The benefits of UK participation
in the Bologna Process
92. Beyond the minimum case for membership , there
are genuine advantages to be gained for the UK in contributing
to the achievement of the Bologna action lines that go beyond
merely protecting the UK's national interests.
93. The Committee has found that government and the
organisations representing higher education in the UK are in agreement
about the advantages of active involvement in the Bologna process.
They are supported by university leaders and academic staff who
are involved in implementing the Bologna principles and action
lines. Student organisations are also supportive.
BENEFITS FOR THE UK AND FOR STUDENTS
Promoting the attractiveness and international
reputation of the European Higher Education Area
94. The DfES set out the basis of the Government's
belief in the value of the Bologna Process:
"The Government believes the Bologna Process
presents numerous advantages students will have a wider
range of educational programmes to choose from; they will be able
to move more freely between European universities; graduates will
be able to enter an enlarged labour market; employers will have
access to a larger pool of resources; and institutions will compete
in a more challenging environment."[75]
95. A strongly positive stance is also taken by the
UK HE Europe Unit, which argues that a modernised European HE
system provides opportunities for UK universities:
"[
] the creation of a transparent
and accessible European HE Area (EHEA) [
] will make European
HE even more attractive in a global market and help higher education
institutions (HEIs) compete internationally. Given its dominant
position in the context of its European neighbours, this provides
an opportunity to strengthen UK HEIs."
96. It has been put to us that raising the quality
and reputation of the European Higher Education Area will increase
the competitiveness of European HE in relation to the US, Australia,
China, and India. Professor Drummond Bone , UUK, told this Committee
that:
"[
] it will be good for UK higher
education in the long-term and it will help us be competitive
globally."[76]
Increasing employability and competitiveness
97. Furthermore, it is widely recognised that mobility
of labour and skill, and increasing competitiveness, are related.
The Minister told the Committee that Bologna will:
"[
] enable a mobility of labour to
take place that has an economic benefit [...]. "[77]
"[
] if employers better understand
what the different qualifications are across the broader European
area, it will give employers a wider pool of recruits to chose
from There is a lot of economic evidence that with mobility of
labour, with migration, you actually add economically to your
GDP."[78]
98. The Institute of Physics underlined the importance
of engaging with the Bologna Process for the benefit of UK graduates.
It said that not to do so was:
"[
] a risky strategy as it would invite
isolation and could seriously disadvantage the employment opportunities
of our graduates. Europe is important for our graduates for several
reasons not least because they have the right to live and work
in any EU country and they will be in competition for employment
with graduates from elsewhere in Europe."[79]
BENEFITS FOR UK HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Research collaboration opportunities and the
development of the European Research Area
99. In February 2007[80]
Professor Sir Roderick Floud argued that in order to be in the
running for major research programmes and compete in "big
science" the UK needs to cooperate and collaborate with other
major players in the EHEA.
100. There are further advantages to be gained through
the mobility of staff and academic expertise between signatory
countries. The European Community's exchange programmes pre-date
the Bologna Process and have been facilitating the mobility of
staff from the participating countries since 1987.[81]
Enabling a greater spread of best-practice in all areas of higher
educationfrom pedagogy to research methodology to leadership,
management, and governancecan only further improve higher
education in the UK as universities learn from best practice across
the EHEA.
Access to a larger market for EU and international
students
101. Another major advantage of being more closely
linked with other countries in the EHEA through the Bologna Process
is increased access to the market for both European and international
students within the EHEA.[82]
Students from countries outside the EU but within the EHEA make
significant contributions through international student fees.
At the Guardian HE Summit in February 2007, Europe was described
as the UK's home market for higher education.[83]
EU students do not pay international fees because they have equal
access to UK HE places on a like for like basis with UK home applicants.[84]
Nevertheless, calculations show that, in financial terms alone,
EU students are of considerable net benefit to the UK.[85]
102. According to a study by the Higher Education
Policy Institute (HEPI), the UK is already the most popular country
for study amongst EU students making it the largest net importer
of students within the EU.[86]
Students coming from other EU countries make up approximately
five per cent of students in UK HEIs. Fully engaging in the Bologna
Process should enable the UK to maintain this position and gain
full advantage of the market for students in the European Higher
Education Area.
103. The Bologna Process is a major development
in the international market for higher education and is attracting
significant international interest as a result. The government
should be doing everything possible to articulate and promote
the genuine advantages to the UK of being involved in the Bologna
Process.
104. There are economic advantages to be gained
for the UK through engagement in the Bologna Process: increasing
employment and productivity; and increasing the competitiveness
of the UK higher education sector through promoting the attractiveness
and international reputation of the European Higher Education
Area (EHEA). There are advantages for UK students in terms of
increased mobility and employment opportunities. Finally there
are advantages to UK universities through the increased market
for both EU and international students within the EHEA, increased
mobility of staff, sharing of best practice and expertise in a
broad range of areas, and increased opportunities for research
collaboration across the European Research Area.
105. Thus there are significant advantages for
the UK in achieving the action lines stated in the Bologna Process,
which increasingly reflect the policy priorities in the UK. Furthermore,
there are aspects of HE provision in other participating countries
that the UK could learn from to improve its own structures and
practices.
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