Bologna Process was launched with the Bologna Declaration of 1999 and after a series of ministerial meetings resulted in the creation of European Higher Education Area (EHEA). It is a voluntary, non-binding, intergovernmental reform initiative at European level that currently consists of 48 states. Turkey has been a full member of the Bologna Process and the EHEA since 2001.
Nine objectives constitute the pillars of the Bologna Process:
- introduction of the ECTS credit system and Diploma Supplement to facilitate comparability between the grades and employability
- adoption of a two-level system, where students can continue to Level 2 only after completing Level 1 and acceptance of a system based on undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level of study.
- promotion of the concept of life-long learning
- promotion of mobility of academic staff and students
- creating opportunities for flexible modes of acquiring knowledge that includes procedures for recognition of previous studies and competence
- strengthening the social dimension
- facilitating European collaboration in quality assurance, teaching programmes and inter-institutional cooperation
- development of national qualification frameworks compatible with adopted qualifications framework of the European Area of Higher Education,
- establishing stronger relationships between the European Area of Higher Education and the European Research Area.
Important Links
(1) http://www.yok.gov.tr/web/guest/bologna-sureci1
(2) http://www.ehea.info/pid34135/accueil.html
(3) http://www.ehea.info/pid34250/members.html