The Bologna Compact And The Future Of British Higher Education

An upcoming conference of 46 European education ministers is creating an uproar withing the House of Commons and upper levels of the British government. While many of the issues that will be covered by this assemblage will be benign in nature, the hot button issue of higher education and standardization is seen as a point of contention between continental experts and British leaders. The issue that will be elaborated upon in the May conference is the Bologna Compact, an agreement among European nations to standardize graduate studies on the continent. The agreement was touted as a victory for students, faculty, and visiting experts who want to travel from university to university in their academic career.

The Commons Education Select Committee assigned to dealing with higher education policies would disagree with this assessment, however. Chairman Barry Sheerman has said that the Bologna Compact will destroy the flexible Masters programmes adopted by British universities of all types. The Commons Committee has submitted a report for public view that says that the Bologna Accord would eliminate the new trend in Great Britain toward one-year Master programmes, which are accelerated to help professionals improve their long term career options. Sheerman has elaborated upon this report by saying that the standard set by the Accord is focussed entirely on longevity, not what is learned in the classroom.

The differences between continental and British universities are quite stark, as most graduates and young professionals understand. Continental European universities have a standard process of three years for a Bachelors degree, two years for Masters, and four years for doctorate degrees. British universities, in recognition of the need for flexible learning options, employ a variety of programmes for Masters, doctoral, and vocational students. Two of the most popular British graduate programmes are endangered by the Bologna Accord.

British universities currently offer a four-year Master programme for scientists, including dentists, doctors, and engineers, which is meant to ensure comprehensive academic exploration. As well, Buckingham University is beginning to offer a two-year vocational programme for adults and continuing education students. Neither of these programmes would be allowed under the strictures of the Bologna Accord in its current form. British education experts are hoping that the May conference with fellow European ministers will yield compromises that are amenable to both sides. However, the language of parliamentarians like Sheerman seems to preclude any resolution under the current agreement.