Explanation: 0 = no comment; 1 = rejection; 2 = strong reservations, but no rejection; 3 = approval with certain reservations, 4 = full approval

Institution of Engineers of Ireland (IEI)

IEI is the largest professional body in Ireland and represents all branches of engineering and categories of engineers. In its submission to government ”The Bologna Declaration and Engineering Education in Ireland”, IEI describes and analyses the Bologna declaration with regard to its relevance to engineering education in Ireland. The consistency of the responses of SEFI, CESAER and CLUSTER to the Bologna process is discussed. As key elements are identified: a general support for the realisation of a European Space of Higher Education; the option of  5 year integrated programmes leading straight to a Master’s degree without the mandatory award of an intermediate professional degree at the end of the first cycle; the implementation of the 3+2 structure should be a matter for each university to consider; ECTS and the Diploma supplement should be widly used. Finally, IEI posits some options for engineering education in universities and institutes of technology in Ireland, together with the advantages and disadvantages associated with each.