The process widely known as ‘Bologna’ started in the Sorbonne in 1998 where the idea of a common European Higher Education Area was conceived at a meeting of ministers of education “…to consolidate Europe’s standing in the world through continuously improved and updated education for its citizens”. The following year, 1999, brought “The Bologna Declaration: Joint declaration of the European Ministers of Education”.

A colourful Bologna history has been generated since then encompassing Prague, Berlin, Bergen….and along the way 2010 was chosen as the deadline date for the realisation of a framework to achieve the aims of Bologna:

• easily readable and comparable degrees
• a European credit transfer system
• promotion of mobility
• promotion of cooperation in quality assurance
• promotion of a European dimension

Learning outcomes are viewed as the common currency or means by which these aims of Bologna can best be achieved. There is a very extensive literature on Bologna, covering its many facets, but here we provide a selection of documents/links related to the Bologna context.

Irish Websites / Publications

• www.bologna.ie
• http://www.nqai.ie/interdev_bologna.html

U.K. Reports and Conferences

• Bologna Seminar: The Scottish Experience (2008)
  Conference Paper by Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
• UK Bologna Seminar on learning outcomes (2004): Using Learning Outcomes, Edinburgh, 1-2 July 2004: http://www.aic.lv/ace/ace_disk/Bologna/Bol_semin/Edinburgh/index.htm
  Conference Paper by Heriot-Watt University
• Moon, J (2004) Paper presented at the Bologna seminar on Learning outcomes at Edinburgh, Linking, Levels Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: http://www.bologna-bergen2005.no/EN/Bol_sem/Seminars/040701-02Edinburgh/040701-02Linking_Levels_plus_ass_crit-Moon.pdf
  Conference paper by Jenny Moon of Exeter University, printable.
• BFUG Working Group on Qualifications Frameworks (2007) National Qualifications Frameworks Development and Certification- final report, DfES: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/londonbologna/uploads/documents/WGQF-report-final2.pdf
  Conference Paper from Dept. for Education and Skills, England
• Bologna Process (2007) Bologna Process Stocktaking Report, London, DfES: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/londonbologna/uploads/documents/6909-BolognaProcessST.pdf
  Report from working group appointed by the Bologna Follow-Up Group to the Ministerial Conference in London, May 2007

European Consortium for Accreditation Conference, Zurich, Sept. 2007

• Ewell, P T (2007) PowerPoint presentation at the ECA conference on learning outcomes, Creating Authentic Academic Cultures of Evidence: A Perspective on Learning Outcomes: http://www.oaq.ch/pub/en/documents/Peter_Ewell.pdf
  PowerPoint Presentation from ECA Conference by Peter Ewell
• Ho, A PowerPoint presentation at the ECA conference on learning outcomes, On the learning curve: Institutional efforts in Implementing outcome-based approach in student Learning: http://www.oaq.ch/pub/en/documents/AngelaHo.pdf
  PowerPoint Presention at ECA conference by Angela Ho, Head, Educational Development Centre, Hong Kong Polytechnic Unit, Hong Kong
• European Consortium for Accreditation [ECA] 2007 International Conference on Learning Outcomes, Defining and measuring learning outcomes in higher education, Zurich, 3-4 September 2007: http://www.oaq.ch/pub/en/Conference_LO.php
  Paper by OAO – Centre of Accreditation and Quality Assurance of the Swiss Universities

European Universities Association

• European Universities Association EUA (2007) Bologna Handbook - Making Bologna Work, An Introduction to Learning Outcomes. A Consideration of the Nature, Function and Position of Learning Outcomes in the Creation of the European Higher Education Area, Stephen Adam. Raabe Academic Publishers: http://kropotkin1.fileave.com/B_2_3_1_Adam_IH_LP[1].pdf
• European Universities Association EUA, (2007) Trends V - Universities Shaping the European higher Educations Area, EUA Publications: http://www.eua.be/fileadmin/user_upload/files/Publications/Final_Trends_Report__May_10.pdf
  EUA Report
• European Universities Association EUA (2007) Bologna Handbook - Making Bologna Work, Writing and using learning outcomes by Declan Kennedy, Áine Hyland, Norma Ryan. Raabe Academic Publishers: http://www.bologna-handbook.com/docs/downloads/C_3_4_1.pdf
  Document by Raabe Academic Publishers

Council of Europe and the European Commission

• Council of Europe (2007) Forum on qualifications frameworks, Strasbourg. http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/highereducation/QF/
  Website, can be printed
• European Commission (2006-7) Focus on the Structure of Higher Education in Europe 2006-2007 – National Trends in the Bologna Process, Eurydice: http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/eurydice/pdf/0_integral/086EN.pdf
  Document by Eurydice, The Information Network in Europe

Other European Websites, Reports and Conferences

• Website of Ost-West Wissenscgalfzentrum, HRK
  Hachschulrektorenkonferenz, printable
• CEDEFOP Conference Outcomes (2007) Rhetoric or reality: The shift towards learning outcomes in European education and training policies and practises, Thessaloniki, 15-16 October 2007: http://www.trainingvillage.gr/etv/news/default.asp?idnews=2924
  Website of ETV News, printable
• Tuning-General_Brochure_final_version[1].pdf, Project co-ordinated by the University of Deusto, Spain and the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
• European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education ENQA (2005) Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area: http://www.bologna-bergen2005.no/Docs/00-Main_doc/050221_ENQA_report.pdf
  Document by European Association for Quality Assutance in Higher Education 2005, Helsinki