Stage set for European education market

Education Minister Louis Galea has signed the Bergen Communiqué, the latest in a series of declarations as part of the Bologna Process at a conference entitled Realising The European Higher Education Area, which took place in Bergen, Norway.

The Bologna Process has set the stage for ministers of education in Europe to create a European education market. This is not simply an EU bloc: the process has also welcomed Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Students from participating countries will be able to move freely between one higher education institution and another, where there are harmonised systems of credits, degrees and quality assurance.

Maltese students are recognised as full partners in this process, and the students' representative body, the KSU, has been active in promoting the Bologna process locally as well as promoting students' interests in the communiqué.

The new declaration puts added emphasis on the social facet of the Bologna Process. This is defined as a collection of "measures taken by governments to help students, especially from socially disadvantaged groups, in financial and economic aspects and to provide them with guidance and counselling services with a view to widening access."

Anthony F. Camilleri, incoming president of the KSU, explained: "By reaffirming its commitment to the Bologna Process in the signing of the Bergen communiqué...we have shown that despite some nagging drawbacks, Malta can be at the forefront of education reform."

Mr Camilleri backed this up by mentioning the "positive results awarded to Malta in the midterm stocktaking report of progress in implementation of the Bologna Action Lines".

He did not hesitate, however, to warn that this shower of praise was "no reason for complacency." The KSU is calling for a full implementation of a free-of-charge diploma supplement and the setting up of a national quality assurance agency by the end of the year.

Mr Camilleri revealed that he felt a certain amount of pride when he saw "students' efforts recognised by the reference to our positions and surveys within the Communiqué." He was quick to emphasise that the new prioritisation of the social dimension should be complemented with deserved action.

The KSU was present for the conference in Norway.