Tirana, 31 May 2024
Yesterday, Higher Education Ministry representatives from 47 member countries of the European Higher Education Area and the EU Commission reaffirmed their commitment to supporting student and staff mobility. In the Tirana Communiqué adopted yesterday, they take stock of higher education cooperation to date and set the direction for 2025-27.
The ministers took further steps towards full implementation of the Bologna process. With the updated commitments related to removing barriers to learning mobility, internationalisation of higher education, and high-quality education, the Commission ensured strong links to the EU flagship initiatives. These include the European Universities initiative, the blueprint for a European degree, the Europe on the Move Council recommendation, and the European Student Card Initiative.
The communiqué supports the objectives of the so-called Bologna process to make higher education more comparable within the European Higher Education Area, while respecting fundamental academic values. The Bologna process – an intergovernmental initiative in higher education – is underpinned by commitments to a three-cycle system (Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate), to automatic recognition of learning outcomes and qualifications in compliance with the Lisbon Recognition Convention, and to quality assurance in line with European standards and guidelines.
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:
“This year, we celebrate 25 years of the Bologna process, which has broadened and deepened European cooperation in higher education. We have made a lot of progress through national reforms, but we must continue our work. So it’s heartening to see the renewed commitment of the ministers to the founding principles of the process. Strong and connected higher education helps ensure Europe’s prosperity and safeguard our democratic societies.”
Ahead of the Tirana Ministerial Conference, the Commission published the latest edition of the Bologna Process Implementation Report, which provides an overview of the progress in implementing of the policy commitments in higher education in the different countries.
Source – EU Commission