The Bologna Treaty

The Bologna Treaty, signed by European Ministers in 1999, but only recently coming into affect in some European countries, means that graduates will be able to obtain their Bachelor’s degree in their native country, while pursuing a Master’s or Phd in another European country.

Like most European legislation, the Bologna Treaty aims for better mobility of workers and a standard assessment of education. With obvious benefits, such as the ease of mobility and transferability of qualifications, comes the problem that pre-treaty degrees are diminished in value meaning re-training for many graduates already in the workplace, or about to enter it.

There is also the expected increase in competition between European academic institutions where previously there existed collaboration, with possibly damaging consequences for the less well-established institutions.