Education in New EU Member States

providing clarity. releasing potential

The Bologna Process

- Pan-European reform of higher education

Main aim: to establish a European Higher Education Area by 2010

The 1999 Bologna Declaration established six aims:- Adopt a system of easily readable and comparable degrees- Adopt a system with two main cycles (Undergraduate / graduate)- Establish a system of credits (such as ECTS)- Promote mobility of students- Promote European co-operation in quality assurance- Promote European dimensions in higher education

• Participating countries (2007)

Albania Georgia Norway Andorra Germany Poland Armenia Greece Portugal Austria Holy See Romania Azerbaijan Hungary Russian Federation Belgium Iceland Serbia Bosnia-Herzegovina Ireland Slovak Republic Bulgaria Italy Slovenia Croatia Latvia Spain Cyprus Liechtenstein Sweden Czech Republic Lithuania Switzerland Denmark Luxembourg Turkey Estonia Malta Ukraine Finland Moldova United Kingdom The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Montenegro  France Netherlands 

Rejected countries/entities: Kyrgyz Republic, North Cyprus, Israel, Kosovo

Countries

• Bulgaria (2007)• Romania (2007)• Poland (2004) • Estonia (2004)• Latvia (2004)• Lithuania (2004)• Hungary (2004)• Slovakia (2004)• Slovenia (2004)• Czech Republic (2004)• Cyprus (2004)• Malta (2004) • Croatia (candidate)

Bulgaria

• 1989 End of one party communist rule

• Lev pegged to the Euro• Economic development• Slow modernisation of

education

Overview of Education

Secondary Education

• Compulsory Education• General Secondary Education• Specialised Secondary Education• Technical and Vocational Education

Example of Diploma of Secondary Education

Diploma of Secondary Education (translation)

Tertiary Education

• Specialist in..– Vocationally / professionally oriented– Two / three year course

• Bachelor degree (Bakalavr)– Academic and professionally oriented courses– Minimum four years duration

• Master’s degree (Magistr)– Five year course or one year post Bachelor– Specialist professional / academic award

• Doctor

Example of Bakalavr degree

Bakalavr degree (2nd page)

Bakalavr (translation)

Example of a Magistr Award

Changes in Bulgarian HE system

• According to the last amendments to the Higher Education Act (May 22, 2007) holders of “Specialist in ...” qualification enjoy the rights of the Professional Bachelor (3-year program with 180 ECTS credits) in Bulgaria.

Changes in Bulgarian HE in 2007 “Specialist in …”

Bulgarian “Specialist in …“

Romania

• 1989: Execution of Ceauşescu and overthrow of communist government

• Economy improving, transformed into one of macroeconomic stability

• 1990’s development of new education laws and reforms

• 2004-2005: Bologna reforms adopted (with effect from 2005)

• 2007: Enters the EU

Overview of Education

Secondary & Post-Secondary Education

• Compulsory Education (Gymnasium)

- Certificat de Capacitate

• Arts and Trades Schools (Arte şi Meserii)

• Secondary School

- Diploma de Bacalaureat - High School Education (Liceu)

- Diploma de Absolvire in a Scolii Profesionale - Professional Schools

• Post-Secondary

- Diploma / Certificat de Absolvire a Scolii Postliceale

(Diploma / Certificate of Graduation from Post-Secondary Schools)

Example of Certificate de Capacitate

Bacalaureat Certificate

Baccalaureate Diploma & Vocational Skills Certificate (new format)

Transcript

Baccalaureate Diploma (new format)

Certificate of Completion of the High School without Baccalaureate Examination

Certificate of Vocational Qualification (new format)

Technical and Vocational Levels

Framework level Competence level of holder

1Worker - able to apply knowledge in occupations characterised by routine

and predictable tasks

2Qualified worker - able to undertake tasks for occupations involving non-

routine work requiring responsibility and teamwork

3Technician/foreman - able to perform mainly technical tasks fully

independently and may require some supervisory duties

4

Higher technician - able to undertake tasks of a professional nature in occupations requiring decision-making, supervisory and team-making, although it may not require the scientific knowledge and mastery of the subject

5Professional - able to carry out tasks of a complex nature requiring a high

level of responsibility involving problem solving and management of staff and resources.

Tertiary Education

• Undergraduate– Diploma de Absolvire– Diploma de Licenta– Diploma de Conversie Profesionala *

• Postgraduate– Diploma de Master– Diploma de Studii Aprofundate– Diploma de Doctor

Example of Diploma de Licenta

Example of Diploma de Master

Example of Graduation Certificate of the

University Teaching Module

Diploma de Conversie Profesionala

Thank you