'Quality assurance' and European framework of qualifications on agenda of Bergen conference on Bologna Process

The ministers in charge of higher education from the forty countries of the Bologna Process are to meet for their biannual meeting on 19 and 20 May in Bergen (Norway), to take stock of progress in this process to create a European area of higher education. Quality assurance and the European framework of qualifications will be the two main items on the agenda at the meeting, which will be attended by the European Commissioner for Education, Jan Figel, and students' associations.

The ministers will also adopt a 'European framework of qualifications' for higher education, common reference levels to describe levels of education, from basic learning to doctorate level. This framework corresponds to the Commission's objective of adopting a 'European framework of qualifications for life-long learning' throughout the EU in 2006, in line with the decision of the Summit of 22 and 23 March 2005. In June, the Commission will start a broad consultation process on the future framework to sound out interested parties. A similar process will be carried out on the proposal for an integrated credit system for life-long learning, on the basis of experience acquired as a result of the European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS).

At the end of the Bergen conference, five new States will join the 40 signatory States. These are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.