| MOSCOW, September 23. Russia has joined the Bologna convention.
As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this was announced by the Russian Education
Ministry yesterday. The corresponding agreement was signed by Russian Education
Minister Vladimir Filippov at a conference of European education ministers
in Berlin.
This means that Russian universities will now be included in a common
European system of higher education and Russia has accepted responsibility
for helping to create this system. Six other countries signed the convention
in Berlin. Now 40 countries are part of the convention. These include
almost all Western European countries, Turkey, Malta, Cyprus, all the
Baltic States and Russia.
By 2010 it is hoped that there will be a single European system of higher
education where degrees and certificates will be recognised across the
continent and common standards for higher education will be reached in
all countries. Students will therefore be evaluated on a common European
standard of learning and graduates will receive internationally recognised
qualifications.
Russia must now try to emulate the European system of higher education
in terms of quality and organisation so that its national higher education
system corresponds to common European standards by 2010. In effect, Russia
will have to introduce two standards of higher education in its universities
– a baccalaureate and masters degrees. It will also have to introduce
a university curriculum that corresponds to the one taught in Europe.
A similar marking system will also have to be introduced.
See also:
Reform
in Education
Russia joined the Bologna
process. Press Release, September 19, 2003
The State Duma supported
YABLOKO's initiative to create a single education space in Europe. Press
Release, June 21, 2003
Alexander Shishlov: Russia's
admission to the Bologna process will become an important political step.
Press release, March 7, 2003
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