A Guy Haug is considered one of the "fathers" of the European Higher Education Area for his key role within the Lisbon strategy and the design of the agenda of the Bologna Process
Guy Haug is one of the best European experts in evaluation and development of universities and higher education systems. He is considered one of the "fathers" of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) for his key role within the Lisbon strategy and the design of the agenda of the Bologna process. Also participates in the OECD reports of analysis of education systems worldwide. The Friday was at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) to analyze the master's degrees adapted to the EHEA. Despite the problems that occurred in Spain, is optimistic. "I think you can solve," he repeated.
Why was decided to promote the European Higher Education Area? There are several factors. After nearly ten years of Erasmus exchanges detect their limitations. One is that if we stayed with very different university systems in Europe, freer mobility of students would never be really easy. The second factor was the development of European labor market, which is one of the great achievements of the Union. Any EU citizen entitled to work in any other country in Europe, where recognition of their qualifications. The problem was that Europeans were almost incompatible systems throughout. In addition, over 90 years Europe has lost the privilege of being the preferred destination of students and teachers from around the world to benefit the United States. This is because people do not understand our system of certification. A country is obliged to adhere to the EHEA? Critics say the group is not because the EU has no powers to education.The Bologna process is not an EU process is a process that emerged from meetings between ministers and universities and agreed to some objectives. Following is the responsibility of each country make the necessary changes that are not the same at all, in their national context. And there are countries that have done so easily and quickly, and others who have done later and with more difficulty. There is no obligation. The only obligation which may result from laws and royal decrees in the field Nacional.A all over Spain have intensified protests by the Bologna ... This word is adaptation to Bologna or Bologna, as if some kind of conspiracy a corner of Europe that are attempting to Spain ... is not that Spain meets a pre-existing EHEA is a space we are building together with the changes that are needed in the universities of Europe. So I reject these references to the "Bologna Process". There is no "Plan Bolonia" framework agreements are aimed at certain strategic directions. It is not adapted to anything from outside. What happens is that Spain has been delayed in implementation of these agreements. This process has been built from the bottom step. And those who keep pace with others, build the next stage. Those who stay behind, they are confronted with the steps already taken by other countries. Why do you think that part of the English university community rejects it? The anti-Bologna do not know exactly what they are against. I find it almost impossible to be against a system that gives more freedom to the student. That go against a system that seeks to improve training, provide access to more possibilities. Without verifying said imposing the commodification of the university. This is a major críticas.El Bologna system, grade-Masters-Doctorate, exists in most countries, even in countries with highly developed systems such as the Nordic countries, the United Kingdom or the United States. Bologna assert that you can not have a good public university system, competitive, attractive, really opened avenues for both work and civic life is rubbish absolute. It is ridiculous to say that public universities Bologna attacks, because the countries most advanced in the proposed changes and better implemented are those with the public university system strong: the Nordic countries and Germany. It is possible to harm the Bologna reforms, as it is possible to harm any reform. If you do well and in good faith, they will improve education in the vast majority of cases. Is it more expensive to study in Bologna? There are countries that in recent years has increased the price of tuition in exchange for scholarships or loans higher. There are others that Bologna has not changed one iota in the financing of higher education eg Switzerland. In the Nordic countries have taken advantage of Bologna to enhance the attractiveness of the public system, where students not only are exempt from paying tuition, but is paid a salary to students. So, I understand that there are decisions that may upset students or teachers, but there is confusion between what is Bologna and the policies of some countries. It is unclear what price will have master's degrees, some of which will be required to perform certain profesiones.Eso has nothing to do with Bologna, is a decision of the authorities of each country on how to split the cost of university education . Will they need more scholarships? also this aspect that has nothing to do with Bologna. The report by the OECD last week said that Spain needs a stronger system of grants. This is simply for comparison. There are strong points in the English system. For example, the ratio of teachers per student is high, but the mentoring, personal support to students could be improved. This is the spirit of Bologna. I know that some universities are taking steps to improve this situation will not change in one or two years, but there is an awareness that this is bueno.Los guiding Catalans do degrees called for three years instead of four as in most Europe. Does this not hinder the harmonization of studies? I understand the decision has been taken to have strong grades in Spain by tradition there and the relationship with Latin America, where grades are also four years. I'm not saying it would have been the only way I know that in Catalonia had a preference for degrees of 180 credits. But do not expect all universities to follow suit. The complete unification is meaningless. Can coexist and masters degrees in different duration within the limits set by Bologna, and this is not a problem. What happened in Spain to create this atmosphere of confrontation? I'm not a judge, I know that there are difficulties and these are some specific reasons. I am convinced that despite the difficulties, some imagined, some effective, the convergence of space will continue. And countries or universities for one reason or another decided not to join in the end it will feel. Because they will make things more difficult for their students. A university should have critical thinking, and not repeat things I've heard. Critical thinking means to verify your sources, verify what you say and do not repeat messages. What makes me sad is that everything wrong with the English university system is attributed to Bologna. In Spain, Bologna has been a catalyst of ailments. This does not mean that all reforms have done well at government level. What went wrong? If I were in any of the governments, they would ask for a better way, most agreed to implement the changes. There is a difference in the mode of action of the universities of northern and southern Europe. In northern European countries discussed the strategic objectives of Bologna, and then the vast majority of universities have launched a process towards these objectives. In Spain there was not much dialogue on the objectives, but whether to grade three or four years and master of one or two years. I'm not really worried about the situation in Spain because I think you can solve. Se está perdiendo de vista que Bolonia se ha concebido como un horizonte que debería facilitar la transformación de las universidades en el sentido de la Europa del conocimiento.También hay un sector del profesorado que no está de acuerdo…España es el único país europeo en el que hay este modelo de acreditación del profesorado, y yo creo que algunas de sus reacciones no son en contra de Bolonia, sino de este modelo. En España el profesorado se evalúa muchas veces.
MARTÍNEZ, Maite. Entrevista a Guy Haug. "Bolonia ha sido un catalizador de malestares". La Vanguardia. 30 Marzo 2009
