- EHEA
- TOPICS
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Groups
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Working Group on Monitoring the Implementation of the Bologna Process
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Working Group on Fundamental Values
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Working Group on Internationalisation and Mobility
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Coordination Group on Global Policy Dialogue
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Task Force on the Future of Bologna
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Task Force on establishing a long-term Secretariat
- Bologna Implementation Coordination Group
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Final Reports 2021-2024
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2021-2024 working structures
- Working Group on Social Dimension
- Task Force on the Review of the Rules and Regulations...
- Ad Hoc Task Force to Increase Synergies Between the EHEA...
- Task Force on Enhancing Knowledge Sharing in the EHEA community
- Working Group on Learning & Teaching
- EHEA Network of National Correspondents for Qualifications Frameworks
- Working Group on Roadmap for San Marino's accession to the EHEA
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Working Group on Monitoring the Implementation of the Bologna Process
- EVENTS
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NEWS
The Bologna Implementation Coordination Group (BICG) is a small, diverse group responsible for coordinating the work of the Thematic Peer Groups (TPGs). It comprises representatives from member and consultative members of the BFUG, the Co-Chairs of each TPG, and an observer from the Working Group on Monitoring.
Membership includes representatives from a range of countries and organizations, including Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, EUA, the European Commission, ESU, Finland, France, Georgia, and Italy. Typically, only one co-chair from each TPG attends BICG meetings.
To ensure effective coordination and a balanced perspective, the BICG aims to:
- Maintain a diverse membership that reflects the diversity of the EHEA.
- Ensure a balance of expertise across all key commitments.
- Limit turnover to a maximum of two-thirds of its membership between work periods to maintain continuity and institutional memory.
It is important to note that BICG Co-Chairs are generally not also chairs of a TPG.
As provided for in the BICG (2024 - 2027) Terms of Reference the specific tasks of the Bologna Implementation Coordination Group are:
- Coordinate the work of the TPGs;
- Follow-up peer support activities by keeping an overview of the composition and activities of the different groups;
- Seek to improve the Peer Support Approach for the implementation of the Key Commitments and of social dimension, including possible adjustments;
- Identify synergies in the work of the Thematic Peer Groups and ensure consistency and coherence of outcomes;
- Give the BFUG regular updates and an overview on the progress and effectiveness of the Peer Support Approach, based on the activities of the TPGs;
- Prepare recommendations for further actions to improve the implementation of the topics of the TPGs for consideration by the BFUG;
- Prepare a template, for approval by the BFUG, for the national action plans regarding implementation of the Tirana commitments, with focus on the four TPG topics;
- Ensure synergies between the national plans and the activities of the TPGs and their working plans.
“As in Paris in 2018, we today reaffirm our three key commitments to be preconditions for the successful development and innovation of the EHEA, that is to:
- implement a three-cycle system of programmes and degrees, based on learning outcomes and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), compatible with the overarching qualifications framework of the EHEA (QF-EHEA);
- support the recognition of qualifications throughout the EHEA by implementing the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Recognition Convention) and its principles, while working towards automatic recognition in the EHEA;
- promote a quality culture in higher education, fostered by fit-for-purpose quality assurance processes in line with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
The 2024 Bologna Process Implementation Report confirms and illustrates the still incomplete and uneven implementation of these key commitments, but also the important contribution of the Thematic Peer Groups under the guidance of the Bologna Implementation Coordination Group in improving the situation. ”
Therefore, in order to promote knowledge-sharing activities related to the EHEA and to ensure that any remaining implementation gaps are addressed, appropriate action plans will be devised and published.
The Thematic Peer Groups work collaboratively to identify and implement further actions that will enhance the implementation of the Key Commitments within participating countries. These groups are co-chaired by three countries and report their progress to the BICG.
Key responsibilities for each TPG include:
- Regularly updating their Action Plans to reflect progress and address new developments.
- Guiding participating countries in developing and updating their own Country Work Plans, ensuring alignment with TPG objectives.
- Nominating representatives with relevant expertise and authority to participate in TPG activities.
The TPG Co-Chairs (2024-2027):
TPG A: France, Georgia, Latvia.
TPG B: France, Italy, Ukraine.
TPG C: Armenia, France, Romania.
TPG D: ESU, Latvia, Malta.
Sub-page:
Specific thematic indications include topics such as:
- self-certification of the national qualification frameworks within the overarching Qualifications Framework of the EHEA;
- complete implementation of the ECTS User’s Guide;
- short cycle higher education;
- multiple purposes and use of the qualifications frameworks by the stakeholders;
- study programmes outside of the Bologna three-cycle structure;
- relationship between the qualifications frameworks and quality assurance.
Specific thematic orientations indicated include topics such as:
- establishing the legal framework to allow the implementation of the LRC;
- establishing the distribution of work and responsibilities among the competent institutions that have the right knowledge and capacity to carry out recognition procedures;
- achieving automatic recognition;
- recognition of alternative pathways;
- qualifications held by refugees;
- optimising the potential of digital technology for the recognition agenda and the Diploma Supplement.
Specific thematic orientations include topics such as:
- legislative framework in line with the ESG (introducing changes);
- ensuring effectiveness of internal quality assurance arrangements, including the use of QA results in the decision-making process and quality culture as well as links to learning and teaching;
- the role and engagement of stakeholders in internal and external QA (students, teachers, employers);
- Cross-border QA and European Approach to accreditation of joint programmes.
Updates from the BICG to the BFUG
2018-2020 cycle:
BFUG Meeting 63 Vienna September 2018 (under item 8. BICG update: composition of peer groups)
BFUG Meeting 65 Bucharest April 2019 (under item 6. Update from the BICG)
BFUG Meeting 67 Helsinki November 2019 (under item 5.1 Bologna Implementation Coordination Group)
BFUG Meeting 69 Kyiv March 2020 (under item 5.1 Bologna Implementation Coordination Group)
BFUG Meeting 71, online, hosted by Croatia June 2020 (under item 5.5 Bologna Implementation Coordination Group)
Board Meeting 72, online, hosted by United Kingdom (Scotland) September 2020 (under item 7.3 Bologna Implementation Coordination Group)
BFUG Meeting 73, online, hosted by Germany September 2020 (under item 6.3 Bologna Implementation Coordination Group)
2021-2024 cycle:
BFUG Board meeting 77, online, hosted by Armenia in October 2021
BFUG meeting 78, online, hosted by Slovenia in December 2021
BFUG Board meeting 79, online, hosted by Azerbaijan in February 2022
BFUG meeting 80, Strasbourg, hosted by France in April 2022
BFUG Board meeting 81, Astana, hosted by Kazakhstan in October 2022
BFUG meeting 82, Brno, hosted by the Czech Republic in November 2022
BFUG Board meeting 83, Sarajevo, hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 2023
BFUG meeting 84, Stockholm, hosted by Sweden in May 2023
BFUG Board meeting 85, Tbilisi, hosted by Georgia in October 2023
BFUG meeting 86, Madrid, hosted by Spain in November 2023
BFUG Board meeting 87, Vatican City, hosted by the Holy See in January 2024
BFUG meeting 88, Brussels, hosted by Belgium in February 2024
BFUG Board meeting 89, Vatican City, hosted by the Holy See in March 2024
BFUG meeting 90, Brussels, hosted by Belgium in April 2024
2024-2027 cycle:
BFUG meeting 95, Warsaw, hosted by Poland in February 2025
BICG Meetings
BICG Meetings 2024-20271st Bologna Coordination Implementation Group meeting, online, 4th of February 2025