Bologna Process - Work Programme - Introduction

BFUG work plan 2012-2015
In the Bucharest Communiqué, the Ministers responsible for higher education in the 47 countries of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) agreed on the future priorities of the EHEA, which are as follows: 

   * to provide quality higher education for all;
   * to enhance graduates'  employability;
   * to strengthen mobility as a means for better learning. 

In order to fulfill the above mentioned goals the Ministers set out priorities for action by 2015 at the national level as well as at the European level, which are reflected in the 2012-2015 BFUG Work Plan. Moreover, the BFUG agreed to streamline 2012-2015 work structures by reducing the number of working groups. The new structure would allow the BFUG to play its role for strategic policy guidance, while concentrating on the key policy areas and, at the same time, it would allow a close interaction between and better implementation of the interlinked policy issues that are arranged under one working group.
As part of the 2012-2015 BFUG Work Plan, the Bologna Follow-Up Group set up the following working groups (WGs), ad-hoc WGs and networks:

    * Reporting on the Bologna Process Implementation WG
    * 'Structural Reforms' WG
    * Social Dimension and Lifelong Learning WG
    * Mobility and Internationalisation WG
    * Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Revision of the ECTS Users' Guide
    * Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Third Cycle
    * Network of NQF Correspondents
    * Recognition of Prior Learning European Network
    * NESSIE - Network of Experts on Student Support in Europe

During the Nicosia BFUG meeting (28-29 August 2012) in relation to the revision of the ESG, the E4 group in cooperation with Education International, BusinessEurope and EQAR will prepare a first proposal for revision of the Standards and Guidlines for consideration of the BFUG. The initial proposal will be presented to the BFUG in its meeting in early 2014. More information is available on the official website of the ESG Revision.
In Cyprus the BFUG recommended to keep the Pathfinder group on automatic recognition out of the 2012-2015 work plan structures, but regularly report to the BFUG. The group may come up with findings that are of interest of the ‘Structural’ WG.
To further disseminate the Bologna reforms, countries and organisations participating in the Bologna Process also organise various seminars and conferences that are announced via the calendar of events.

Bologna work plan 2009-2012
In the Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué, the Ministers responsible for higher education in the countries participating in the Bologna Process identified the following higher education priorities for the coming decade

    * social dimension: equitable access and completion,
    * lifelong learning;
    * employability;
    * student-centred learning and the teaching mission of higher education;
    * education, research and innovation;
    * international openness;
    * mobility;
    * data collection;
    * multidimensional transparency tools;
    * funding.  

To implement the Bologna reforms and to make progress in all priority areas, strong efforts will be required especially at national and institutional level. To support these efforts with joint action at European level, the Ministers entrusted the Bologna Follow-up Group to prepare a work plan for the period leading up to the Ministerial Conference in 2012, including the Ministerial Anniversary Conference on 11-12 March 2010 in Budapest and Vienna.
As part of the 2009-2012 work plan, the Bologna Follow-up Group set up seven working groups on the following topics:

    * Social Dimension
    * Qualifications Frameworks
    * International Openness
    * Mobility
    * Recognition
    * Reporting on the implementation of the Bologna Process
    * Transparency mechanisms

Bologna work programme 2007-2009
To put the objectives and recommendations of the 2007 London Communiqué into practice, the Bologna Follow-up Group (at its meeting of 2-3 October 2007) had adopted a work programme for the period leading up to the Ministerial Conference on 28-29 April 2009 in Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve.
The overarching aim was to make further progress in realising the European Higher Education Area.
On the following pages you will find more information on the priorities of the 2007-2009 work e and the topics covered by the Bologna Process in general.

Bologna action lines

Qualification Frameworks / Three Cycle System	Joint Degrees
Mobility	Recognition
Quality Assurance	Social Dimension
Employability	Lifelong Learning
EHEA in a global context	Stocktaking
Bologna beyond 2010

Bologna events 2007-2009
The Bologna work programme 2007-2009 contained a wide range of activities, including a number of official Bologna Seminars.
Those as well as other events related to the creation of the European Higher Education Area, or higher education trends and developments more generally, are listed in our calendar of events. More...