News January-December 2008
19/12/08: Conclusions and Presentations of the Bologna Seminar on QA in TNE now online
On 1-2 December 2008, ENQA organised in London a Bologna Seminar on "Quality Assurance in Transnational Education (TNE) – From words to action". For more information read the conclusions and recommendations as well as the presentations of the seminar.
09/12/08: New date and place for Bologna Seminar "Joint programmes and student mobility"
The Bologna Seminar on "Joint programmes and student mobility" that was to be held in St. Petersburg on 22-23 January 2009 will take place on 16-17 March 2009 in Chelyabinsk (transportation will be provided from Ekaterinburg). More information on the seminar will be published on this website as soon as it is available.
02/12/08: Presentations of the Tbilisi Bologna Seminar now online
On 27-28 November 2008, a Bologna Seminar was held in Tbilisi, Georgia, on "Aligning National against European Qualifications Frameworks: the Principles of Self Certification". Download now the presentations and final recommendations of this seminar.
26/11/08: Changes concerning Bologna Seminar "Joint programmes and student mobility"
The Bologna Seminar on "Joint programmes and student mobility" that was to be held in St. Petersburg on 22-23 January 2009 will either take place on a different date and/or at a different place. More information will follow soon.
18/11/08: International Trends in Quality Assurance (QA): 500 stakeholders gather in Budapest, Hungary, for the 3rd European QA Forum (20-22 November 2008)
More than five hundred higher education representatives, students, researchers in higher education and quality assurance specialists from across Europe and beyond will gather at Corvinus University of Budapest later this week (20-22 November 2008) to take part in the 3rd European Quality Assurance Forum. The Forum will examine international and European trends in Quality Assurance, in particular the implications of developments like the emergence of quality labels and ranking schemes, as well as a focus on learning outcomes linked to the development of qualifications frameworks. To find out more about the conference, please visit the event website.
13/11/08: Presentations from Employability Seminar now online
On 6-7 November 2008, more than 100 participants from almost 30 countries, representing governments, higher education institutions, students, and employers, met in Luxembourg to discuss the issue of employability, paying particular attention to the employers' perspective. The presentations and speeches can now be downloaded from our website.
23/10/08: German Rectors' Conference Publication on the Bologna reforms
The German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) has produced a publication on the Bologna reforms and their effects in Germany and Europe. The collection of articles with the title “Educating for a Global World: Reforming German Universities toward the European Higher Education Area” is available as e-book and from the HRK website (also as paper copy).
21/10/08: Conference on indicators on 13-14 November 2008 in Paris instead of Nice
The conference on international indicators entitled "International comparison of education systems: a European model?" scheduled for 13-14 November 2008 will take place in Paris and not in Nice as initially planned. For more information on the conference go to the website of the French Presidency
09/10/08: Register now for the Bologna Seminar on Employability
It is still possible to register for the Bologna Seminar "Employability: the Employers' Perspective and its Implications" that will take place in Luxembourg on 6-7 November 2008. Employers are particularly encouraged to participate in the seminar, together with representatives of higher education institutions, governments and students. For more information, including the registration form, go to the seminar page
06/10/08: European conference on qualifications frameworks and self certification
On 27-28 November 2008, the Ministry of Education of Georgia and the Council of Europe will host a Bologna Seminar on "Aligning National against European Qualifications Frameworks: the Principles of Self Certification". Registration for this event is now open. Read more...
01/10/08: Register now for the Bologna Seminar on the Social Dimension
The Hungarian Ministry of Education and Culture invites to a Bologna Seminar entitled "Equality in a Knowledge-based Society - How to Widen Opportunities?" in Budapest on 10-11 November 2008. Registration deadline is 20 October 2008. For more information visit the conference website.
23/09/08: Registration for the Bologna Seminar on Recognition of Prior Learning now open
On 11-12 December 2008, the Netherlands will host a Bologna Seminar, which is
organised in cooperation with the BFUG Coordination Group for Lifelong Learning,
EURASHE, EUA and ESU.
For more information about the seminar and the registration procedure visit the
conference
website.
15/09/08: Results of Porto Bologna Seminar now online
The final report and the recommendations of the Porto Bologna Seminar on "Development of a Common Understanding of Learning Outcomes and ECTS", which took place on 19-20 June 2008, are now available from the conference website.
05/09/08: Register for Bologna Seminar on Third Cycle Degrees by 12 September!
There are still a few places available for the Bologna Seminar in Helsinki on 30 September-1October : "Third cycle degrees: competences and researcher careers". The aim of the seminar is to share best practices with regard to the internationalisation of the 3rd cycle, transparent learning outcomes and more predictable researcher careers. Policy-makers, designers and organisers of postgraduate education, and various stakeholders in the Bologna Process can register online until 12 September via the website of the Finnish Ministry of Education.
11/08/08: European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR) now open for applications
Quality assurance agencies for higher education can now officially apply to
join the new European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR) which was founded in
March this year and which aims to provide clear and objective information about
trustworthy quality assurance agencies working in Europe.
Read the full
press release or visit the EQAR website
04/08/08: Register now for "Employability: the Employers' Perspective and its Implications"
On 6-7 November 2008, Luxembourg will host a Bologna Seminar focusing on the employers' perspective. Are employers aware of the new degree structure? How do they react to it? Which needs, doubts, and expectations do they have - concerning both graduates and cooperation with higher education institutions? Employers are therefore particularly encouraged to participate in the seminar, together with representatives of higher education institutions, governments and students. More...
04/08/08: Report on Quality Assurance and Qualifications Frameworks
The report of the "ENQA Workshop on Quality Assurance and Qualifications Frameworks", hosted by the ENQA member agency HETAC in Dublin in June 2007 is now available. The articles have been submitted by the presenters of the workshop. The report gives an overview on recent European developments and examines the implications of the qualifications frameworks for quality assurance in different European countries. Download the full report.
24/07/08: Registration is now open for the 3rd European Quality Assurance Forum, taking place at Corvinus University of Budapest on 20 - 22 November 2008
Following the success of the last forum which attracted more than 500 participants from across Europe, this year's edition will explore European and international trends in Quality Assurance. The specific objectives will be to gain an understanding of how higher education institutions and QA agencies are responding to new forms of accountability and to analyse whether these new forms of accountability have the desired impact on quality levels and to examine their unintended consequences. The event is aimed at rectors and vice-rectors responsible for QA, QA officers in higher education institutions, students, QA agency staff, Bologna Promoters, employers and researchers working on higher education or quality assurance. For more information and to register visit the forum website.
22/07/08: Bologna information booklet now available for download
On behalf of the Bologna Follow-up Group, the working group on European Higher Education in a Global Setting, with kind support from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research, has prepared an information booklet on the Bologna Process and the emerging European Higher Education Area. The booklet may be freely used and copied for non-commercial purposes and is available in three versions: a web version (also suitable for regular printing); a print version (for printing in booklet format); and a version for professional printing.
22/07/08: Yerevan Conference on Qualifications Frameworks
On 8-9 September 2008, a regional Conference on Qualifications Frameworks in Higher Education will be held in Yerevan, co-organised by the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and the Council of Europe. Conference programme, practical information, registration form.
18/07/08: Register now for EI/ESU Mobility Conference in Lille, 6-7 October 2008
On 6-7 October 2008 Education International (EI) and European Students' Union (ESU) will organise a conference in Lille to present the first results of their Mobility Campaign "Let's go!". The conference is open for BFUG members, students, staff and other actors in European higher education. Conference themes will include financing mobility, mobility and trade agreements, diversifying mobility, mobility and quality assurance as well as pension schemes, social benefits and the social dimension of mobility. Activities carried out at national level as part of the Mobility Campaign will also be presented. For more information and to register online go to the conference website.
17/07/08: South East Europe sets up regional network for qualifications frameworks
On 8-9 July 2008, representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and Turkey met in Cetinje to set up a regional network for qualifications frameworks. The network will also be open to Greece, Serbia and Slovenia, all of which were unable to participate in Cetinje. The meeting was opened by the Minister of Education of Montenegro, Professor Sreten Škuletić, and it was co-organized by the Ministry of Education of Montenegro and the Council of Europe. For more information visit the Council of Europe website.
16/07/08: Canadian Universities Adopt Statement on the Bologna Process
In June 2008, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada adopted
a 
statement on the Bologna Process. The statement builds on a longer
background document from April 2008.
07/07/08: Register now for the Bologna Seminar on Third Cycle Degrees in Helsinki
On 30 September-1October 2008 a Bologna Seminar will be held in Helsinki with the title "Third cycle degrees: competences and researcher careers". The aim of the seminar is to share best practices with regard to the internationalisation of the 3rd cycle, transparent learning outcomes and more predictable researcher careers. The seminar is aimed at policy makers, designers and organisers of postgraduate education as well as various stakeholders in the Bologna Process. For more information and to register online, please visit the website of the Finnish Ministry of Education.
04/07/08: Conference to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Magna Charta Universitatum
The Magna Charta Observatory is organising an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Magna Charta Universitatum. The conference will take place in Bologna on 18-20 September 2008. To download the programme and to register for this event, please visit the conference website.
On 18 September 1988 some 400 rectors from universities worldwide signed the Magna Charta Universitatum. This document has since become the reference for the fundamental values and principles of the university, in particular institutional autonomy and academic freedom. By now, some 600 universities have signed the Magna Charta Universitatum. The Observatory of the Magna Charta was jointly created by the European University Association and the University of Bologna to protect, promote and monitor the fundamental principles and values.
02/07/08: Yerevan Conference on Qualifications Frameworks
On 8-9 September 2008, a regional Conference on Qualifications Frameworks in Higher Education will be held in Yerevan, co-organised by the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and the Council of Europe. For details see the conference programme. To register, use this registration form.
01/07/08: French take over six-month presidency of Bologna Process
From 1 July 2008 until 31 December 2008 the French EU Presidency will also chair the Bologna Process. For more information on the French EU Presidency and related events in the field of education visit the French Presidency website.
17/06/08: Follow Bologna Seminar in Porto live via Internet on 19-20 June!
The Porto Seminar on "Development of a Common Understanding of Learning Outcomes and ECTS" that will take place on 19-20 June will be broadcast live through the Internet. Those interested can follow the Seminar at http://portobologna.up.pt, starting on Thursday 19 June at 9.30 am local time (GMT).
03/06/08: Register still today for Bologna Seminar in Berlin
There are still a few places left for the Bologna Seminar organised by the German Rectors' Conference in Berlin on 12-13 June 2008. The Seminar is entitled "Penalized for Being Mobile? National Pension Schemes as an Obstacle to Mobility for Researchers in the European Higher Education Area" (for details see the conference programme). Register by 4 June 2008 using this registration form.
02/06/08: EQAR website goes online
The website of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) is now online. EQAR has been founded in March 2008 to increase the transparency of quality assurance in higher education across Europe. EQAR will publish a list of quality assurance agencies that comply substantially with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance for the first time in autumn 2008. For more information visit the EQAR website.
30/05/08: Report on the Bologna Process from a US perspective
"The Bologna Club: What U.S. Higher Education Can Learn from a Decade of European Reconstruction" is the intriguing title of a report by Clifford Adelman that was recently published by the Institute for Higher Education Policy in Washington. To read the full report, go to the Institute's website.
22/05/08: Presentations and conference report from Ghent Bologna Seminar now online
On 19 and 20 May 2008 around 200 participants from across Europe and other parts of the world met in Ghent (Belgium) to discuss the future of the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area. The general report and the presentations of the seminar can be found on our web page.
20/05/08: Conference on classification of higher education institutions, Berlin, 10-11 July 2008
On 11 and 12 July 2008, the German Rectors' Conference will host a conference on "Transparency in Diversity – Towards a Classification of European Higher Education Institutions", the second conference of the EU-funded Project: "Classifying European Institutions of Higher Education, Phase II" (CEIHE II). For more information, visit the project website.
14/05/08: European Parliament report on Bologna process and student mobility
Doris Pack (Member of European Parliament) presented a draft report on the Bologna Process and student mobility to the Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, including a motion for a European Parliament Resolution. Read the full report.
13/05/08: New Publication "Implementing and Using Quality Assurance: Strategy and Practice"
A new EUA publication Implementing and Using Quality Assurance: Strategy and Practice gathers contributions from the Second European Quality Assurance Forum that took place 15-17 November 2007 at the Sapienza Universita di Roma. The keynotes discuss quality from a conceptual, historical and policy perspective, while the papers are mostly focused on institutional case studies and show the variety of ways that higher education institutions and QA agencies ensure quality.
08/05/08: Register now for the Tuning dissemination conference, Brussels, 12-13 June 2008
The second thematic Dissemination Conference of the project Tuning Educational Structures in Europe entitled "Competence-based learning: the approach for the future?" will be held in Brussels on 12 and 13 June 2008. For more information, read the conference programme or go to the Tuning website, where you can also register for the conference. Registration deadline is 21 May 2008.
06/05/08: Conclusions of the Moscow Bologna Seminar on ECTS now available
On 17-18 April 2008, a Bologna Seminar was held in Moscow on "ECTS based on learning outcomes and student workload". You can download here the conclusions of this seminar.
30/04/08: EQF formally adopted
The Recommendation on the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF) was signed on 23 April by the Presidents of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union and is therefore formally adopted. For more information read press release and memo (question and answer paper) at the European Commission website or download the full text of the Recommendation in English, French, or German.
23/04/08: Conference on the structure of medical education, Berlin, 10-11 October 2008
On 10-11 October 2008, the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) will host in Berlin a conference entitled "The Structure of Medical Education in Europe: Implementing Bologna - On the way to a European success story?". For more information download here draft programme and registration form.
21/04/08: website of the Bologna Seminar in Porto, 19-20 June 2008, now online
A Bologna Seminar on "Development of a Common Understanding of Learning Outcomes and ECTS" will be organised in Porto (Portugal) on 19-20 June 2008. The seminar website is now online, where you can find draft programme, registration form and much more useful information.
18/04/08: EUA Council for Doctoral Education Launch Conference, Lausanne, 1-3 June 2008
EUA's Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE) is a new independent membership service being developed by EUA to intensify the dialogue on the reform of doctoral education in Europe. The aim of the launch conference is to introduce EUA-CDE to European universities. The conference is targeted at rectors, vice-rectors, heads of doctoral/ graduate/ research schools, researchers, supervisors, and experts on the topic of doctoral education. For more information visit the conference website.
15/04/08: Registration for Bologna Seminar on student mobility now open
The French Community of Belgium is organising a Bologna Seminar entitled
"Fostering student mobility: next steps? Involving stakeholders for an improved
mobility inside the EHEA". The Seminar will take place in Brussels on 29-30 May
2008. For more information and to register online go to the
conference website
.
10/04/08: ACA Publication on English-Taught Programmes in European Higher Education
The Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) has published a study on "English-Taught Programmes in European Higher Education". Based on surveys of 2,200 higher education institutions in 27 European countries in which English is not the domestic language, the study shows that programmes taught in English are on the rise, especially at Master level. While in many countries still a fairly marginal phenomenon, this is not the case in the Netherlands, Finland and other Nordic countries, which are identified as leaders in this form of tuition.
07/04/08: Industrialised Countries Instrument Education Cooperation
Programme (ICI ECP)
Call for proposals 2008 - Application deadline: 6 June 2008
The European Commission, in conjunction with the governments of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, published a new multi-country call for proposals in the field of higher education. The objective of this call is to support international curriculum development projects that involve short term mobility at undergraduate or masters' level between the EU and the partner countries. Consortia applying for projects under this call are formed by at least 3 institutions from the EU and 2 institutions from a given partner country. Further information is available from the European Commission website
04/04/08: Call for Papers for ICHE Conference in Malaysia
The 20th International Conference on Higher Education (ICHE) "The Role of the University in Bridging Civilizations", hosted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, will take place in Bangi (Malaysia) on 22-24 August 2008. A call for papers has been issued. Deadline for submission of abstracts is 1 May 2008. For more information on conference programme and registration visit the ICHE website.
02/04/08: Tempus IV Call for Proposals
The European Union programme Trans-European mobility scheme for university studies (Tempus) enters a new phase. The first Call for Proposals invites the submission of cooperative projects under two actions types, Joint Projects and Structural Measures, from partnerships comprised of higher education institutions, enterprises, ministries, NGOs, associations etc., from EU and partner countries. The deadline for the electronic submission of proposals is 28 April 2008.
31/03/08: EUA online survey on the master cycle
The European University Association (EUA) is currently carrying out an online survey on the state of master programmes around Europe. The aim is to provide comparative information across the Bologna countries on what institutions are doing with their master programmes and how innovation in the cycle is perceived. More information on the EUA website
Higher education institutions' representatives, academics, students and
employers that have not yet done so,
are encouraged to take ten minutes to fill in
the questionnaire below before mid May.
Higher Education Institutions' Representatives
Academics
Students
Employers
31/03/08: EUA online survey on joint programmes in Europe
In a parallel project, EUA is also gathering information on joint programmes in Europe. The aim of this work is to find out how joint programmes have been evolving in the past few years - in all cycles - and to assess their potential impact on the emerging European Higher Education Area. The survey is designed specifically for academics, administratorsand studentswho have direct experience of joint programmes. It will remain open until 30 April 2008.
25/03/08: Register now for Bologna Seminar on Bologna Beyond 2010, 18-20 May 2008 in Ghent
The registration for the Bologna Seminar "Unlocking Europe's potential - Contributing to a better world" on 18-20 May 2008 in Ghent (Belgium), is now open. For more information on the seminar read the provisional programme. To register, please use the online form of the Flemish Community.
19/03/08: Netherlands ratifies Council of Europe/UNESCO Recognition Convention
On 19 March 2008, the Netherlands deposited its instrument of acceptation of the Council of Europe/UNESCO Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Recognition Convention). The Convention will come into force with respect to the Netherlands on 1 May 2008. 47 countries have now ratified this convention, while another four have signed it and are in the process of ratification.
17/03/08: Register now for the Tuning Dissemination Conference, 20-21 April in Brussels
On 20-21 April 2008, the first thematic Dissemination Conference of the project Tuning Educational Structures in Europe entitled "Student Workload and Learning Outcomes; Key Components for (Re)Designing Degree Programmes" will take place in Brussels. For more information and to register online, please go to the website of the Tuning project. Deadline for registration is 28 March 2008.
11/03/08: UCSIA International Conference "Rethinking the University after Bologna", 12-13 December 2008, Antwerp, Belgium - call for papers and workshops
ThThe University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp (UCSIA) is organising the two-day international conference
"Rethinking the university
after Bologna: new concepts and practices beyond tradition and the market" on the 12-13 December 2008 in Antwerp, Belgium. For more information, please read the
conference programme or visit the
conference website. In preparation of the conference, UCSIA has launched a
call for papers and workshops. Proposals should be submitted to by 15 April 2008.
10/03/08: Register now for the Bologna Seminar on Staff Mobility and Pension Schemes
On 12-13 June 2008, the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) will host a Bologna Seminar in Berlin entitled "Penalized for Being Mobile? National Pension Schemes as an Obstacle to Mobility for Researchers in the EHEA". Draft programme and Registration form.
07/03/08: EUA Autumn Conference, Rotterdam - call for papers
The Autumn Conference of the European University Association in Rotterdam (23-25 October 2008) will consider how best to promote the development of inclusive and responsive universities able to cope with the numerous challenges facing European universities - such as demographic changes, global competition or new modes of knowledge production and transmission. In order to provide participants with a broad range of topical input, EUA issued a call for papers. The deadline for submission of papers is 15 April 2008.
05/03/08: Results of 2008 TEPE conference
On 21-23 February 2008 the Teacher Education Policy in Europe Network (TEPE) held its annual conference with the title "Teacher Education in Europe: mapping the landscape and looking to the future". You can download here the conclusions and recommendations. For more background information and the conference proceedings please visit the conference website.
04/03/08: European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) officially launched!
The European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR)
was officially launched in Brussels today in a move
designed to improve the quality of European higher education and to promote
greater student mobility. The new register is a landmark for European
cooperation in quality assurance of higher education in the context of the
Bologna Process reforms. For more details read the full
press
release and our news item of 18/02/08.
04/03/08: Russian Bologna Seminar on "ECTS based on learning outcomes and student workload" - registration now open!
For more information read the invitation. To register, please use the registration form or go directly to the website of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.
02/03/08: Results of Scottish Bologna Seminar on Learning Outcomes online
A Bologna Seminar entitled "Learning outcomes based higher education: the Scottish experience" was held on 21 and 22 February 2008 at the Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot Watt University. The purpose of this seminar was to provide an opportunity for educational professionals from across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) to share their experience and knowledge of the development of policy and practice in the use of learning outcomes at national, institutional and programme level. The seminar was designed for staff from Government Higher Education Departments, National Quality Assurance Agencies, National qualifications framework bodies, Higher education institutions, Teaching staff and National student bodies from across the EHEA and was attended by some 170 participants.
The conference materials (background report, presentations, final conclusions and recommendations) have been posted on this website.
28-29/02/08: Education International Pan-European Structure, Higher Education & Research Standing Committee (HERSC) meeting
EI's Higher Education and Research Standing Committee meets in Dubrovnik to discuss current developments in the Bologna Process as well as the future of the Bologna Process after 2010. The committee will also follow-up on the work undertaken in the Mobility campaign, done jointly with ESU. Other topics that will be addressed are academic freedom, climate change, researchers' careers and matters relating to European Union work in the area of higher education and research. For further information please visit the Education International website.
29/02/08: New Qualifications Framework Website launched!
The new Bologna web page on qualifications frameworks, developed by the Council of Europe, the Bologna Secretariat and the Coordination Group on Qualifications Frameworks was launched today.
22/02/08: Third European Quality Assurance Forum - Call for papers, workshops and posters
The Third European Quality Assurance Forum, co-organised by ENQA, ESU, EUA and EURASHE and supported by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission, is hosted by Corvinus University (Budapest, Hungary) on 20-22 November 2008. A call for papers, workshops and posters has just been launched. For more information visit the EUA website or read the call. Deadline for submission is 31 July 2008.
21/02/08: New EU-Asia Higher Education Platform
European University Association (EUA), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic) have been selected by the European Commission to set up an EU-Asia Higher Education Platform for European and Asian academics and policy makers. For more information, please visit the EUA website.
20/02/08: Council of Europe Seminar on 'Intercultural Dialogue on the University Campus' on 4-5 March 2008 in Strasbourg
The seminar is part of the Council of Europe project on
"Promoting Intercultural Dialogue in the European Higher Education
Area" and
will be held at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg.
It is expected to bring together
around 150 experts, interested stakeholders and representatives from 49 European
states party to the European Cultural Convention as well as other countries,
international organisations and higher education community. For
further information please consult the
conference programme or visit the
Council of Europe's website
.
20/02/08: EAIE call for papers on implementing the Bologna Process in Romania
The European Association for International Education
(EAIE) and Babeş-Bolyai University
in Cluj-Napoca will organise an international
seminar on "Implementation of the
Bologna Declaration in Romania. Facts and Perspectives" in
Cluj-Napoca on 19-21 June 2008.
They issued a call for
papers on the implementation of the Bologna Process in Romania. Submission deadline is 14 March 2008.
18/02/08: Founding of the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR) on 4 March 2008
The European representative bodies of quality assurance agencies, students,
universities and other higher education institutions, ENQA, ESU, EUA and EURASHE,
will establish the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education
(EQAR) as a Belgian International Non-Profit Association (aisbl/ivzw) on 4 March
2008 in Brussels. The four organisations, also known as E4 Group, have been
mandated by the Bologna ministers in London last May to set
up a register of quality assurance agencies that operate in Europe and
comply substantially with the
European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance. In addition to the
E4 Group, the social partners, BUSINESSEUROPE and Education International, as
well as the Bologna governments and their intergovernmental bodies, Council of
Europe and UNESCO-CEPES, can become members of the EQAR association and
participate in its establishment and management. The establishment of EQAR aims
at increasing mutual trust in quality assurance across Europe and at preventing
dubious agencies, so-called "accreditation mills", from gaining credibility. To
be included in the Register, quality assurance agencies are required to undergo
an external review by independent experts and submit their external review
report to EQAR. A Register Committee, comprising 11 independent quality
assurance experts, will decide upon applications. It is anticipated that
agencies will be able to apply for inclusion from summer 2008. Further
information can be found in the
EQAR information
document.