03.2003
Conference on perspectives of the Bologna process for Italian and German
university reforms
On the 11th and 12th
March 2003, the Italian-German Foundation "Villa Vigoni" held a conference
on the state of the university reforms in Italy and Germany, both initiated
by the Bologna process. Participants from different sectors, such as
government, university, research and industry, had the opportunity to
exchange information and review progress for the creation of a European
Higher Education Area in preparation for the follow-up conference of
European Ministers in Berlin. The conference members underscored the
importance of the following aspects for the success of the Bologna process:
·
Further
internationalisation of universities and intensification of mobility
·
Guarantee for a wide
access to university education and an increase in the quality of study
offers
·
Securing university
autonomy as a basis of the European Higher Education Area
·
Appropriate financing of
university reforms.
You will find the
conference programme and the summarised conference results
here.
20.03.2003
Consultation process of the European Commission concerning the
role of universities in the Europe of knowledge
Initiated by
the Commissioners Philippe Busquin (Research) and Viviane Reding
(Education and Culture), the Commission has published a
communication on the role of the
universities in the Europe of knowledge. The objective,
formulated by the European Council in Barcelona in March 2002, to
make the European systems of education a "world-class reference"
by 2010, will be a great challenge for European universities. The
communication seeks to start a debate on the role of universities
within the knowledge society and economy in Europe and on the
conditions under which they will be able to effectively play that
role. The Commission invites all the interested parties to join
the discussion on higher education dealing with key issues, such
as funding, development of excellence, internationalisation and
not least the realisation of a European Higher Education and
Research Area.
11.02.2003
National Reports of the
countries involved in the Bologna process
The updated versions of
the National Reports concerning the realization of the goals mentioned in
the Bologna Declaration
are available
here.
Euro Student 2000
The results of a survey
concerning the Euro student 2000 have been published.
This study provides you with information on the social and economic
conditions
of student life in nine EU member countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland,
France,
Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal).
Further information at:
www.his.de/Abt2/Auslandsstudium/Eurostudent/frameset.htm
18.10.2002
Commission
welcomes Council's green light for EU research programmes
The Council
of EU Ministers today approved the five Specific Programmes implementing the
€17,5 billion 6th EU Research Framework Programme (FP6
2003-2006). "I welcome this key vote", said EU Research Commissioner
Philippe Busquin. "All is now set for a rapid start to the Research
Programmes with the first calls for proposals published before the end of
this year. The rapid conclusion of the decision-making process on ambitious
EU research programmes provides an additional strong basis for creating a
true European Research Area."
Last minute
discussions in Council and Parliament focused on stem cell research. The
agreement reached stipulates that some detailed implementation procedures
and a more comprehensive legislative act will be put in place in order to
better regulate the EU funding of research involving the use of human
embryonic stem cells. It foresees that, until the end of 2003, the
Commission will not fund research projects involving the use of human
embryonic stem cells, with the exception of stem cells already banked or
isolated in culture. Next spring 2003, the Commission will publish a report
on the evolution of stem cell research and organise a public seminar on the
subject with Council and Parliament.
For further
information please see:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/index_en.html
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/documents_en.html
(EU Commission) 15.10.2002
European Research Area: National Goverments
must do more
The EU
Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin, has said that the
commitment of Member States and national governments to the
creation of a European research area (ERA) has so far been 'too
weak or insubstantial'.
As a
result, the Commission will shortly be making proposals aimed at
driving the establishment of the ERA , notably, he said, 'by
giving [the project] increased resources in order to fully
coordinate the activities and policies of Member States.'
In a
speech to the Leibniz Association, a large German research
collective, on 2 October, Mr. Busquin said that his goal was to
give a new impetus to the project, a key element of the Sixth
Framework Programme.
The
Commissioner gave a reminder that the synergy of Member States'
policies was an essential element of the ERA, because the majority
of European research is carried out and financed at a national
level.
Reiterating the conclusions of recent benchmarking reports, Mr.
Busquin also stressed the need for increased public and private
investment in research, and highlighted the key role of
universities as the providers of research training and sources of
technological innovation.
He
hopes to initiate a debate, he said, on how to provide European
universities with the same level of resources as those enjoyed by
the top US colleges.
(Cordis) 03.10.2002
ERASMUS WORLD
One year after
adopting its
Communication on reinforcing co-operation with third countries
in the field of higher education (18 July 2001), the European Commission
launched on 17 July 2002 a proposal for establishing a programme for the
enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of
intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries:
“ERASMUS WORLD”. From 2004-2008, the programme will be provided with a
budget of 200 million euros and should promote multilateral EU Master’s
degree programmes as well as university and college partnerships with third
countries. Besides, the proposal includes scholarships for highly qualified
students of Master’s degree programmes and guest scientists from third
countries and Europe. The proposal of the Commission still needs to be
adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.
20.09.2002
Towards a European Education
and Research Area
An
interview with Professor
Hans-Rainer Friedrich, Director-General for Higher Education at the Federal
Ministry of Education and Research (Germany) and in that capacity chairman
of the preparatory group for the Bologna follow-up conference in Berlin.
The European Research
Education Area
An
interview with Nikolaus van der Pas,
Director-General for Education and
Culture at the European Commission.
16.09.2002
EUA
Survey on Master Degrees and Joint Degrees in Europe
With the support
of the European Commission, the European University Association (EUA)
published a survey informing on the state of implementation of Master
degrees and the range of joint degrees in the countries of the European
Higher Education Area. You can download
the survey
here.
20.09.2002
A Nordic Space for Higher Education
The
university leaders of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
Norway and Sweden) passed a declaration on “A Nordic Space for Higher
Education” at their conference in the Norwegian Tromsø
(15-17 August 2002).
You will
find the declaration in its original wording
here.
12.09.2002
Flanders: New decree on the structure of higher education to be
adopted autumn 2002
The Flemish
Government has recently taken new steps towards a Decree on the Structure of
Higher Education to be applicable form the academic year 2004-2005 on. An
initial draft was approved by the Flemish Government May 24, 2002 and
discussed by the Flemish Education Council (Vlaamse Onderwijsraad – VLOR)
and the Social-Economic Council of Flanders (Sociaal-Economische Raad voor
Vlaanderen – SERV), the two Flemish advisory bodies which are formally
consulted for important legislation in the field of education. This advisory
work had led to the official draft Decree which was approved by the Flemish
Government on July 5, 2002 and is now subjected to the final advice of the
Council of State. Final adoption of the Decree is expected for Autumn 2002.
Main
objectives of the new Decree:
·
Implementation of the Bologna declaration for all degrees offered in the
Flemish Community of Belgium (former degree structure to die out gradually)
from the academic year 2004-2005 on
·
Reform of
the longer academic curricula into a two-tier system, where a Bachelor
Degree can be obtained after 3 years of study (180 ECTS study points) and a
Master Degree after another 1 or 2 years (60 to 120 ECTS study points, with
the exception of medicine which will take longer)
·
Reform of
the quality assurance system with integration of mechanisms for
accreditation
·
Closer
co-operation between universities and other higher education institutions
which can form so-called “associations” with each other, especially for the
organisation of courses at Master’s level in the non-university higher
education sector.
The draft
text of the Decree (in Dutch) can be consulted on the Internet at:
http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hoger_onderwijs/structuurdecreetstart.htm
(Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap)
22.08.2002
Quality
Reform of Higher Education in Norway
In 2001 the
Norwegian Parliament decided on a quality reform of higher education which
will be implemented until the end of the year 2003. Primarily, the reform
will improve the quality of higher education and includes the following
measures:
·
implementation of a new degree structure based on two or three cycles:
Bachelor (3 years), Master (2 years), PhD (3 years)
·
improvement
of teaching through regular assessment and through a study agreement between
students and universities
·
application
of a credit point system
·
creation of
a national agency for quality assurance
·
implementation of an obligatory diploma supplement
·
promotion
of mandatory studies abroad
·
financial
assistance for the support of international students
·
increase in
scholarship awards and credit rates to finance studies
·
performance-orientated financing of universities.
You will
find further information at the corresponding pages of the
Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.
05.08.2002
New
University Act in Austria
After being
discussed in the National Council (Nationalrat) and Federal Council (Bundesrat),
a new university act will become effective in Austria in October 2002. As
part of a comprehensive university reform, the law should crucially
strengthen the autonomy of universities. Thus far, the universities have
been overseen by the Ministry of Science, but from now on they will be
responsible for their own economic, personnel and strategic decisions. One
condition for this is the legal autonomy and the change of the
organisational structures. The ‘University Act 2002’ is integrating itself
into the reform process of European universities, initiated in Bologna in
1999, and will be implemented until the beginning of the year 2004.
02.08.2002
You can download the wording of the act
here.
For further information please
consult the web address of the
Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture
or
www.weltklasse-uni.at
02.08.2002
First
European report on indicators of lifelong learning
Between seven and 32 per cent of 15 year olds in 35 European countries do
not have a degree of scientific literacy necessary for productive lifelong
learning in the field of science. The first European report on indicators of
lifelong learning was compiled by the Working group on quality indicators of
lifelong learning. The group comprises of representatives from 35 countries,
the Organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD), the United
Nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation (UNESCO) and the
European Commission. It examines the quality of lifelong learning in four
central areas, and concludes that Europe is not performing adequately in the
first of these areas:
-
skills,
competencies and attitudes;
-
access
and participation;
-
resources
for lifelong learning;
-
strategies and systems.
The report
shows that not all countries are well positioned for successful lifelong
learning involving the whole population. In 2001, Greece invested 3.52 per
cent of GDP in education, while Sweden invested 8.33 per cent. The EU
average meanwhile amounts to 5.03 per cent.
(ITB-Info-Service)
02.08.2002
Barcelona European
Council supports the Bologna Process
At the conference on 15th and
16th March 2002 in Barcelona the European Council asked the member countries
for closer co-operation regarding the Bologna process still before the
conference in Berlin. You find the appropriate excerpts from the presidency
conclusions
here.
08.07.2002
Parliament
approves reports on ERA
The
European Parliament approved reports on strengthening and structuring the
European research area (ERA) at its plenary session in Strasbourg on 12
June. In approving the report ‘Strengthening of the European research
area’ prepared by MEP Wim van Velzen, Parliament highlighted specific
amendments on each of the next Framework programme’s priorities.
On the
report concerning the strengthening of the European research area,
prepared by MEP Myrsini Zorba, Parliament highlighted five specific
non-binding amendments. Firstly, inter and multidisciplinarity should be
promoted through concrete actions. Secondly, synergies should be established
between ERA and the proposed European higher education area. Thirdly, a
mechanism needs to be established which allows DG Research to monitor and
optimise research mobility. Fourthly, the programme needs to ensure that a
positive attitude towards research is created among teachers and
journalists. Finally, military research should be excluded from Community
funding. (ITB-Info-Service)
02.07.02
‘Special push‘ needed to create Europe an higher
education area by 2010
If the European Higher Education Area is to become a
reality by 2010, a ‘special push’ is needed in the areas of credits for
lifelong learning, European Masters and quality assurance, said EU
Commissioner for Education and Culture, Viviane Reding, on 31 May. ‘We are
still far away from a situation in which transparency, quality and
recognition are common features in Europe,’ said Ms Reding.
Europe should become the most favoured destination for
high level learning in the world, she said. Researchers from the European
university association (EUA) are currently seeking to define a model for
European Masters courses. They are addressing issues such as what ‘European’
is to mean in this context, what type of curriculum integration should take
place, and what recognition arrangements would be implemented. The first
European Masters courses could be operating in Europe as early as 2003 or
2004, said Ms Reding.
(Cordis)
19.06.2002
European competitiveness is not good enough for Lisbon
target-report
The Lisbon
summit’s target of making Europe the most competitive knowledge-based
economy by 2010 will not be met unless improvements are made in its
competitive and productivity growth levels. This is one of the main
conclusions of the European Commission’s 2002 competitiveness report,
published on 23 May. The report focuses on the specific areas of skills and
education, productivity in the services sector, sustainable development in
manufacturing and the relationship between competition and enterprise
policy.
Data showed
that while the USA showed a rise in service sector productivity growth from
1.3 to 3.5 per cent from the first to the second half of the 1990s, most EU
Member States with comparable data experienced a decline. Service
productivity growth was also lower than manufacturing growth.
(European Commission)
18.06.2002
A European Research Council – the Debate
Following
the proposal to establish a European Research Area (ERA), formulated by
Commissioner Philippe Busquin, the debate on implementation of this vision
has moved on rapidly. One idea which has been suggested is that of the
creation of a European Research Council (ERC), which would provide support for
high-quality, long-term, curiosity-driven research.
In its
Strategic Plan, 2002-2006, the European Science Foundation (ESF) has set
itself the task of structuring and leading the debate on this key issue for
the future of European science. To this end, it has appointed a High Level
Expert Group, under the chairmanship of Sir Richard Sykes, Rector of
Imperial College, London, to examine the pros and cons of the ERC concept
and to produce a final report for publication early in 2003. At the same
time, the incoming Danish EU Presidency (July to December 2002) has decided
to promote a discussion meeting on the same topic on 7-8 October 2002.
(European Science Foundation)
18.06.2002
Co-operation in science and education with Latin America
and the Caribbean
The Heads
of State and Government from EU, Latin America and the Caribbean signed the
‘Madrid commitment’ on 17 May, which sees a pledge to co-operate in areas of
scientific, technological and educational interest. The declaration contains
a commitment to co-operate on issues such as the information society,
prevention and treatment for HIV/AIDS and preparedness for natural
disasters. The commitment also recommends the development, approval and
promotion of the 2002 to 2004
action plan for building a European Union –
Latin America and Caribbean common area of higher education.
(The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU)
18.06.2002
6th European Union research master programme settled
On June 3rd
the European Council of Ministers accepted the 6th Research
master programme with a total budget of 17.5 billion Euro. This scholarship
programme focuses on research fields such as astronautics, biotechnology and
genetic engineering concerning fight against diseases. The new master
programme is implemented in order to promote the development of Europe to
the most attractive research area world-wide. The European Heads of State
and Government agreed already upon the creation of a common research area in
Lisbon in March 2000. This is part of a comprehensive strategy, helping the
European Union to become the most dynamic economic region world-wide and to
neutralise the distance to the USA so far. (dpa)
04.06.2002
Towards “Lifelong Learning”
A lifelong
acquisition and development of qualification and competence is not only of
great importance for the personal fulfilment, but also for the future of a
knowledge-based society. Therefore “lifelong learning” (LLL) is constantly
on the agendas of current debates on educational policy. 1998 the Council of
Europe and the Conference of the Presidents of University launched a
project, which understands “lifelong learning” – including learning in the
vocational sphere – as a challenge to higher education. The Bologna
declaration also considers the idea of LLL, by recommending the
establishment of a system of credits (such as ECTS) which enables the
acquisition of credit points in non-higher education contexts. In 1999, the
EU-Commission initiated a project analysing the possible development of the
ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) facilitating academic recognition
into a European Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (ECTS
Extension Feasibility Project). Such a system would not only
allow the accumulation and the transfer of credit points from university to
university but also from the sphere of vocational training to higher
education institutions. Various countries participating in the Bologna
Process have already taken concrete measures to implement the academic
recognition of “lifelong learning”. Germany explores currently in the field
of vocational training of IT professionals whether credits acquired in work
based mode can be recognised within the framework of university degrees such
as Bachelor and Master.
04.06.2002
Current information on doctoral studies in Europe
The last
meeting of the Directors-General of higher education took place in
Cordoba from 7th to 9th April with participation of the Presidents of the
Rectors‘ Conferences of the EU/EEA states. The participants discussed the
topic “High Quality Doctorates: Engine of Knowledge, Development and
Innovation in Europe”. Two workshops dealt with the
quality of doctoral
studies and the
mobility of doctoral candidates. In Cordoba DFG (The German
Research Association) presented the state of
doctoral studies
in
Germany.
In the last year’s meeting in Halmstad (6-8 May 2001) a study (“Doctoral
Student Mobility in the Framework of the Socrates/Erasmus Programme
1995-2000”) initiated by the EU Commission supplied essential
facts concerning doctoral students’ mobility in 29 European countries.
An updated
study, that includes the academic year 2000/2001, has been discussed in
Cordoba comparing doctoral mobility of the Marie-Curie Research and ERASMUS
programmes for 2000/2001.
29.05.02
EURASHE
policy statement on the Bologna-Prague-Berlin process
Here you find a discussion document
covering a number of key elements in the Bologna Declaration which are of
particular importance to the sector represendet by EURASHE. 23.05.2002
Statement of the
Federal Ministry of Education and Research concerning the General Agreement
on Trade in Services (GATS)
The German Federal Ministry of
Education and Research addressed a
statement to the Federal Ministry of
Economics and Technology concerning the contribution towards EU coordination
with regard to the forthcoming negotiations on educational services.
22.05.2002
Results
of the
Stockholm,
Lisbon
and
Amsterdam
conferences
are now available.
Several
seminars take place on the way to the Bologna follow-up meeting in Berlin.
If you do need further information please
click here.
Annual Meeting of the Network of Central and Eastern European Quality
Assurance Agencies in Higher Education and ENQA Workshop
According to the decision of
the Krakow annual meeting of the CEE Network last year, the Czech
Accreditation Commission prepares the annual meeting of the Network and ENQA
Workshop in Prague in October 18-19,2002. The results will be available soon
after the conference.
08.05.2002
ESIB-newsletter (PDF-Data)
April 2002 just published.
This issue of the Bologna
Process Committee (BPC) Newsletter, published by ESIB, the National Unions
of Students in Europe, will give you an overview on several seminars and
meetings attended by the members of the BPC, a country report about the
higher education reform in Norway and special focus to the transperancy in
higher education.
Closing Conference of the
Pilot Project
"Tuning
Educational Structures in Europe"
The Tuning
project is a university initiative coordinated by the universities of Deusto
(Spain) and Groningen (The Netherlands). Over one hundred universities are
participating in the project.
The
Socrates supported Tuning project addresses several of the objectives of the
Bologna process, notably the establishment of readable and comparable
degrees and the adoption of a two cycle system, whilst maintaining
university autonomy and diversity.
More
specifically, the project aims at identifying generic and subject specific
competences for first and second cycle studies in seven subject areas
(Business studies, Education Sciences, Geology, History, Mathematics,
Chemistry and Physics) and provides a methodology for analysing common
elements and differences.
More
information on Tuning you will find on the project website:
http://odur.let.rug.nl/TuningProject/index.htm
Bachelor's/Master's degree structure to
be
introduced in 2002 - Dutch
Cabinet
approves
„bachelor-master“ bill
The Dutch
Cabinet approved the bill submitted by the Minister of Education, Culture and
Science, Lock Hermans, for the introduction of the Bachelor's/Master's degree
structure in higher education in the Netherlands.
The proposed legislation will allow Dutch universities and institutes of higher
professional education to switch
to the new system as of the 2002 academic year.
Expectations are that the majority of
university
programmes will in fact make the switch immediately.
Universities will also be allowed to subject students to a selection process for
special Master's programmes. For these programmes, which will have extra
facilities and will be of a higher standard, universities will be permitted to
charge up to five times the statutory tuition fee.
If a student is unable to
pay, the university will be obliged to look for ways
for the student to finance his or her studies so that he or she can in fact
enter the programme.
In order to help finance the introduction of the new Bachelor's/Master’s degree
structure, Dutch universities will receive a one-off grant of NLG 100 m (NLG 50m
in 2001 and NLG 50m in 2002). These funds are provided for in the government’s
interim budget report.
(ITB-Info-Service,
12. November 2001)
New
University Degree in France
With the
beginning of the academic year 2002/2003 a new university degree will be
implemented – the ”Master”. The new degree which corresponds to the German
”Magister” will be awarded after five years of study. The French government
in Paris had decided on the reform two years ago in order to contribute to
the convergence of the European university systems.
(dpa Paris)
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