University Reforms in Europe: In search of the holy grail of quality

April 13th, 2012Astrid (Bassanini) Conference

Rome

Professor Geert Bouckaert

Public Management Institute, K.U.LeuvenLeuven, Belgium

University Reforms in Leuven and in Europe

1.Shifts in European research and education

2.Models for quality control in education

3.Institutional settings

4.Moving to functional accreditation

1.Shifts in European research and education

1.Bologna 1999: European Space for Higher Education

2.Accreditation

3.Quality control

4.Generalised PhD level

5.Mobility of students and staff

6.Multilingual education

7.Scale enlargement through mergers

8.European and international networking

9.Output-based financing of institutions

Bologna declaration

Bologna (1999) in general objectives:

1. Adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees

2. Adoption of a system essentially based on two main cycles: undergraduate and graduate

3. Establishment of a system of credits such as in the ECTS-system: in place

4. Promotion of mobility: 20% is a challenge

- mobility windows in programmes

- networked mobility; structured mobility

Bologna declaration

Bologna in general: objectives

5. Promotion of European co-operation in quality assurance

- accreditation procedure

- in collaboration with the Netherlands:

NVAO: Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders

6. Promotion of the necessary European dimension in higher education

Tools to improve transparancy and comparability:

• uniform description of programmes “in terms of workload, level, learning outcomes, competences and profile” (Berlin communiqué, 2003) • descriptions of the three cycles of HE: European Higher Education Area-framework (EHEA) – Bergen framework (2005)

Also:•Bergen (2005), London (2007): Social dimensions of education•Leuven Declaration (2009)

Bologna and changing structures

EQF

European Qualifications Framework (EQF):adopted by the European Parliament and Council on 23 April 2008.

The EQF encourages countries to relate their qualifications systems or framework to the EQF by 2010 and to ensure that all new qualifications issued from 2012 carry a reference by the appropriate EQF-level.

Goals:- to make national qualifications more readable across

Europe (8 learning outcomes levels for knowledge, skills, competences)

- to promote workers’ and learners’ mobility between countries;

- to facilitate lifelong learning

EQF

(Source: Jens Bjornavold, Cedefop, Glasgow 22 September 2008)

EQF

Welcome to the European Higher Education Area !

"In the decade up to 2020 European higher education has a vital contribution to make in realising a Europe of knowledge that is highly creative and innovative... Europe can only succeed

in this endeavour if it maximises the talents and capacities of all its citizens and fully engages in lifelong learning as well as in widening participation in higher education."

Ministers responsible for Higher Education in the countries participating in the Bologna Process, Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué, April 2009

About this website

This website was the official website of the Bologna Process for the period 1 July 2007 until 30 June 2010. No changes will be made from July 2010 onwards.

Permanent website of the European Higher Education Area officially launched on 5 July 2010

For up-to-date information on the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area, please visit www.ehea.info. 

The revolution in Doctoral education

Salzburg Basic Principles (2005, update in 2010)

A large increase in doctoral schools in Europe’s universities, from 29 % in 2007 to 65 % in 2009

The European University Association EUA-Council for Doctoral Education (CDE):

• 850 universities and rectors’ conferences in 47 countries• Developing evidence-based policies• Advocating these policies• Promoting development of universities as institutions

Erasmus student mobility

2. Models for Quality Control

Models for Quality Control (in Education):

-Hierarchy: Administrative steering and control

-Markets: Competition with rankings

-Networks: Peer review and control

3. Institutional settings

• European settings• National settings• Disciplinary settings

3.Institutional settings

European settings• ENQA: The European Association for Quality Assurance

in Higher Education (founded in 2000)• ECA: European Consortium for Accreditation (founded

in 2003)• EQAR: The European Quality Assurance Register for

Higher Education (founded in 2008)• INQAAHE: The International Network for Quality

Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (founded in 2010)

INQAAHE

ENQA

Ministry

National Accreditation

University Quality Control

Institutions

ECAEQAR

Disciplinary settings:• Public Administration vs. Business Administration• Law, Political Science, ….

University Association Quality Control

4.Moving to functional accreditation

-Cost Benefit Analysis of Accreditation

-Accreditation should support improvement of individual institutions and of the field

-Indepedence and transparency support legitimacy

-Share experiences to organise learning cycles

-Allow for variations: mission driven accreditation

-Connect ultimately to research

Geert BouckaertParkstraat 45 bus 3609

B-3000 LeuvenTel: 0032 16 32 32 70Fax: 0032 16 32 32 67

E-mail: io@soc.kuleuven.bewww.publicmanagementinstitute.be

www.publicmanagement.be

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