The Bologna Declaration: Enhancing the Transparency and Competitiveness of European Higher Education

In June 1999, the Ministers of Education of some thirty European countries signed the ''Bologna Declaration''. Its aim is to establish the European area of higher education and to promote the European system of higher education in the world. It proposes the adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees, the establishment of a system of credits, and the elimination of all remaining obstacles to free mobility. This article discusses the potential importance of this Declaration for both the comparability and the competitiveness of European higher education. Particular attention will be paid to the role of the various stakeholders in the process and the possible implications for quality assurance and accreditation systems.