ETS Europe sponsors debate on compatibility of degrees and qualifications across Europe - 01/10/2007

Entitled “How comparable are higher education degrees and qualifications across Europe?” the event was held in Brussels on September 20th. Organised by European Voice, a weekly newspaper with an independent view of the European Union whose mission is to promote informed debate, openness and progress in the EU, the event brought together representatives from the European Commission, European University Association (EUA), the British Parliament and the Bologna Process Group.

The consensus brought about by the debate is that the Bologna Process has imposed positive effects within the structural development of European Universities by introducing three standard cycles (Bachelor, Master and Doctorate) throughout the continent.

Moreover, with the implementation of the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) throughout Europe, learning outcomes of study programmes become more transparent. This alone is a major step in enabling the creation of a unified European higher education sector where  academic degree and quality assurance standards are comparable and compatible, as well as increasing mobility of students and faculty throughout Europe. To attain such a goal, universities must provide their individual contribution towards delivering high-quality higher education and achieving quality and transparency as set forth in the Bologna Process. The Bologna Process is to make access to higher education easier and faster and it is the European answer to the globalisation of higher education.