Work programme of the Bologna Follow-Up Group 2005-2007
Forum Higher Education Governance
Higher education governance is an issue that is strongly connected to the Council of Europe’s key missions: protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It is also very much present in the discussions in the framework of the Bologna process. Although it has not yet been treated as a separate issue (apart from one Bologna seminar on “Student participation in governance in higher education” organized by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research) it is an underlying theme for all aspects of the implementation of the Bologna Declaration.
The Council of Europe Higher Education Forum “Higher Education Governance between democratic culture, academic aspirations and market forces” took place in Strasbourg, France on 22 – 23 September 2005.
One of the main focuses of the current activities of the Higher Education and Research Division of the Council of Europe is “Higher Education Governance”. The conference in September presented the results of 2 years of work and offer a platform for discussion and debate. It is also intended as a contribution to both, the European Year of Citizenship through Education, a Council of Europe initiative for 2005, and to the Bologna Process, the creation of a European Higher Education Area by 2010.
The conference addressed in particular key issues such as
- Governance and Good Governance – what does it mean? (terminology)
- The changing societal context and forces that influence the options and choices for governance in general and in higher education in particular
- The Governance of Higher Education Systems and Institutions (structures, procedures, processes)
- The actors of Higher Education Governance (people)
- Higher Education Governance – What is at stake?
- Creating commitment and shared ownership
Representatives of national governments (ministries of education), higher education institutions, nominated through their respective structures (Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research, Bologna Follow-Up Group), and student and other international organisations active in the field of higher education, or education in general, have participated in the conference.
It was expected that the debates result in increased awareness and clarity of the notion and terminology of governance and governance related issues, guidelines for the elaboration of (good) governance policy (questions to address, processes to adopt, etc) and recommendations on key elements of what constitutes good governance.
Related documents
Forum Higher Education Governance 2005 - documents
Programme
Final report, Martina Vukasović
Considerations and recommendations
Presentations
- Luc Weber
- Pavel Zgaga
- Jurgen Kohler
Synopses of speakers
Summary of working group results
Council of Europe
The CDESR (Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research) launched a project on “Higher education governance” in autumn 2003. The project is expected to last three years, 2004 – 2006. The main objectives of the project are to contribute to the Council of Europe’s 2005 Year of Citizenship through Education as well as to the work programme of the Bologna process in 2005-2007. It aims to strengthen the participation of students, staff and other stakeholders in higher education governance.
