The Bologna Process aims to create a European Higher Education Area by 2010, in which students can choose from a wide and transparent range of high quality courses and benefit from smooth recognition procedures. The Bologna Declaration (pdf format) [...]]]> The European Commission published in summer 2007 the following information on the “Bologna Process” (link):

The Bologna Process aims to create a European Higher Education Area by 2010, in which students can choose from a wide and transparent range of high quality courses and benefit from smooth recognition procedures. The Bologna Declaration (pdf format) of June 1999 has put in motion a series of reforms needed to make European Higher Education more compatible and comparable, more competitive and more attractive for Europeans and for students and scholars from other continents. Reform was needed then and reform is still needed today if Europe is to match the performance of the best performing systems in the world, notably the United States and Asia.

The three priorities of the Bologna process are: Introduction of the three cycle system (bachelor/master/doctorate), quality assurance and recognition of qualifications and periods of study.

Every second year the Ministers meet to measure progress and set priorities for action. After Bologna (1999), they met in Prague (2001), Berlin (2003) and Bergen (2005). They met again in London (17/18 May 2007) and in reconvene Leuven/Louvain-La-Neuve (April 2009). At the London meeting of 17/18 May Ministers adopted a strategy on how to reach out to other continents. They also gave the green light to create a Register of European Quality Assurance Agencies. See for more information the Bologna Secretariat Website .

All across Europe, countries and universities are engaged in a process of modernisation. From an EU perspective, these reforms are part of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, which also encompasses reinforced cooperation in vocational education and training (Copenhagen Process). To establish synergies between Copenhagen and Bologna, the Commission has brought forward its proposal for the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF). This is linked to and supported by other initiatives in the fields of transparency of qualifications (Copenhagen Process). To establish synergies between Copenhagen and Bologna, the Commission has brought forward its proposal for the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF). This is linked to and supported by other initiatives in the fields of transparency of qualifications (EUROPASS), credit transfer (ECTS -ECVET) and quality assurance (ECTS -ECVET) and quality assurance (ENQA -ENQAVET). Of similar importance is the link between the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area (EHEA and ERA).

The European Commission aims to support these efforts with the help of programmes like Erasmus, TempusErasmus Mundus. The Commission also works to support the modernisation agenda through the implementation of the Erasmus, TempusErasmus Mundus. The Commission also works to support the modernisation agenda through the implementation of the 7th EU Framework Programme for Research and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, as well as the Structural Funds and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, as well as the Structural Funds and the European Investment Bank. in respect of neighbouring countries, and more globally through

The Commission contributed to the Bologna Stocktaking exercise through the contributions of the Eurydice network, which produced country analyses as well as comparative overviews. In May 2007, the Commission pubmished a special Eurobarometer Survey , which shows strong and encouraging support for modernisation among teaching professionals in higher education.

See here how the European Commission describes the programme (link):

The Erasmus Mundus programme is a co-operation and mobility programme in the [...]]]> The Erasmus programme encourages students to move out to other countries’ universities and follow a programme of higher education. The exchange of students is understood to strengthen European co-operation and intercultural understanding.

See here how the European Commission describes the programme (link):

The Erasmus Mundus programme is a co-operation and mobility programme in the field of higher education. It aims to enhance quality in European higher education and to promote intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries.

Erasmus Mundus was first introduced in July 2001, when the European Parliament and Council received a Communication by the European Commission on strengthening EU-third country co-operation in higher education. Following the positive reception of the Communication, the Commission adopted a programme proposal, Erasmus World in July 2002. The programme was then renamed Erasmus Mundus. “Mundus” is the Latin word for “world”.
On 5 December 2003, the Erasmus Mundus programme Decision was adopted and published in the European Union’s Official Journal on 31 December 2003 and entered into force on 20 January 2004.

The best known is the Erasmus Programme, which applies to European students of higher [...]]]> There are a number of financial support programmes offered by most European Universities, their respective national governments or on a supranational European-wide level. The EU funds are made available by the European Commission and support ever increasing numbers of students.

The best known is the Erasmus Programme, which applies to European students of higher education.

A similar programme with a wider scope, named Erasmus Mundus Programme, has been developed in the last years that is also open to students from other countries throughout the world. Participating students are accepted to follow a Master Course at a EU university.

Some countries signed bilateral education agreements with the EU, such as Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United-States, which allow financial support for educational purposes. These include study grants and tuition waivers for university and ‘post-secondary school’ students.