"The achievement of the EHEA will be all the more remarkable given the diversity of European higher education systems and the many different starting points from which we began this journey"
Woburn House, London
28 October 2008
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Good morning.
You don't need me to remind you of the challenges higher education faces from demography and an increasingly global market.
A European Higher Education Area (EHEA) which is transparent and accessible, that facilitates the mobility of students and researchers, and where degrees are easily comparable, will make the UK and other European higher education sectors more attractive and competitive.
The achievement of the EHEA will be all the more remarkable given the diversity of European higher education systems and the many different starting points from which we began this journey. But it is clearly a vital process: 46 countries have signed up to the Bologna principles; non-European countries are increasingly adopting them of their own accord.
So, after 10 years, how close are we to achieving that ambition?
The stocktaking report commissioned for the London Ministerial Conference said the outlook for 2010 was good. Real progress had been made in implementing a three-cycle degree system, developing agreed quality assurance guidelines which apply across Europe and establishing an overarching framework for qualifications.
Here at home, the Framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been reviewed in consultation with HE institutions and interested organisations. A revised edition - integral to quality assurance - was published last month. Until recently I was the Skills Minister in DIUS responsible for quality and standards in Further Education where I oversaw the development of the Framework for Excellence - so I well aware of the importance of this issue.
After a period of decline, the number of UK students undertaking an Erasmus placement has increased over the last two years - and, here, I would like to acknowledge the good work of universities and the British Council in delivering this welcome improvement.
We've also seen more institutions issuing the Diploma Supplement - though more needs to be done to meet the requirement, agreed in 2003, to issue the Supplement automatically and free of charge.
We are currently preparing an updated Stocktaking Report of UK progress since 2007 for the Leuven Conference next April. It is obvious that there's still more work required both in the UK and by all Bologna partners. It's already clear that not all the Bologna action lines will have been fully implemented across the EHEA by 2010.
Taken together the ten current action lines represent a coherent and integrated strategy for delivering the Bologna reforms and there is no question in my mind that they remain relevant. So a major priority for the next decade should be on ensuring their effective implementation.
I recognise that much of what has already been achieved in developing the EHEA has been done through the commitment and support of HEIs. It hasn't been easy. This is no paper exercise.
What's more, the creation of the EHEA is just the beginning. If it is to make a lasting difference in Higher Education, if it's to improve the experience of students, the Bologna Process must be a journey that continues well beyond the end of this decade.
Let's first consider what we're ultimately seeking to achieve. I know that the Europe Unit has been giving some thought to these questions, in consultation with the sector. Let me offer some suggestions.
A successful EHEA will be one where institutional autonomy, within a broad framework set by government, is a reality; where the diversity of higher education institutions is valued and supported; and where fair competition between institutions is seen as positive.
We'll know that the EHEA is doing its job if learning outcomes are more important than processes; if we achieve sustainability through diversity of funding; and if there's an emphasis on developing a wide range of links with employers.
Finally, the EHEA will be working if HEIs are able to engage in a wide range of activities beyond teaching, research and knowledge transfer - with institutions playing to their own strengths.
The Government's role in achieving this vision must be to ensure that the necessary framework, systems and support for institutions are in place.
One of the virtues of Bologna is that it leaves the detail of implementation up to countries and institutions. It does not impose a single approach, nor does it seek to achieve its goals through legislation. I believe this is the right approach and that it should continue.
Turning to future:
First, given that not all existing action lines will have been fully and effectively implemented across the EHEA by 2010, what's vital over the next decade is to focus on their effective implementation rather than introducing new ones. We should concentrate on those action lines which have had least attention in the last 10 years, or where progress has been slowest - including recognition, mobility and life-long learning.
Second, the European Union's Higher Education modernisation agenda has already identified the key issues which need to be addressed if HE in Europe is to adapt effectively to the realities of globalisation. These include developing strong autonomous institutions, qualifications matched to employer needs, looking at additional sources of funding and improving university leadership. These are all areas where greater dialogue through Bologna would be beneficial.
To date, the focus of Bologna on structures - on degree courses and qualification frameworks - has tended to preclude discussion of the nature of the institutions needed to deliver the new study programmes and to produce highly employable graduates.
And with the burgeoning international trade in HE, there needs to be more thinking about distance learning, overseas partnerships, and foreign experiences for students. This is a vital area, which is why the Secretary of State asked Drummond Bone to examine it as part of our own HE debate.
Third, it is by no means clear that the reforms introduced by the Bologna process are widely understood by all stakeholders. There is a risk that Bologna could become simply a set of bureaucratic rules which bear little relation to reality and which are widely ignored. In many countries staff, students and especially employers have still to be convinced that the new model is as good as the old one.
So we need to promote the Bologna Process more widely so that its benefits are properly appreciated. This is something we can all do, and I'm happy to play my part.
I spoke earlier about defining a successful EHEA. If we consider that from the student perspective - arguably the key consumer of HE - the key to Bologna is mobility. We want to get to the point where it's as common for our students to study abroad as it is now for them to move around the UK. Experiencing other cultures will prepare young people to be active and employable citizens. It will foster international understanding at the same time as it raises standards in HE across Europe.
We're not there yet. We must work together to make it simpler and easier for students and staff to participate in exchanges. We need higher education institutions to take greater responsibility for staff and student mobility - promoting it through joint programmes, flexible curricula and better support.
And we need to make sure that study abroad is a realistic option for a wider range of students, not just those who have always done it.
In conclusion, Bologna remains a great opportunity that Government, HEIs and other stakeholders - must continue to influence at all levels in order to shape the debate and inform decisions. I and my colleagues will vigorously represent your views.
But we need you - collectively and at the institutional level - to engage with the Process and with your European counterparts to demonstrate your commitment. Continued dialogue at all levels is crucial.
It only remains for me to thank all those individuals and institutions that have already contributed a huge amount. We cannot let up now. Our future success depends on it.
Thank you.
