Introduction
EI is the voice of academics worldwide, representing 100 national organisations that, all together, give voice to more than 3 million university and research personnel working in the higher education and research sector. Committed to strengthening its membership base in this sector and in building both regional and global co-ordination and networking, EI promotes the advancement of higher education and research, in particular through the implementation of the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel.
Among the issues that most concern education personnel working in the sector, EI strongly defends the rights of academic and research personnel, and its work revolves around the following issues:
European Higher Education Area [Logo]
Education International’s European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) has been recognised as a consultative member of the Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG) at the Bergen Ministerial Conference in 2005- through this official recognition, academics are now on track. The BFUG consists of ministries responsible for of higher education, the European Commission, the Council of Europe and representatives of academic staff, students and rectors. The group reviews and pushes the process forwards.
The group reviews and pushes the process forwards.
For more information about the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), click here.
International level
EI's policy on Higher Education and Research is essentially shaped by the various resolutions passed by the consecutive World Congresses since 1995. These resolutions focus, mainly, on the status of academics and on the development of the higher education and research sector.
In addition, along many years, EI has elaborated strong policies on the globalisation of education, in particular of higher education, and how this is affected by the World Trade Organisation’s General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and other trade agreements.
EI also encourages the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel. Adopted in 1997, this instrument provides for the employment and the academic rights of higher education teaching personnel by:
EI is committed to maximise its opportunities to work with and within those international and regional organisations and those processes that are shaping higher education and research globally. This implies, in particular, working with the OECD and UNESCO for the implementation of the Guidelines on Quality Provision in Cross Border Higher Education.
European level: the European Higher Education Area
European Higher Education Area [Logo]
EI and the Higher Education and Research staff unions of Europe welcome and support the European Higher Education Area as a means both of protecting and enhancing higher education and research across Europe and of increasing transparency and mobility. We believe that the EHEA places this on the public agenda. Although we welcome the emphasis on quality, we assert that this will require greater public investment in the system and its staff if quality is to be sustained and enhanced (see EI statement in February 2005 below). In relation with the EHEA, EI is promoting the UNESCO-Council of Europe Lisbon Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications, and it advocates for its ratification.
At the European level (European Commission), EI has been involved in the process of elaboration of the European Charter of researchers and a Code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers. The EI Standing Committee on Higher Education and Research strongly supports the Charter, which is considered to be an important step in the acknowledgement of researchers and of the work they are doing towards the attainment of the Barcelona goal of ensuring a minimum investment in research of 3% of GNP in each member-state - 1% of this shall be invested by the public.
International level
EI's activities to represent professionals in the higher education and research sector include working both to protect and further develop the rights of higher education and research personnel, and to strengthen the sector’s representation against the challenges posed by globalization and internationalization.
Since 1997, EI organises, every two years, a conference on higher education and research issues. Along the years, these meetings have focused on academic freedom, diversity, discrimination and career paths, information technology, distance learning and transnational suppliers, brain drain, as well as on the impact of globalization and trade agreements. The last Conference was held in Vancouver in 2010.
Well aware of the implications of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s talks on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) on the higher education and research sector, EI's work in the area is two-fold:
Externally: Participation in international encounters to raise the awareness of higher education and research personnel on WTO-GATS talks; development of contacts with intergovernmental agencies such as WTO, UNESCO and OECD; alliances with the partners in the global trade union movement and with international non-governmental organisations. Lobbying activities in conjunction with Clusters Services meetings in Geneva are also organised.
Internally: Formation of a Task Force on the impact of GATS on vocational education; information-sharing and alert system among affiliated organisations to provide mutual support. Development of a general information package for all affiliates on GATS and education.
For more information about EI’s policies on trade and education, please visit our web section dedicated to the subject.
European level/ European Higher Education Area
European Higher Education Area [Logo]At the European level, EI has a Standing Committee for higher education and research (HERSC) meeting twice a year. An essential part of EI’s work is dedicated to the European Higher Education Area.
Since 2005 and its recognition as Consultative member of the Bologna Follow-up Group, EI is participating to the activities undertaken in the framework of the work plan: BFUG meetings, Bologna seminars and other initiatives organised by member states or other stakeholders . Information about all EHEA activities can be found on the official website of the EHEA Secretariat.
For more information about EI’s activities and involvement in the European Higher Education Area, please visit this page.
What is the European Higher Education Area?
The concept of the convergence of the Higher Education systems in the European region was first brought about by the Bologna Process, launched by Ministers responsible for higher education from 29 countries coming together in 1999 at the University of Bologna. Participation in the Bologna Process is voluntary: each country takes its own decision to endorse the principles adopted in the successive bi-annual ministerial conferences. The only legally binding document associated to the Process is the Lisbon Recognition Convention. The Bologna Process is thus not based on any intergovernmental treaty. The Process is pushed forward by cooperation between the 47 countries participating.
In 2010, the European Higher Education Area was launched as a result of the Bologna Process so that:
These goals can be summarised into 10 so-called action lines, and those are:
The structure of the European Higher Education Area
The work to push forward and implement the EHEA is done differently at the international (European), national and institutional levels.
At the European level work takes the form of ministerial conferences, Bologna Follow-up Group conference, seminars and working groups.
Ministerial conferences have been held in
Ministers responsible for higher education have entrusted the management of the Process between ministerial conferences to the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG). The BFUG agrees on a “Work-programme” outlined after each ministerial conference. It constitutes a series of seminars, working groups and other activities relevant to the Process. The BFUG meets at least twice yearly and is chaired by the country that has the rotating European Union Presidency, from autumn 2009 the chairing responsibilities will be divided between the EU Presidency and a non-EU country. The BFUG is made up of representatives from the Ministries of the 47 Bologna countries, the European Commission[1], and the following European organisations as Consultative members:
Progress of the implementation of the Bologna Process is reported in the so-called “Stocktaking report”, but EUA and ESU also produce one report each, the “Trends” and “Bologna with Student Eyes” reports.
The seminars carry the unofficial label “Bologna seminar” and are part of the “Work-programme”. Outcomes and reports of all seminars can be found on the EHEA website (www.ehea.info). In the Bologna seminars, discussion on various issues of the Process, obstacles to implementation thereof and possibilities for cooperation takes place. The outcomes of these seminars are of great relevance to the whole Process, and are often quoted in the Ministerial Communiqués.
Bologna 1999
The Bologna Declaration was an agreement on the establishment of easily readable and comparable degrees, two main cycles (undergraduate and graduate), and a system of credits, to promote academic mobility, improve European cooperation in quality assurance and promote European dimensions in higher education.
After the signing of the Bologna Declaration, a follow-up structure was organised and it was decided that ministerial conferences should take place bi-annually. A general report was commissioned in order to monitor and report on the implementation of the objectives of the Bologna Declaration.
Prague 2001
In May 2001, in Prague, ministers adopted the Prague Communiqué. It underlines the further need for work on the action lines agree in Bologna, however it also added important action lines such as the need for the involvement of the academic community in the Bologna Process, the importance of lifelong learning and the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area.
Furthermore the importance of the social dimension was underlined, as was the fact of higher education as a public good and public responsibility.
Croatia, Cyprus, Lichtenstein and Turkey were accepted as new members and the Council of Europe, the European Students’ Union and the European University Association were included as consultative members.
Berlin 2003
At the Berlin ministerial conference held in September 2003, ministers added research as an important part of the Bologna Process. They added doctoral education as a third cycle to the degree structure and underlined the need for synergies between the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area.
Seven new countries (Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Holy See, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the “former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, turning the number of countries participating in the Process to 40.
Bergen 2005
At the Bergen ministerial conference in May 2005 it was decided that there is a need for prioritisation among the action lines and quality assurance, national frameworks for qualifications, joint degrees and flexible learning paths and recognition of prior learning became prioritised areas. Also the social dimension and mobility of students and staff was underlined as an important area to work more with. Ministers also shifted focus from future plans to practical implementation.
Five new countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) were admitted into the Bologna Process. The number of consultative members was also increased to include ENQA, Business Europe and finally also Education International’s European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE).
London 2007
At the ministerial conference in May 2007 ministers decided to focus on mobility, the social dimension, data collection, employability, the European Higher Education Area in a global context and stocktaking for the time between 2007 and the 2009 ministerial conference.
Ministers adopted a strategy for the “Global Dimension” and gave the E4-group (the European University Association, the European Students’ Union, EURASHE and ENQA) a mandate to set up a European Register for Quality Assurances Agencies.
An increased focus was also directed towards the time beyond 2010.
After events unrelated to the Bologna Process, Montenegro was (re-)admitted to take part in the Bologna Process. That turned the number of countries taking part in the Process to 46.
Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve 2009
The ministerial conference held in Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve in April 2009, naturally, focussed much of its attention on what has been achieved so far in the Bologna Process, as well as on the time beyond 2010.
The major discussions revolved around setting benchmarks for the number of students that should be mobile in the European Higher Education Area and around the possible work with so-called transparency tools for the EHEA. Ministers agreed that in 2020 at least 20 % of those graduating in the EHEA should have had a study or training period abroad.
The Communiqué outlines areas where Ministers see a need for work in the coming decade, those are; the social dimension, lifelong learning, employability, student-centred learning, research and innovation also connected to education, international openness, mobility, multidimensional transparency tools and funding. It is noticeable that these areas cover rather large parts of higher education policy, they also slightly divert from the more technical nature that the Bologna Process have had up until now.
Education International was given the opportunity to give its view on the ongoing work and future needs. EI focussed on the inclusion of higher education staff in the work with the Bologna Process, on staff working conditions, on mobility and finally also warned against the use of classifications and rankings. The speech is available here.
Vienna/Budapest 2010
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) was officially launched at the 10th Bologna Ministerial Conference, celebrated on 11-12 March in Budapest and Vienna.
The Budapest-Vienna Declaration on the EHEA, adopted by the Ministers, takes note of EI’s assessment and contributions to the discussions, and expresses its commitment to working towards “a more effective inclusion of higher education staff and students in the implementation and further development of the EHEA” and to “fully support staff and student participation in decision-making structures at European, national and institutional levels”. The Declaration also recognises that “a more supportive environment” for the academic staff is needed and reaffirms that higher education is “a public responsibility”.
On this occasion, a new member country was admitted to the EHEA: Kazakhstan. This raised the total number of countries to 47.
EI contributed to the discussions by means of the statement to the Bologna Anniversary Ministerial Conference. It has also published a study under the title “Enhancing Quality”, outlining higher education staff unions’ perceptions of the implementation of the Bologna Process”.
Next Ministerial Conferences
The next meeting will be hosted by Romania in 2012.
Education International and the European Higher Education Area
Education International’s European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) is part of the Bologna Follow-up Group and participates actively in the work of the EHEA.
Under the aegis of EI's Higher Education and Research Committee HERSC), EI's member organisations representing the higher education and research staff are most involved in the following issues within the context of the development of the European Higher Education Area:
EI has working groups within the HERSC working on the above issues and regularly attends the Bologna seminars and other activities organised by the EHEA Secretariat to ensure that the voice of academic and research staff is heard.
EI has especially contributed in the area of student and staff mobility by organising two official Bologna seminars on mobility as well as launching a big campaign to increase academic mobility in Europe (letsgocampaign.net). This work is undertaken in close co-operation with the European Students’ Union.
EI has also co-organised a "Time for Student-Centred Learning" campaign (t4scl.eu) with the European Students' Union, which concluded its final Stakeholders' Forum in Leuven, Belgium, in October 2010. A toolkit which helps staff and student unions to advocate the concept of student-centred learning was also launched at this event.
EI has also worked actively with the Global dimension, stressing the need for cooperation rather than competition. EI is also promoting the use of the OECD/UNESCO Guidelines on Quality Provision in Cross Border Higher Education.
EI has also worked intensively on supporting its members in the EHEA countries and especially in those countries entering later into the Process.
International level
Publications:
Studies:
Reports:
European level/European Higher Education Area
European Higher Education Area [Logo]
Publications:
Studies:
Reports:
International sites
The European (EU) Researcher’s Mobility Portal: ec.europa.eu/eracareers/index_en.cfm
Member websites on Higher Education and Research (outside the European Higher Education Area)
Argentina:
Australia:
Brazil:
Canada:
Cyprus, northern:
Fiji:
India:
Japan:
Morocco :
New Zealand:
Peru:
Senegal :
United States of America:
Member websites on Higher Education and Research (European Higher Education Area)
Belarus :
Belgium:
Croatia:
Denmark:
Finland:
www.tieteentekijoidenliitto.fi
France :
Germany:
Ireland:
Italy:
Latvia:
Luxembourg :
Netherlands:
Norway:
Poland:
Portugal:
Romania:
Russia:
Serbia:
Slovenia:
Spain:
Sweden:
United Kingdom:
The European Higher Education Area
o European Higher Education Area: www.ehea.info
o European University Association (EUA): www.eua.be
o National Unions of Students in Europe (ESU): www.esu-online.org
o Council of Europe Higher Education section: www.coe.int/t/dg4/highereducation
o European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE): www.eurashe.be
o European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA): www.enqa.eu
o European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR): www.eqar.eu
o Business Europe: www.businesseurope.eu
Newsletters
o Inside Higher Education – daily news update about higher education in the United States of
America : www.insidehighereducation.com
o University World News – weekly news about higher education around the globe:
www.universityworldnews.com/forms/subscribe.php?
mode=subscribe&publication=UWorld
o International Association of Universities, E-bulletin – monthly news about IAU activities,
calendar of events and higher education activities around the world:
www.unesco.org/iau/iau_e_bulletin.html
o EUA – news about the European University Association, its members and higher education
activities in Europe. Comes every second week: www.eua.be/index.php?id=29
o ESU – monthly news about the activities and opinions of the European Students’ Union:
www.esu-online.org/index.php/News/newsletter-student-voice
