BFUG Board meeting Brussels April 2005

As the Bologna Process leads to the establishment of the EHEA, the Bologna Follow-Up Group has to consider the appropriate arrangements needed to support the continuing development beyond 2010. At the Ministerial Conference in Bergen, time will be allotted for Ministers to have an open discussion on this issue. This paper (final version) may be helpful for setting the background.

The European Higher Education Area beyond 2010 (report 2005)

BFUG Meeting Mondorf March 2005

The Secretariat has been asked to prepare a discussion document for the ministers in Bergen on what the Bologna process should lead to in 2010 and beyond and whether it should be institutionalised in a more formal way. The draft tabled at the BFUG meeting 1-2 March built on discussions by the Board at previous meetings. The Chair stated that the ministers should be made aware of the need for such a debate, and that the document was intended to stimulate discussion, not to provide answers. The ministers would then have an “organised brainstorming session”. The result might be a mandate for the BFUG to further explore different scenarios in the coming period.

Summing up the discussion in the BFUG, the Chair noted that a considerable redrafting of the document was needed, focussing on the characteristics of the Bologna Process and which of them it is most important to preserve. Possible scenarios and solutions should not be indicated before the questions. The questions should be made more closed. The next BFUG meeting would decide whether the issues in question should be raised in a separate discussion document or in the communiqué itself. The Secretariat was asked to present a revised draft to the next BFUG meeting based on the comments made by BFUG members.

The revised draft follows below.
BFUG5_9 Draft the European Higher Education Area beyond 2010