Work programme 2012-2015

In the Bucharest Communiqué, the Ministers responsible for higher education in the 47 countries of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) agreed on the future priorities of the EHEA, which are as follows:

• to provide quality higher education for all;
• to enhance graduates' employability;
• to strengthen mobility as a means for better learning.

In order to fulfill the above mentioned goals the Ministers set out priorities for action by 2015 at the national level as well as at the European level, which are reflected in the 2012-2015 BFUG Work Plan. Moreover, the BFUG agreed to streamline 2012-2015 work structures by reducing the number of working groups. The new structure would allow the BFUG to play its role for strategic policy guidance, while concentrating on the key policy areas and, at the same time, it would allow a close interaction between and better implementation of the interlinked policy issues that are arranged under one working group.

BFUG Work Plan 2012-2015 - updated 10.10.2013

As part of the 2012-2015 BFUG Work Plan, the Bologna Follow-Up Group set up the following working groups (WGs), ad-hoc WGs and networks:

• Reporting on the Bologna Process Implementation WG - The European Higher Education Area in 2015: Bologna Process Implementation Report
• Structural Reforms' WG - Report by the Structural Reforms Working Group to the BFUG
• Ad-hoc Working Group on the Revision of the ECTS Users' Guide - ECTS Users' Guide 2015
• Social Dimension and Lifelong Learning WG - Report of the 2012-2015 BFUG Working Group on the Social Dimension and Lifelong Learning
  Widening Participation for Equity and Growth - A Strategy for the Development of the Social Dimension and Lifelong Learning in the European Higher Education Area to 2020
• Mobility and Internationalisation WG - Terms of reference Working Group on Mobility and Internationalisation - Endorsed 15.03.2013
• Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Third Cycle
• Network of NQF Correspondents
• Recognition of Prior Learning European Network
• NESSIE - Network of Experts on Student Support in Europe

During the Nicosia BFUG meeting (28-29 August 2012) in relation to the revision of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), the E4 group in cooperation with Education International, BusinessEurope and EQAR will prepare a first proposal for revision of the Standards and Guidlines for consideration of the BFUG. The initial proposal will be presented to the BFUG in its meeting in early 2014. More information is available on the official website of the ESG Revision.

In Cyprus the BFUG recommended to keep the Pathfinder group on automatic recognition out of the 2012-2015 work plan structures, but regularly report to the BFUG. The group may come up with findings that are of interest of the ‘Structural’ WG.

To further disseminate the Bologna reforms, countries and organisations participating in the Bologna Process also organise various seminars and conferences that are announced via the calendar of events.