FAQ

Q1- Which countries can join the Bologna Process?

The criteria for membership have been defined in the 2003 Berlin Communiqué as follows:

"Countries party to the European Cultural Convention shall be eligible for membership of the European Higher Education Area provided that they at the same time declare their willingness to pursue and implement the objectives of the Bologna Process in their own systems of higher education."

Countries that do not meet those criteria and therefore are not eligible to join the Bologna Process still have the possibility to introduce Bologna-like reforms in their respective higher education system.

Who may attend the events announced on the EHEA website?

Bologna Seminars are open to a wide range of participants involved in higher education and higher education policy-making (both in Europe and in other parts of the world). The ultimate decision on participation lies with the respective organisers of the seminars, who will have to take into account (among others) the capacities of the conference venue and the need for geographical balance.

Ministerial Conferences, Bologna Follow-Up Group meetings, Board meetings, Working Group meetings a restricted events.

Other relevant events are organized by BFUG consultative members, partners or other organizations. The registration conditions are specified on the official website of each event.

For more information, visit the website: http://www.ehea.info/

Q2- What is the difference between an academic department and program in colleges/universities?

Answer:

• • A department is a collection of faculty who are organized into a unit for management and course planning purposes. Some departments have faculty from just one area, while others have faculty from many areas. The division into departments is used in particular for hiring and tenure decisions, which often begin with at the department level. Several departments are collected together to form a division, school, or college, which is the next level up the management hierarchy. Different schools use different divisions, but the smallest one is almost always called a department.

  • A program is a collection of courses that lead to a particular degree or certificate. These courses (ignoring general education) may be taught by one department, or by many. For example, a degree program might be "bachelor's of science in mathematics" or "bachelor's of arts in management". The mathematics program will require predominately courses from the mathematics department, while the management program may require courses from the management department, the accounting department, the economics department, and maybe a computer information systems department also.

Some departments offer a single degree program, while other department offer multiple degree programs. On the other hand, some degree programs are interdisciplinary and are offered jointly by several departments in collaboration.

Each faculty member will work for one or more departments; these assignments are called "appointments". A student will not be part of a department in the way that faculty are, but a student may "declare" one or more degree programs, and in that way each student is typically "advised" by faculty of one or more departments.

Q3- What Are Learning Outcomes?

Answer:

• • Specific, measurable statements of what graduating/exiting students should know, be able to do, believe, or value after completing the program

  • Observable behaviors whenever possible

  • Focused on the results of student learning, not on the learning process or on teaching

  • Derived from the program’s mission statement

  • Outcomes can be identified at many organizational levels: Institutional, College/School/Division, Department, Program, Course, Class session/Lesson

  • Program outcomes are the focus for program assessment

These two pictures have similar ingredients. Why is only one a salad?

The difference in ingredients’ degree of preparation and integration makes only one image a salad.

The ingredients contribute to the salad, but a salad is more than the sum of its parts.

• • Course outcomes identify “the ingredients” that make up the program

          - Incremental knowledge and skills that students develop bit by bit throughout the program

          - Aligned with – but typically narrower than – program outcomes

• • Program outcomes characterize “the salad” – what individual ingredients make once they are prepared and integrated

          - Students’ cumulative learning across courses at the end of the program

Example:

Q4- What is the difference between a core course and elective course?

Answer:

Subjects (or courses) can be core courses or elective courses. Both elective and core courses are compulsory. Core courses are those that your program coordinators require you to complete, because they are required knowledge for you to practice in the field. Electives are courses you choose and can be from an area of study that you like or interests you.