Development & Administration of Bologna Process
In College
- ECTS - European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System
- Diploma Supplement
- Implementing Learning Outcomes in College
- Resources for Academic Staff
At National Level
- Please see: http://www.eurireland.ie/
At European Level
- Inter-Governmental Ministerial Meetings
- Bologna Follow-Up Group
- Bologna Board
Inter-Governmental Ministerial Meetings
Decision-making in the Bologna Process is carried out at the political level. The principal forum for making decisions and setting priorities is the biennial ministerial meeting, where the Ministers with responsibility for higher education in each of the signatory countries meet to assess progress and to set the priorities for the next two-year period. The last ministerial summit took place in Bucharest in April 2012. (Previous meetings: Budapest and Vienna, March 2010; Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve, April 2009; London, May 2007; Bergen, May 2005; Berlin, September 2003; Prague, May 2001).
Bologna Follow-Up Group
The BFUG oversees the Bologna Process between the ministerial meetings and meets at least once every six months, usually for one-and-a-half days. The BFUG has the possibility to set up working groups to deal with specific topics in more details and, also, receives input from Bologna Seminars. The BFUG is composed of the representatives of all members of the Bologna Process and the European Commission, with the Council of Europe, the EUA, EURASHE, ESU, UNESCO-CEPES, Education International, ENQA and BUSINESSEUROPE, as consultative members. The BFUG is being co-chaired by the country holding the EU Presidency and a non-EU country, which rotate every six months. The vice-chair is the country organising the next Ministerial Conference.
Bologna Board
The composition of the Board changed in 2010, together with the adoption of the document “Briefing note for decision by the Ministers” (BFUG (ES) 20_7c).
The current members of the Board are:
The central task of the Bologna Secretariat is to support the work of the Follow-up Group at various levels: BFUG, Board, Working Groups, Networks and Seminars. The Secretariat prepares draft agendas, draft reports, notes and minutes and carries out the practical preparation for meetings as requested by the Chairs.
Another task of the Secretariat that has become increasingly important is to provide up-to-date and reliable information about the Bologna Process (for both a European and a non-European audience) and to maintain an electronic archive. To fulfill those functions, the Secretariat makes use of the EHEA permanent website as a central tool.