Canadian Perspectives Towards the Bologna Process

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Canadian Perspectives Towards the Bologna Process
Professor Craig Evan KlafterAssociate
Vice-President InternationalThe University of
British Columbia
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Studium Generale

• International Students and Scholars
• International Recruitment and Funding
• International Research
• Common Language of Instruction
• Common Core Curriculum
• Common Internationally-recognized Accreditation
• International Professional Mobility

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Magna Charta UniversitatumBologna, Italy,
September 18, 1988

• A universitys research and teaching must be
  morally and intellectually independent of all
  political authority and intellectually
  independent of all political authority and
  economic power.
• Teaching and research in universities must be
  inseparable.
• Freedom in research and training is the
  fundamental principle of university life.
• A university is the trustee of the European
  humanist tradition.

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Bologna Three Cycle System

• 3 year bachelor degrees generally recognized for
  admission to post-graduate programs
• The University of British Columbia
• European bachelors degrees of three years'
  duration are considered on a case-by-case basis
  for graduate admission eligibility.
• We also note that many European universities are
  choosing the 4-year North American bachelors
  degree model

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Bologna Quality Assurance

• Accreditation -European-wide accreditation is
  viewed in Canada as unnecessary
• Assessment - Some proposals and systems for
  European assessment of research are seen as
  deeply flawed

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Bologna Recognition of Qualifications and
Periods of Study

• Diploma Supplements Canadian universities view
  them as useful to the assessment of European
  credentials, but there is no interest in copying
  the practice
• European Credit Transfer system the focus on
  student workload rather than contact hours is
  attracting interest, UBC is exploring listing
  courses using NA and ECTS systems
• Student Mobility Canada focuses on exchanges
  rather than on study abroad
• Joint and Dual Degree Programs gaining
  popularity in Canada, but there is much
  opposition to the idea of two diplomas for the
  same body of work