FAQ - What is the Bologna Declaration and what are the implications for UK dentistry?

Answer

Background

1998 Sorbonne Declaration was signed by all the governments of the EU, for the “Promotion of convergence among the national systems of Higher Education.

1999 Bologna Declaration Subsequently the governments of the EU signed the Bologna Declaration “to create a European System for Higher Education” which recommended:

• Harmonisation by 2010
• Comparable degrees and titles for each discipline
• A two-cycle system (bachelor/master)
• Generalisation of the European Credit Transfer System
• Adoption of Diploma Supplement
• Promotion of mobility of educators and students
• Promotion of cooperation and quality control
• Common ‘academic’ language to be English

Under the Declaration there was to be a meeting held every 2 years to review progress towards the recommendations.

Prague 2001:This was the first review of progress and ‘tightening up’ of recommendations and reinforced the “importance of harmonic development into the European Area of Higher education before 2010”

The next meeting to review the progress will be in Gratz Berlin 2003.

Other meetings that have reinforced the movement towards harmonisation of Higher Education within EU:

Salamanca 2001 (Universities of the EU):

• academic acknowledgement – a common and flexible framework of qualifications
• importance of competition in research and training

Barcelona Summit 2002 (EU governments): Reinforced the importance of:

• education and social welfare
• the establishment of maximum quality educational systems (including accreditation) to be in place by 2010

Consequences of Bologna Declaration:

Government: Changes to legislation regarding

• administration of Higher Education
• legally acknowledged titles
• status of Bachelor degree
• finances

Universities:

• scientific education
• two-cycle system ie Broad based bachelor and specific master
• increased student mobility
• harmonisation of: End of term/year outcomes, Selection, Adoption of ECTS (European Credit Transfer System)
• need for curricular review
• increased need for Quality Control: European quality control

Dental Schools:

• how to approach two-cycle model
• european competencies
• what level competence degree (Bachelor or Master?)
• visitation/accreditation

Key issues of the Bologna Declaration

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) Based on student workload:

(i.e. 1 Credit = 25-30 hours study - 1 week of study = 1.5 Credits)

ECTS to evolve to a system of accumulation and transfer of general credits applicable to all students. UK Universities currently operate a credit system of 120 credits/year – will have to change to 60 credits per 40week year.

This infers a unified grading system: A mechanism to allow comparison between grading systems

Titles/cycles Bologna Declaration is based upon 2 consecutive cycles to obtain ‘authoritative’ degree. First cycle of 3 years to Bachelor Degree, Second cycle of 1-2 years to Masters Degree

BUT

EU regulated professions (Medicine; Dentistry; Veterinary; Nursing; Pharmacy; Architecture) have minimum training time/standards by EU Directives. Therefore it is likely that Dentistry etc will have a single 5 year degree.

Diploma Supplement System of normalised information:

• A supplement to the degree that adds information to the title by a detailed description of the nature, level, context and content of the education received.

Accreditation There is a commitment to full accreditation of Higher Education institutions by 2010. This will require development of national accreditation and evaluation and a EU agency by 2010

Where is dentistry?

Dentistry has only one thematic network (DentEd and DentEd Evolves). This thematic network has pre-empted much of the Bologna declaration by:

• developing competency statements
• initiating visitations
• in conjunction with ADEE it has placed dentistry in a position to reply to EU with a unified voice

Norway has already implemented legislation and dentistry will be a single cycle masters level degree. This model has met agreement with most institutions represented by ADEE

Author: This FAQ was written by Dr Ross Hobson and does not reflect an offical endorsement by the LTSN or any other organisation. Any questions or comments can be sent to:ross@ltsn-01.ac.uk

Last updated: 01 July 2011