The Bologna Process, initiated in 1999, aims to create a harmonized European Higher Education Area (EHEA) to enhance compatibility and coherence among educational systems across Europe. By 2015, the EHEA expanded to 49 countries, enabling graduates to move freely and have their qualifications recognized across borders, fostering a common degree structure and quality assurance standards. Key commitments include promoting student mobility, quality assurance, and inclusive education to meet the needs of diverse populations.

1. Overview of the
BOLOGNA PROCESS
EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA - 2015
PROFESSOR TANYA SAMMUT-BONNICI

3. Bologna Process
 First meeting held at the University of Bologna 1999, 24
European countries.
 Ministerial meetings (every 3 years) and agreements
between European countries
 Objectives: to ensure more
comparable, compatible
and coherent systems of
higher education in Europe
Prof Tanya Sammut-BonniciProfessor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici

4. European
Higher Education
Area
49 countries
 Launch 10 years after the
first Bologna Process
meeting
 49 members
Professor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici

5. European Higher Education Area
ACHIEVEMENTS
 Graduates can to
move within the EHEA
with recognition of
their qualifications
 Students can move
through different
universities
 Good Practices:
 Course structure
 Quality
 Inclusion
Prof Tanya Sammut-BonniciProfessor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici

6. 1. Enhancing the quality and
relevance of learning and teaching
2. Fostering the employability of
graduates throughout their
working
3. Making higher education systems
more inclusive as populations
become more diverse
4. Common degree structure and
credit system
5. Common quality assurance
standards and guidelines
EuropeanHigherEducationArea
Ministerial Communique May 2015
Members’ Commitments
Professor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici

7. EuropeanHigherEducationArea
Ministerial Communique May 2015
Members’ Commitments
5. Cooperation for mobility
6. Joint programmes and degrees
7. Recognition of credits gained abroad
8. Recognition of qualifications for academic and professional purposes
9. Recognition of prior learning
Prof Tanya Sammut-BonniciProfessor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici

8. EuropeanHigherEducationArea
Ministerial Communique May 2015
Members' Commitments
To implement policies adopted by
Ministers of EHEA this year:
1. Standards and Guidelines for Quality
Assurance in the European Higher
Education Area (ESG)
2. European Approach for Quality Assurance
of Joint Programmes
3. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
Users’ Guide
Professor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici

9. EuropeanHigherEducationArea
Ministerial Communique May 2015
Members' Commitments
1. Short Cycle courses (2 years, 120 ECTS)
2. Competence Requirements for Public Employment
3. Information on Graduates’ Career Patterns
4. Review National Legislations
5. Recognition of Prior Learning
6. National Qualifications Frameworks
7. Professional Recognition
8. Staff Mobility
9. Portability of Grants and Loans
10. Socially Inclusive
11. Automatically Recognized
12. EQAR Registered Agencies for Quality Processes
Prof Tanya Sammut-Bonniciordinator Bologna ProcessProfessor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici