educational systems
Mon, 11/05/2009 - 7:49pm
educational systems
The EU should harmonise European educational and vocational systems by introducing common criteria and standards for the different educational levels which are recognised in all Member States. This should include a facilitation of pupil and student mobility within Europe, uniform admissions procedures, examinations and evaluations.
Easier said than done. Look at the controversy caused by the Bologna Process (not an official 'EU' initiative, granted). In Germany many students and academics feel their degrees have been downgraded by the move to a more 'Anglo-Saxon' system.
On the other hand, some kind of common comparison system for degrees and grades is necessary to facilitate graduate employability and mobility - a key issue in this time of recession.
I find harmonisation a very good thing if it's not on the basis of the lowest common denominator in terms of quality. Having similar systems would encourage students to travel and study abroad much more than they are willing to today. They would not be afraid of loosing a semester because it could not be validated by their university of origin. As phil_sen commented: better employability and mobility are just what we need.
I believe that it is important to observe how far the aims of the Bologna Process has been ralised and what went wrong. In Germany harmonisation of degrees for instance led to a school-like system with fixed schedules, less choice options and therefore also less teaching provision. Like phil_sen said, many people feel that the quality and lengh of study of a German "diplom" or "Staatsexamen" cannot easily be compared with a Bachelor and Master degree.Therefore, many people do not want to replace the Staatsexamen by the Master.
Many people in Germany do not approve the implimentation of the Bologna Process. The accreditation of study achievements is still difficult and studying abroad still often means loosing one year or semester.
It is important that the Eu recognise that there are countries, where the aims of the bologna process differ to the reality. These problems have to be taken into consideration, because they shoul not be repeated.
hi i think this is great we must come together more in the union be the best in the world best education systems a symbol for high tech green economy in the world great fr johnnyb.