Scotland in Europe

Towards 2010: the next steps

Thursday 27 September 2007, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

European Education Ministers have decided that the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) will be created by 2010. It will aim to establish Europe as a global leader in higher education. Mobility of students, staff and graduates will be a priority, as will social inclusion and employability.

At their most recent summit in London, Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the EHEA:

’We are determined to seize 2010, which will mark the passage from the Bologna Process to the EHEA, as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to higher education as a key element in making our societies sustainable, at national as well as at European level.’

London Communiqué
Towards the European Higher Education Area:
responding tochallenges in a globalised world,
18 May 2007

In an EHEA of inter-country collaborations, regional collaborations and joint working, which aims to be competitive in the global market, what are the implications for higher education in Scotland - for institutions, staff and students? How, for instance, will Scottish higher education maintain its competitiveness? How will engagement with quality enhancement be maintained and increased? How will the wider access agenda be developed? How will inward student mobility be maintained and outward mobility increased? What opportunities are there for developing joint degree programmes across Europe?

This conference will hear from experts on what is new and what the trends are, and provide an opportunity for discussion on how to respond.

It will be of interest both to those in strategic positions within institutions and to those engaged in practical development.

The cost of attending the conference will be £100.00. One student from each institution is eligible to have their fee waived.

Outline programme

10.00	Registration and tea/coffee
10.30	Welcome and introduction Andrew Hamnett, Principal, University of Strathclyde
10.45	Scotland in Europe Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
11.05	The EHEA: national developments, trends and reforms within a dynamic EHEA Lesley Wilson, European Universities Association
11.35	Tea/coffee break
11.50	Breakout session: choice of one from the list below
13.00	Lunch
14.00	Qualification frameworks and self-certification: realising the potential John Harper, Vice-Principal, Robert Gordon University
14.20	Europe’s future: students in the EHEA James Alexander, President, National Union of Students Scotland
14.40	Breakout session: Scotland in the EHEA: opportunities and challenges (discussion sessions around key questions)
15.30	Tea/coffee and close

Morning breakout session

Choice of one from:

1	Bologna for students? Implications for student associations James Dunphy, Robert Gordon University
2	European joint master’s programmes: opportunities and challenges Rowena Kochanowska, Bill Ion and Saskia Hansen, Strathclyde University
3	Credit transfer and European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS) Gerard Madill, Universities Scotland and others
4	The London Communiqué - next steps in the Bologna process Ann McVie, Senior Policy Advisor, Scottish Executive
5	Professional mobility Collette Ferguson and Maggie Grundy, NHS Education in Scotland (NES)
6	Developing institutional strategies for the EHEA Alan Davidson, Robert Gordon University
7	Challenging barriers to student mobility Andy Gibbs and others, Napier University

Booking form - MS Word | PDF version

Contact:
Heather Gibson,
QAA Scotland,
183 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5QD
Tel: 0141 572 3420
Fax: 0141 572 3421