Transcript Slide 1

Bologna Process
Diploma Supplement Workshop
2011
Gerry O’Sullivan
National Agency Erasmus
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The Bologna Process began in 1999 as an initiative of
Ministers of Education who came together in the Italian city
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Ireland was one of the original 29 member states – now 47
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Although not an initiator of the Bologna Declaration, today the
European Commission is playing a key role in assisting in the
realisation of the aims and objectives.
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reform the structures of their higher education systems in a
convergent way - its goal is the creation of a ‘European
Higher Education Area’ (EHEA) by 2010.
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Berlin Communiqué (2003) – every student graduating from
2005 should receive a Diploma Supplement automatically and
free of charge
While it is now the case that Irish higher education institutions are
issuing Diploma Supplements to graduates who request them, it
is by no means universal that Supplements are issued to all
graduates ‘automatically and free of charge’, as was intended in
the Europass policy.
Edwin Mernagh, 2010
Promotion of the Diploma Supplement one of the tasks of the
Bologna Experts
‘How do we translate the impressive progress made in protocols
and instruments into the real world of higher education practice,
innovation and the economy?’
Tom Boland, 2010
Diploma Supplement
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Recognition Tool
Transparency
Opportunity to record learning outcomes
Employers often recruit on the basis of “soft skills” – DS allows
one to record these
An opportunity to give recognition to the learning acquired
through extra-curricular activities undertaken by students.
A record of work experience, language ability and other
employment related skills as well as formal academic
qualifications.
Assessing applications from other countries - standard format
and detailed information of the Diploma Supplement
Distinction between large companies and SMEs
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Could be a means for universities to increase student mobility, since
students would
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understand that their mobility (study and work placement)
achievements would be recorded and endorsed in a formal
document with international currency.
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An important development in the use of the Diploma Supplement,
pioneered in a number of institutions, is to make the Supplement
available on-line in a secure and validated format. This means that a
graduate can have access to it at any time and from any location.
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if there are particular skills shortages and they have to look outside the 1
national frontier, it is more likely that the information provided by
the Diploma Supplement will be used.
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evidence of the international dimension of HEI