On 28 and 29 April 2009, the Ministers responsible for higher education in the then 46 countries of the Bologna Process met in Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve to establish the priorities for the European Higher Education Area until 2020. They highlighted in particular the importance of lifelong learning, widening access to higher education, and mobility. By 2020, at least 20% of those graduating in the European Higher Education Area should have had a study or training period abroad.

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Bologna + 10 Ministerial Conference

Ten years after the historical Bologna Declaration that structurally reshaped European higher education, another Ministerial Conference was held in Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), which - for the first time - was also broadcasted live via Internet.

The Benelux Ministers Frank Vandenbroucke and Marie-Dominique Simonet (Flemish and French Community of Belgium), Ronald Plasterk (Netherlands) and François Biltgen(Luxembourg) had invited their European Colleagues in charge of higher education in the then 46 countries participating in the Bologna Process, to jointly define political orientations for the coming 10 years.

The conference took place at the historical location of the ancient University of Louvain - the oldest higher education institution in the Benelux founded in 1425 - of which the modern universities Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven) and Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) share the legacy. The choice for universities as conference venue had also symbolic value. The Benelux countries wanted to give clear visibility to the substantial role the academic community plays in the achievement of the Bologna goals. Bologna is more than mere convergence of policies set by public authorities. Higher education institutions, staff and students all together have made an impressive contribution to the implementation and will continue to define the shape of the European Higher Education Area.

With the Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué, the Ministers from 46 European countries established the priorities for the European Higher Education Area until 2020.They highlighted in particular the importance of lifelong learning, widening access to higher education, and mobility and agreed that by 2020 at least 20% of those graduating in the European Higher Education Area should have had a study or training period abroad.

Background documents

Reports submitted to the Ministers

EHEA in a global context 2009

Working Group on Employability Report to Ministers 2009

Eurostat and Eurostudent Key indicators on the Social dimension and Mobility

EURYDICE Higher Education in Europe 2009 - Developments in the Bologna Process

Bologna Coordination Group on Mobility Report 2009

Report of the Expert Network on student support 2009

Report on Qualifications Frameworks 2009

Bologna Beyond 2010 (report 2009)

Bologna Process between London and Leuven Louvain-la-Neuve

Bologna Process Stocktaking Report 2009

Synthesis of the replies received from national QF correspondents

Report to the BFUG on the analysis of the 2007 National Actions Plans for Recognition

Positions papers and other contributions

Contribution of the Council of Europe to the EHEA - 2009

Bologna With Student Eyes 2009

Position Paper - The Coimbra Group and European Higher Education after Bologna 2010

ECA Position Paper on the BFUG Bologna Beyond 2010 Report

ENQA Position paper on Quality Assurance in the EHEA - 2009

EUA Prague Declaration 2009

EURASHE statement - Moving Professional Higher Education into ‘Bologna post 2010'

Position Paper of the European Network for Universities of Applied Sciences (UASNET) - 2009

Prague Students Declaration 2009

The Bologna Process and the Education of the Engineers - 2009

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly - Press Statement - 2009

UK HE sector position on the Bologna Process beyond 2010

Programme

Opening addresses

• Marc Vervenne, Rector of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
• Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgium/Flemish Community
• Minister Ondřej Liška, Czech Republic 

Opening address by Minister Ondřej Lika, Czech Republic

Keynote speech

• Ján Figel', European Commission 

European Commission Keynote Speech - 2009

Introductory statement

• Sjur Bergan, Council of Europe 

Council of Europe introductory statement - 2009

Presentations on progress of implementation

• 2009 Bologna Process Stocktaking - Andrejs Rauhvargers, Latvia 

Bologna Process Stocktaking - Conclusions and recommandations - 2009

• The Bologna Process in Higher Education in Europe: Key indicators on the social dimension and mobility“ - Inna Steinbuka, Eurostat 

Eurostat and Eurostudent Key indicators on the Social dimension and Mobility - Presentation

• Higher Education in Europe 2009: Developments in the Bologna Process” – David Crosier, Eurydice 

EURYDICE Higher Education in Europe 2009 - Presentation

• Bologna with Students Eyes” - Ligia Deca, European Students’ Union 

Bologna With Student Eyes 2009 - Presentation

ESU intervention Leuven 2009

• Preliminary results from the “Trends 2010” survey - Jean-Marc Rapp, European University Association 

EUA Contribution to the Bologna Process - 2009

• “Lifelong Learning: Impediments & Examples of good practice” - Lars Lynge Nielsen, EURASHE 

EURASHE Presentation - Lifelong Learning: Impediments & Examples of good practice - 2009

Relfections by

• Jan Sadlak, UNESCO-CEPES
• Bruno Curvale, ENQA
• Monique Fouilhoux, Education International
• Irene Seling, BUSINESSEUROPE

Welcome address

• Bernard Coulie, Rector of the Université catholique de Louvain

Finalisation and adoption of the Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué

2009 Leuven Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué - English

Information on the next ministerial conferences

• Minister Johannes Hahn, Austria 

Invitation to 2010 Ministerial Conference

• State Secretary Károly Manherz, Hungary
• Minister Ecaterina Andronescu, Romania

Closing statements

• Ján Figel’, European Commission 

European Commission Closing statement - 2009

• Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgium/Flemish Community
• Minister Ondřej Liška, Czech Republic