EFFECTS OF BOLOGNA PROCESS ON EFFECTS OF BOLOGNA PROCESS ON GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENTS IN TURKISH GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENTS IN TURKISH

UNIVERSITIESUNIVERSITIES

Dr. Yilmaz AriDr. Yilmaz AriDepartment of Geography, Balikesir University, TurkeyDepartment of Geography, Balikesir University, Turkey..

Future Prospects in Geography, 4-7 September 2008, Liverpool Hope UniversityFuture Prospects in Geography, 4-7 September 2008, Liverpool Hope University

ContentsContents

The Bologna ProcessThe Bologna Process

Implementation of Bologna Process in TurkeyImplementation of Bologna Process in Turkey

Effects of Bologna Process on Geography Effects of Bologna Process on Geography Departments in TurkeyDepartments in Turkey

ConclusionsConclusions

The Bologna ProcessThe Bologna Process

The Bologna Process aims to create a The Bologna Process aims to create a European Higher Education Area by 2010, European Higher Education Area by 2010, in which students can choose from a wide in which students can choose from a wide and transparent range of high quality and transparent range of high quality courses and benefit from smooth courses and benefit from smooth recognition procedures. The recognition procedures. The Bologna DeclarationBologna Declaration has put in motion a has put in motion a series of reforms needed to make series of reforms needed to make European Higher Education more European Higher Education more compatible and comparable, more compatible and comparable, more competitive and more attractive for competitive and more attractive for Europeans and for students and scholars Europeans and for students and scholars from other continents.from other continents.

Action lines defined in the Bologna DeclarationAction lines defined in the Bologna Declaration 1. Adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees1. Adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees

2. Adoption of a system essentially based on two main cycles2. Adoption of a system essentially based on two main cycles

3. Establishment of a system of credits3. Establishment of a system of credits

4. Promotion of mobility for students and academic and administrative staff4. Promotion of mobility for students and academic and administrative staff

5. Promotion of European cooperation in quality assurance5. Promotion of European cooperation in quality assurance

6. Promotion of the European dimension in higher education6. Promotion of the European dimension in higher education

Action lines defined in the Prague CommuniquéAction lines defined in the Prague Communiqué 7. Lifelong learning7. Lifelong learning

8. Higher education institutions and students8. Higher education institutions and students

9. Promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area9. Promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area

Action line defined in the Berlin CommuniquéAction line defined in the Berlin Communiqué 10. Doctoral studies and the synergy between The European Higher 10. Doctoral studies and the synergy between The European Higher

Education Area and The European Research Area.Education Area and The European Research Area.

The Bologna Process The Bologna Process iin Turkeyn Turkey

The YOKThe YOK ( (Higher EducationHigher Education Board) Board) has has undertaken the implementation of the undertaken the implementation of the Bologna process in Turkey. Since the Bologna process in Turkey. Since the beginning two national reports have been beginning two national reports have been published by the YOKpublished by the YOK..

The Bologna Process in TurkeyThe Bologna Process in Turkey

The activities have been done in two different terms, one The activities have been done in two different terms, one covering 2004-2005 and the other 2005-2006. covering 2004-2005 and the other 2005-2006.

1st term activities:1st term activities:Two national Bologna ConferenceTwo national Bologna Conference10 Regional meeting10 Regional meeting

Bologna web site in Turkish and Bologna web site in Turkish and preparationpreparation of introductory of introductory materialmaterial

2nd term activities2nd term activities4 National meetings4 National meetings35 Provincial meetings35 Provincial meetingsBologna Process national evaluation conferenceBologna Process national evaluation conferenceFinal ReportFinal Report

Table 1. Turkey’s Bologna Score card of 2005 and 2007. BERGEN 2005 LONDON 2007 Qualıty Assurance Medium (2.00) Very Good (4.00) National Quality System Medium (2) Excellent (5) Measurements and External Evaluation System

Medium (2) Very Good (4)

Student Participation Medium (2) Very Good (4) International Participation Medium (2) Good (3) Degree System Excellent (4.67) Very Good (4.33) Implementation of 2 Cycle System Excellent (5) Excellent (5) Advancement From 1 to 2 Very Good (4) Excellent (5) Ratio of Students Registered in 2 Cycle System

Excellent (5) -

National Qualification Framework - Good (3) Diploma Equality of Study Periods Very Good (3.67) Very Good (4.33) Diploma Supplement Very Good (4) Very Good (4) Lisbon Recognition Convention Good(3) Very Good (4) ECTS Very Good (4) Excellent (5) Lifelong Learning Good (3.00) Recognition of Experimental Learning - Good (3) Shared Degrees Excellent (5.00) Creation and Recognition of Shared Degrees

- Excellent (5)

General Average Good (3,45) Very Good (4.13) Source: Edinsel, 2008.

Effects of the Bologna Process Effects of the Bologna Process on Geography Departmentson Geography Departments

I I prepared a questionnaire and tried to prepared a questionnaire and tried to understand how the Bologna Process has understand how the Bologna Process has been implemented in geography been implemented in geography departments. The department chairs departments. The department chairs answered the questions.answered the questions.

The questions aimed at investigating The questions aimed at investigating especially three cycle system, quality especially three cycle system, quality assurance and recognition of assurance and recognition of qualifications.qualifications.

FindingsFindings

All geography departments adopted the All geography departments adopted the two/three cycle system two/three cycle system (undergraduate/masters/doctoral) in (undergraduate/masters/doctoral) in TurkeyTurkey

Almost all departments made progress in Almost all departments made progress in terms of creating comparable degree terms of creating comparable degree programs and recognition of ECTSprograms and recognition of ECTS..

FindingsFindings Mobility, another action line in the Bologna Mobility, another action line in the Bologna

Process seems to be implemented in Process seems to be implemented in geography departments less successfully geography departments less successfully than the other departments.than the other departments.

Probably the most difficult challenge for Probably the most difficult challenge for geography departments to tackle is tgeography departments to tackle is thehe determination of learning outcomes and determination of learning outcomes and competenciescompetencies..

Another problematic area is quality Another problematic area is quality assurance action lineassurance action line

ConclusionsConclusions

Although the geography departments, compared Although the geography departments, compared to other disciplines started implementing the to other disciplines started implementing the Bologna Process rather late, the developments Bologna Process rather late, the developments in the departments throughout Turkey have been in the departments throughout Turkey have been encouraging. Most departments have started encouraging. Most departments have started ties with European partners through this process ties with European partners through this process and some of them for the first time looked and some of them for the first time looked outside outside their own their own departments and processes to departments and processes to modernize their structures.modernize their structures.

ConclusionsConclusions

Compared to other disciplines a Compared to other disciplines a number of publications stressed that number of publications stressed that academic geography in Turkey rather academic geography in Turkey rather weak and there is a strong need to weak and there is a strong need to modernize the departments. It is modernize the departments. It is thoughthoughtt that the Bologna Process is an that the Bologna Process is an opportunity for geography departments opportunity for geography departments to modernise themselves. to modernise themselves.