“Still huge potential”
Dr. Rolf Peter is involved in the policy making for German universities at national and European level as he is working for the Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (conference of university rectors and presidents) and one of the discussants of the Youth Conference on European Life Sciences Careers.
“One of the main problems of student mobility is for sure the recognition of study achievements and foreign degrees. With the Bologna process, this issue is tackled but as this process is still far from being complete, there remains a lot to be done. Some might think that the Bologna process would be finished by 2010. This is by far not the case. It has just begun, and the process has to remain also on the political agenda to fullfill its aims. Also the acceptance of the Bachelor in industry is to be improved in most European countries. Although being the degree that most of the students will obtain in a couple of years, there remains a lot of scepticism. England of course has a long history with the Bachelor, but thinking of most other European countries, the Bachelor is reknown little. One solution in the short run to this are cooperations of universities across boarders, offering joint study programmes and awarding double/joint degrees, based on bilateral agreements. Another is one the conscious use of the ECTS points as an instrument of transparency. Universities should ease the recognition of study achievements from abroad, especially based on learning outcomes. At the same time, it is also up to the students to take the opportunity and to really study abroad. The chances that are provided are not fully taken advantage from, there remains a huge potential. Last but not least, it is up to the industry to support the improvements. It is very clear that a lot of the changes, and a big part of the Bologna Process and the measures undertaken in the spirit of Lissabon, were inspired and pushed by the industry – so now, they should stick to their demands and fullfill their part through recognizing the bachelor and through the creation of more cooperation with academia, and not only critizise the process, but to get really involved. So as you can see, there is a lot going on, but it is also a lot of things that remain having to be done.”