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Hungarian Higher Education Hungarian Higher Education and the Bologna Processand the Bologna Process

Éva Sándor-KrisztHungarian Rectors’ Conference

President

1Pécs, 13. 10. 2010

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IntroductionIntroduction

• The University of PécsThe University of Pécsfounded by King Louis the Great in 1367founded by King Louis the Great in 1367

• The Bologna process The Bologna process – has benefits but is complex and has benefits but is complex and

controversialcontroversial– was introduced in Hungary in 2006was introduced in Hungary in 2006– its implementation has also caused its implementation has also caused

problemsproblems– an overview of its developmentan overview of its development

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The Bologna Process in Hungarian The Bologna Process in Hungarian Higher Education 1Higher Education 1

• ““Higher Education without Higher Education without Frontiers”Frontiers”

• Benefits for Hungarian higher Benefits for Hungarian higher educationeducation

– greater flexibilitygreater flexibility

– international recognitioninternational recognition

– mobilitymobility

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The Bologna Process in Hungarian The Bologna Process in Hungarian Higher Education Higher Education 22

• Bologna Bologna Ministerial Forum Ministerial Forum ((March 11March 11, , 2010) 2010) Vienna Vienna ─ Budapest─ Budapest

• The creation of the European Higher The creation of the European Higher Education AreaEducation Area

• Student mobility in the Middle Ages Student mobility in the Middle Ages (Bologna, Paris, Oxford, Cambridge, (Bologna, Paris, Oxford, Cambridge,

Salamanca)Salamanca)• Difficulties of mobility: warsDifficulties of mobility: wars• The entire 20The entire 20thth century was century was

unfavourable for cooperation between unfavourable for cooperation between universitiesuniversities

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Cooperation between Higher Cooperation between Higher Education InstitutionsEducation Institutions

• Cooperation between HEIs has Cooperation between HEIs has become crucialbecome crucial

• Cheaper and faster travelling Cheaper and faster travelling

• Ease of communication (internet, Ease of communication (internet, mobile telephones, skype, video-mobile telephones, skype, video-conference)conference)

• New teaching methods have been New teaching methods have been introducedintroduced

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The exponential growth of higher The exponential growth of higher educationeducation

2010: a large 2010: a large number of universitiesnumber of universities in the world in the world (17 716)(17 716)

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Competition for students and Competition for students and student mobilitystudent mobility

• Competition for studentsCompetition for students

• The advantage of British and The advantage of British and American universitiesAmerican universities

• Growing number of students Growing number of students who want to study abroadwho want to study abroad

• Students in the Middle Ages Students in the Middle Ages were organised according to were organised according to their studies and nationalitiestheir studies and nationalities

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Quality and mobilityQuality and mobility

• Universities are interested in Universities are interested in maintaining high standards of maintaining high standards of educationeducation

• Quality and quality management Quality and quality management have become importanthave become important

• Travelling has become much easierTravelling has become much easier• The need for skilled workforce has The need for skilled workforce has

been increasingbeen increasing

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How to find the right balanceHow to find the right balance

• Balance between the needs of Balance between the needs of the labour-market and students’ the labour-market and students’ aspirationsaspirations

• Mass education and paying Mass education and paying attention to talented studentsattention to talented students

• Training on one-on-one basis Training on one-on-one basis and small groups?and small groups?

• Modern ways of easy Modern ways of easy communication must be sought, communication must be sought, found and usedfound and used

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The benefits of mobilityThe benefits of mobility

• Better understanding of other Better understanding of other culturescultures

• Bringing nations and people closer Bringing nations and people closer togethertogether

• Jean Monnet: “We are uniting people, Jean Monnet: “We are uniting people, not forming a coalition of states.”not forming a coalition of states.”

• Promoting free movement of labour Promoting free movement of labour and people and people

• Exchange of experienceExchange of experience• Transfer of knowledge and Transfer of knowledge and

technologytechnology

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Incoming student mobilityIncoming student mobility2008/20092008/2009

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Outgoing student mobilityOutgoing student mobility2008/20092008/2009

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About the mobility more in detailAbout the mobility more in detail

• HEIs in 31 countries participate in HEIs in 31 countries participate in Erasmus programsErasmus programs

• Student placement (internship) has Student placement (internship) has significantly increased significantly increased

• By 2010 mobility is expected to By 2010 mobility is expected to reach 10 reach 10 %%

• The Leuven DeclarationThe Leuven Declaration: : by 2020 by 2020 → 20 %→ 20 %

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The numbersThe numbers

• Since 1987 more than 2 million Since 1987 more than 2 million European students have studied European students have studied abroad abroad

• 25 000 Hungarian students studied 25 000 Hungarian students studied abroad between 1988 and 2008abroad between 1988 and 2008

• 10 000 foreign students came to 10 000 foreign students came to study to Hungary during the same study to Hungary during the same periodperiod

• The overall figure of Hungarian The overall figure of Hungarian student mobility is 1.7 per centstudent mobility is 1.7 per cent

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ExpectationsExpectations

• Student-centred educationStudent-centred education– Universities should not be Universities should not be

‘’‘’teaching machinesteaching machines’’’’– They must beThey must be

• Sources of knowledgeSources of knowledge• Community of professors and Community of professors and

students (universitas magistrorum et students (universitas magistrorum et scholarium)scholarium)

• Education should be based on Education should be based on two-way communicationtwo-way communication

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Problems with the Bologna Problems with the Bologna process 1process 1

• The Bologna process was The Bologna process was introduced introduced

too abruptly, too abruptly,

without sufficient without sufficient preparationpreparation

• We have not listened We have not listened

to students to students

to voices of reservationsto voices of reservations16

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• We have not informed students of the We have not informed students of the benefits benefits

• Signs of disapproval have sometimes Signs of disapproval have sometimes surfacedsurfaced

• There has been confusion over what There has been confusion over what should be taught at Bachelor’s and should be taught at Bachelor’s and what at Master’s levelswhat at Master’s levels

• Other programs are too crammed (too Other programs are too crammed (too much material at bachelor’s level)much material at bachelor’s level)

Problems with the Bologna Problems with the Bologna process process 22

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What should be done?What should be done?• An assessment is needed involvingAn assessment is needed involving

– studentsstudents– academicsacademics

• Educational authoritiesEducational authorities• Pros and consPros and cons• Where necessary, modification and Where necessary, modification and

adjustment of the system must be adjustment of the system must be made made

BUT:BUT:• Based on previous experience, no Based on previous experience, no

abrupt changes should be brought abrupt changes should be brought aboutabout 18

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ConclusionConclusion

• The Hungarian Rectors’ The Hungarian Rectors’ Conference has decided to place Conference has decided to place the problems of the Bologna the problems of the Bologna Process on next year’s agendaProcess on next year’s agenda

• The aim of this conference is to The aim of this conference is to exchange viewsexchange views

• Let’s work together and discuss Let’s work together and discuss the problems and try to find the problems and try to find solutionssolutions

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Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

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