The intention of the work plan is to list the actions that need to be taken jointly at European level to reach the goals set for each priority area. These European follow-up activities can take a variety of forms:

Working groups

To avoid the confusion that has resulted and inevitably would continue to result from the use of too many different terms (working group, coordination group, steering group, monitoring group, task force etc.), “BFUG working group” was used as generic term for all kinds of groups established by the BFUG in order to fulfil a certain task within a set timeframe. The specific nature and the precise tasks of each group (e.g. coordination, monitoring, preparing a report) are outlined in the respective terms of reference.

Working groups set up by the BFUG are in principle open to participation from all Bologna countries, the European Commission and the consultative members but also need to be of a workable size. As the groups work on behalf of the entire BFUG, their composition should reflect the diversity of the BFUG and the EHEA more generally. Where necessary, the groups can also decide to involve external experts.

To keep the entire BFUG involved, the working groups have regularly reported back to the BFUG.

Networks

Networks are meant to establish longer term cooperation between a large number of partners (potentially all countries and organisations participating in the Bologna Process).

As issue networks, these networks connect experts in a specific field (e.g. student support or qualifications frameworks) from different countries and organisations and allow them to share information and examples of good practice, to assist each other, and possibly also to develop new policies.

Seminars/Conferences

In the early stages of the Bologna Process, a central function of the Bologna seminars was policy development. While international seminars and conferences can still play an important role in further policy development, the focus of the 2009-2012 period was on communication and dissemination of the Bologna reforms.

Rather than having a limited number of “official Bologna Seminars”, there therefore was an open calendar of events, encouraging countries and organisations to arrange as many seminars, conferences and workshops as possible.

For an event to be included in the calendar of events that is published on the official Bologna website, it obviously has to be related to the Bologna Process and should be organised or at least supported by one of the countries or organisations participating in the Bologna Process. Moreover, it should in principle be open to participants from all Bologna countries, which however does not exclude international events that have a more regional focus.

Discussions at BFUG meetings

BFUG meetings can also be used to discuss a specific issue in more detail. For this purpose, delegates volunteered to provide input for such a discussion. Alternatively, external experts could have been invited to give a presentation.

Peer-learning activities

Peer-learning activities organised across the EHEA can help to support the implementation and consolidation of the Bologna reforms.

For this purpose, countries and organisations have been encouraged to make known in which field they would like to receive assistance and/or in which fields they have expertise to offer. Individual BFUG members also have the opportunity to contact other BFUG members or the entire group by e-mail to exchange experience and to learn from each other.

Given that the largest part of the actions required to implement the Bologna reforms and to make progress in all priority areas will have to be taken at national and institutional level, an important task of the BFUG (and the working group “Reporting on the Implementation of the Bologna Process” in particular), was also be to find ways to get a good overview of what is actually going on at national and institutional level.