The Bologna Process and the activities of Montenegro in the Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG)
The Bologna Declaration is a joint declaration of the European Ministers of Education signed in Bologna in June 1999, aimed at reforming Europe’s higher education system and representing the foundation of the Bologna Process.
By participating in the Bologna Process, the signatory countries of the Bologna Declaration also confirm their participation in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
EHEA as an initiative was formally launched on March 12, 2010 at the Ministerial Conference in Budapest and Vienna. The aim of this initiative was to intensify cooperation between higher education institutions across Europe and improve mobility. Currently, European Higher Education Area has 49 members.
The main goal of implementing the Bologna Declaration is to guarantee every student the acquisition of quality knowledge, abilities and skills that make them competitive, both on the local, regional and global labour market.
The Bologna process achieves this goal through a reformed system of higher education composed of three study cycles and the European credit transfer system ECTS, as a measure of the scope of studies. Also, the reformed system is characterized by the introduction of the concept of quality assurance and continuous quality control, the introduction of diploma supplements (as a supporting document describing the study program and acquired knowledge, skills and competences), the mobility of students and teaching staff, the recognition of acquired qualifications and diplomas in accordance with the Lisbon Convention, the inclusion of students as partners in the educational and decision-making process, as well as the concept of lifelong learning.
Montenegro has been participating in the Bologna Process since 2003. At the Ministerial Conference held in London in 2007, Montenegro’s membership and status as an independent and internationally recognized state was confirmed. By participating in the Bologna Process, Montenegro confirms its activity within the EHEA. At the Ministerial Conference in Yerevan in 2015, Montenegro undertook the obligation to implement “European standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG)”. Guided by this intention in 2017, the Government of Montenegro passed the Decision on the establishment of Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education (ACQAHE).
Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG)
The BFUG is the executive structure overseeing the Bologna Process. It has been in place since The BFUG is entrusted with preparing the Ministerial Conferences, Bologna Process Implementation Report, policy forums and with overseeing the Bologna Process between Ministerial Conferences. The BFUG meetings play an important role in overseeing the implementation of the Ministerial Communiqués, as well as in developing the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
In March 2023, the Ministry of Education appointed Milica Kavedžić, Deputy Director of ACQAHE, as the representative of Montenegro in the BFUG. Thus, after a long time, Montenegro renewed its international presence in the umbrella structure of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). By participating in BFUG, ACQAHE faced an extremely important and responsible task related to the implementation of the Bologna reforms.
In order to pay a special focus on specific topics, BFUG forms additional subgroups. Therefore, in addition to membership in the aforementioned umbrella group (BFUG), ACQAHE also became a member of the following working and coordination groups in 2023:
Thematic Peer Group A on Qualifications Framework (TPG A on QF) aims at implementing of one of the 3 key commitments of the EHEA “A Three-Cycle System compatible with the QF-EHEA and first and second cycle degrees scaled by ECTS“. Programmes are structured according to the three cycle-system of the Bologna model and scaled by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Qualifications achieved in each cycle are defined in a National Qualification Framework (NQF) which is compatible with the Qualification Framework of the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA). Specific topics of this group are: self-certification of the national qualification frameworks, the overarching Qualifications Framework of the EHEA, complete implementation of the ECTS User’s Guide, multiple purposes and use of the qualifications frameworks by the stakeholders, study programmes outside of the Bologna three-cycle structure, relationship between the qualifications frameworks and quality assurance.
Thematic Peer Group B on the Lisbon Recognition Convention (TPG B on LRC) aims at implementing of the second key commitment of the EHEA “Compliance with the Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC)“. Cross-border recognition practices should be in compliance with the Lisbon Recognition convention, including promoting through the national information centres or otherwise, the use the Diploma Supplement. Specific topics of this group are: establishing the legal framework to allow the implementation of the LRC, establishing the distribution of work and responsibilities among the competent institutions that have the right knowledge and capacity to carry out recognition procedures, achieving automatic recognition, recognition of alternative pathways, qualifications held by refugees, optimising the potential of digital technology for the recognition agenda and the Diploma Supplement.
Thematic Peer Group C on Quality assurance (TPG C on QA) aims at implementing the third key commitment of the EHEA “Quality Assurance in compliance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG)”. Institutions granting degrees should assure the quality of their programmes leading to degrees within the three-cycle system following the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015). External quality assurance at programme or institutional level is performed by QA agencies by implementing the standards and guidelines stipulated in the current ESG. Specific topics of this group are: legislative framework in line with the ESG (introducing changes), ensuring effectiveness of internal quality assurance arrangements, implementation of QA results in the decision-making process and quality culture, to the connection between learning and teaching, the role and engagement of stakeholders in internal and external QA (students, teachers, employers), cross-border QA and European Approach to the QA of joint programmes.
Coordination Group on Global Policy Dialogue (CG GPD) aims at developing continuous dialogue with other regions and international organisations on matters of common concern and relevance for higher education with respect to which cooperation and sharing of ideas and policies can be mutually beneficial. Quality cooperation between different regions is a key step towards the fulfilment of the goals set by the document “Education until 2030 – Framework for the fulfilment of actions for the implementation of the 4th goal of sustainable development (SD4)”: “Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
Working Group on Social Dimension (WG SD) aims to develop and support national plans and strategies aimed at strengthening social dimension of higher education, as well as to improve access and completion by under-represented and vulnerable groups. This group aims to identify the needs of the EHEA arising from economic, political, environmental and technical developments.
The Task Force on Enhancing Knowledge Sharing in the EHEA community (TF EKS) was founded to improve commitment to the Rome Communiqué and to build a better connected and sustainable higher education community, which fosters the inclusion, communication, cooperation and solidarity that are essential to the relevance and future of the EHEA. Current and future goals to be discussed at seminars, workshops and events should involve the wider higher education community and explore new ways of collaboration.
Working group on Fundamental Values aims at developing a comprehensive framework for further monitoring and implementation of the core values of the EHEA in the higher education systems of its members. The system should encourage self-reflection and constructive dialogue while allowing an assessment of the extent to which these core values are respected and implemented in the EHEA.
Working Group on Learning and Teaching aims at innovative and inclusive approaches in learning and teaching, with examples of best practice on how public authorities could support developing institutions, improve and implement teaching strategies and learning within institutions of higher education while respecting academic freedom and autonomy of institutions of higher education.
Obligations arising from the above-mentioned groups include attending regular meetings both in physical and online format, analysing incoming materials and submitting comments, as well as other obligations delegated by the group coordinator.
The following Ministerial Conference is scheduled for May 29 – 30, 2024 in Tirana, Albania, where ministers within the European Higher Education Area, will gather in one place. On this occasion, the ministers will analyse the achievements in the implementation of the Bologna reforms within the last four years and will sign the “Tirana Communiqué”. The aforementioned document will provide guidelines for the implementation of reforms for the next period. Global Policy Forum will be held as part of the Ministerial Conference, as well as other events related to the activities of the BFUG.