The seminar organised by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports and the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation was attended by approximately 125 policy makers, representatives of the academic world and specialists both in international relations and in assessment and accreditation.

The main objective was to move forward in the development of common methodological tools for quality evaluation and accreditation of higher education within the European framework of the Bologna Declaration, with a view to identifying tools that are generally accepted as suitable and effective. Additional objectives were to compare processes and to analyse the networking of evaluation agencies and bodies with a view to the mutual recognition of their decisions. General Rapporteur was director Leonardo M. González.

It was confirmed that the networks of agencies will have an important role to play in the establishment of common accreditation criteria and methodologies that may lead to the mutual recognition of their decisions, in particular by means of their efforts to push for more and better knowledge of good practices and exchange of information and experience.

At the same time it was made clear that in defining these common criteria and methodologies it is necessary to take into account the diversity of the various systems and traditions that will go into the construction of a comparable framework.

There is a clear need to establish a glossary of terms that will make it possible to interpret the main features of each institution in the light of common but flexible principles and points of reference agreed at the European level.

For the implantation of an effective culture of quality, it is essential that governments, higher education institutions, quality agencies, teachers and students all participate, in view of the expectation that this process will benefit not only the involved agents but also society at large.

It will only be possible to establish common criteria and methodologies if mutual trust among institutions and agencies is achieved on a basis of greater transparency in accreditation processes. To that end it is essential to promote a peer review process among agencies.

Accreditation is viewed as an essential tool for the promotion of quality assurance in higher education systems. The accreditation process should be linked to the implementation of specific recommendations for the improvement of the evaluated qualifications and institutions. It was recommended that a concrete accreditation scheme be set up within the Bologna Process.

Source: General Report to the Bologna Follow-Up Group to the Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education - Bergen 19/20 May 2005
Bologna Process between Berlin and Bergen

Related documents

Assessment and accreditation in the European framework Santander 2004

• General Report, Leonardo Marcos González, Subdirector General de Formación y Movilidad en Posgrado y Posdoctorado, Dirección General de Universidades, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia.
• Programme
• Conclusions

Presentations and speeches

Menéndez Pelayo, Rector, International University (UIMP)

Francisco Marcellán, Director of ANECA

Séamus Puirséil, Member of ENQA Steering Group

Ian McKenna, Former Chair of the Bologna Follow up Group (BFUG)

Lesley Wilson, Secretary General of the European University Association (EUA)

Ailsa Crum, UK Delegate to the BFUG

Nicolaas Heerens, Representative of the National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB) Presentation Text

Karl Dittrich, Vice-president of the Netherlands Accreditation Organisation (NAO)

Helmut Konrad, President of the Austrian Accreditation Council

Andrzej Jamiołkowski, President of the Polish Committee for Accreditation

Hans-Uwe Erichsen, President of the German Accreditation Council

Oddvar Haugland, President of the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education

Fidel Corcuera, Advisor of ANECA European Convergence Programme

Other documents

• Presentation of the Seminar