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Remarks of Fiona Hunter, International Director, Universitario Carlo Catteneo LIUC and President, EAIE

March 22, 2007

Wrap Up Day One

Let me summarize how I have understood the day’s events and discussions.

The first image that comes to my mind is that when we speak of building the European Higher Education Area it is not a multi-story tower that we can see going up in front of us story by story so we can see exactly which stage we are at in the construction. Rather we are building an enormous European mosaic–there are many tiny pieces being assembled and the picture is emerging progressively, some parts already more visible than others, some gaps still appear.And there are many different players involved all responsible for fitting in some of the pieces.The Bologna Process brings about change at all levels and it is the sheer size, speed, breadth and depth of this reform that is so striking.

Another aspect that has emerged today is the gap between legislation and implementation.While the legal structures for change are now in place in most countries, the messiness of policy making becomes evident as different countries and institutions interpret and implement the reforms in response to local needs and perceptions.

Change in the Bologna Process is based on the principles of convergence and respect for diversity, two elements that I think are key to the success so far:converging structures to make sense of the diversity of content and purpose and to ensure a coherent community that is both responsive to the labour market and attractive to a wider world.

However we noted that while institutions are given greater autonomy to implement the reforms, there is the risk of a mentality of compliance being adopted with institutions choosing to window dress rather than carry out genuine reform.I cannot help feeling however that those who choose this route, will eventually be caught out, as others who choose to opt for a more proactive response and take advantage of the opportunities emerge from the process much stronger and much more competitive.

Indeed, another aspect of this Process is competition.While the countries cooperate in setting the goals, opportunities emerge for institutions to differentiate themselves and to position themselves on different markets.I think the process will inevitably create winners and losers.

I think we also understood today that this is still a young process and there is much “newness”.So much about the impacts of the changes is still unknown and while you struggle to find information about what is happening in different countries, even in Europe the levels of awareness vary from country to country and institution to institution.

However, I think we all agree it is also an unstoppable process and the change will continue beyond 2010.Bologna is like Pandora’s Box – the lid is off and so many other related issues of university funding, regulation, governance and management are now emerging.And of course Europe is changing because the world around it is changing too; all of this has to be seen in the context of global change in society, not just education.

So, slowly and unevenly the pieces of the mosaic will fall into place, but most likely the pattern itself will continue to change.